Integrated flexible design and assembly system

The paper presents the research and development efforts aimed to achieve an integrated design and manufacturing system for assembly. The project main objective is to develop methodologies and tools to design and manage a complete flexible assembly system and the design and realization of modular stations to be integrated in a flexible assembly line. A pilot plant to test and verify the results obtained at the virtual stage has also been implemented. We will describe a CAAP (Computer Aided Assembly Planning), simulation for the design of management rules, three dimensional simulation of robots (serial and parallel), the on- and off-control of the whole system. The results of the project is tested in a specifically designed and implemented system for the assembly of electro-mechanical components, made by cells for manipulation and assembly, quality control and testing, distribution of components and groups.