Strategies and devices for a modular desktop factory

Abstract

The first part of the paper describes different concepts for micro production. The potential of miniaturised size adapted robots is pointed out based on their flexibility. Flexibility thereby is discussed in a detailed way that leads to two different ways of robot integration. The second part of the paper deals with the desktop factory concept. Beginning with a short state of the art for desktop factories, the preconditions for future concepts are discussed. Finally, with regard to a module for a desktop factory, the miniaturised precision robot Parvus, a micro gripper, a gripper changer and a robot control are presented. © 2008 International Federation for Information Processing.