ANIMATED SIMULATION OF ROBOT PROCESS CAPABILITY

To obtain competitive advantages, manufacturers need to stuggle consta ntly to improve quality and to reduce costs. Computer Integrated Manuf acturing (CIM) is a strategy adopted by enterprises to produce high qu ality products at low cost. One of the common applications in the CIM environment is the deployment of robots. Traditionally, robots are pur chased, installed and tested. Significant amount of time and manpower are consumed in the process of decision making in CIM acquisition. In this paper, a graphic simulation and system for robotics operations is developed, in conjunction with a kinematic error model to assist mana gement in making investment decisions. Taguchi-type experimental desig n is used to predict the robot process capability. Two sets of charts are created by the system to illustrate the repeatability and accuracy of a robot performing a given operation. These charts are histograms in the x, y, and z directions, and scattered ellipses in the xy, yz, a nd xz planes. Central to the system are three characteristics: a descr iption of the geometric error and of the kinematic error, a function w ith which to request and display data on a robot moving from one posit ion to the next, and a family of charts showing the capability of the robot for implementing a required task. The results provided by the sy stem can help management to analyze robotics projects and to make deci sions concerning robot selection and implementation in a more systemat ic manner.