Generation of assembly restrictions and evaluation of assembly criteria from 3D assembly models by collision analysis

Abstract

The automatic generation of assembly instructions from 3D models in CAD systems is, until this day, not possible. Past research showed that neither feature-based approaches nor disassembly approaches contain enough information to plan assembly sequences autonomously. Based on this, a new approach was developed to combine and extend these two approaches. By the help of a collision analysis and a gravity analysis, assembly restrictions were generated. These assembly restrictions describe the relationship between parts in manner of assembly requirements in an assembly. With this, it is now possible to determine automatically which parts have to be assembled before others can be inserted. Thus, for the first time, assembly restrictions can be used as assembly features and be added to a feature-based approach. Based on this advanced knowledge, new approaches for planning assembly instructions are discussed.