Abstract
Adoption of robots in the manufacturing environment is a way to improve productivity, and the assembly of electronic components has benefited from the adoption of highly dedicated automation equipment. Traditionally, articulated 6-axis robots have not been used in electronic surface mount assembly. However, the need for more flexible production systems that can be used for low to medium production builds means that these robots can be used due to their high degrees of flexibility, excellent repeatability and increasingly lower investment costs. This research investigated the application of an articulated robot with six degrees of freedom to assemble a multi-component printed circuit board (PCB) for an electronic product. A heuristic methodology using a genetic algorithm was used to plan the optimal sequence and identify the best location of the parts to the assembly positions on the PCB. Using the optimised paths, a condition monitoring method for cycle time evaluation was conducted using a KUKA KR16 assembly cell together with four different robot path motions. The genetic algorithm approach together with different assembly position iterations identified an optimisation method for improved production throughput using a non-traditional but highly flexible assembly method. The application of optimised articulated robots for PCB assembly can bridge the gap between manual assembly and the high-throughput automation equipment.
Highlights
Electronics manufacturing has evolved over the past years from a labour-intensive activity to a highly automated one
In printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, the electronic components need to be placed into position prior to soldering, and the use of automation provides accuracy, repeatability and efficiency to this process, when compared to manual assembly
The assembly operation of the printed circuit board can be achieved using a variety of placement technologies; the main focus of this paper is to present the procedure of finding the best solution for a 6-axis robot
Summary
Electronics manufacturing has evolved over the past years from a labour-intensive activity to a highly automated one. In printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, the electronic components need to be placed into position prior to soldering, and the use of automation provides accuracy, repeatability and efficiency to this process, when compared to manual assembly. The competition faced by electronic component manufacturers causes a need for high-throughput rates for which automated assembly lines are a major asset [1]. Implementation of robotics in assembly of electronics offers some distinct advantages over manual methods due to its reliability and flexibility. Of electronic components is generally limited to two-dimensional horizontal x- and y-axis movements and usually comprise of several sub-systems, including part feeding systems, work holding and pick and place devices.
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