Pallet Configuration for Approaching Mapping Requirements on Devices

Abstract

The correct configuration of a system is a strategic problem whenever a tool manufacturer should select the optimal solution to tackle a specific production problem. Once information concerning the production problem has been provided to the machine tool builder, it is possible to start the technological analysis of the part family which represents a very critical phase of the system design process. In particular, process plans to produce the workpieces need to be defined. To reach this goal it is necessary to elaborate a mapping between the part types to be produced and the available manufacturing resources. To this purpose, each machining feature of the various part types is matched with an operation or a sequence of operations, taking into consideration the feasible setups. This chapter provides a procedure named Mapping Requirement on Devices generating different process plans. It is based on three main modules. The first module performs a setup planning procedure; the second module deals with the problem of pallet configuration, whereas the last module performs the sequencing of the part setups and generates a set of alternative process plans. These process plans will then be taken into account in the selection of system resources. The results obtained in the testing phase address the importance of developing a procedure based on multi-setup fixtures instead of considering a single setup per pallet.