A method for the automatic identification of contacts in assemblies of cylindrical parts

Abstract

A significant amount of research has been made on determining the optimum assembly sequence, assembly planning, etc. However, those research works consider that the necessary information for the analysis (e.g. the contacts among the parts in the assembly) is already available, which is not usually the case. This paper describes a method for extracting information within the design, aiming at supporting applications of assembly identification, which is needed for assembly planning. The system determines the surfaces to be machined and the dimensions to receive tighter tolerances, which are important for process and inspection planning. Initially, the group of parts that compose the product is input, and then the procedure for automatic identification of assembled parts begins for the given assembly. The final analysis is done by an expert system that checks the conditions of the assembled pans. The system is applied to cylindrical parts, in a design by features environment.