Strategy and Applications for PKM Development

ITIA-CNR has been investigating the peculiarities and potentialities of machines based on Parallel Kinematic Machines (PKMs) within several European and National Research Programs, as a fundamental part of studying new industrial applications of PKMs in different sectors. In particular, the National Research Program on Innovative Production Systems (PNR SPI) aims at developing methodologies and tools for the technological improvement of machinery and systems in different industrial sectors. Within the shoe sector, PNR SPI is focused on the development of fully automatic and integrated shoe production systems. Within the shoe production process, two paradigmatic manufacturing operations have been analyzed and it has been decided to develop new machines based on Parallel Kinematic Structure. The outcome of these developments are represented by different physical prototypes, but also by design methodologies and software tools, available also to support industrial companies willing to develop PK machines. In this paper, the complete development of one of the two machines is presented.