Assembling multiple identical components with a base part is common in industrial processes. Therefore, assembly automation within the graphical environment constitutes a critical aspect of a system’s development stage. Present paper introduces the utilization of Computer-Aided Design (CAD)-based programming for the realization of automated assembly tasks. Traditional programming with the Visual Basic for Application (VBA™) language was employed for this purpose. Specifically, the API methods that are available in SolidWorks™ CAD system were utilized. The assembly process between a set of bolt-shaped components and an orthogonal solid was used to test the developed tool. API-based programming was employed to search for the appropriate geometric objects and handle the obtained data. The textual programming was preferred instead of the visual programming or the use of tools that involve Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and similar methods, for simplicity. Moreover, the traditional methods were used, since they require far less computational resources and do not require specialized tools at all. By combining the developed code with a graphical User Interface (UI), the tool becomes more convenient and practical, as well as more efficient.

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Automated Assembly of Mechanical Systems: A Case Study

  • Panagiotis Kyratsis,
  • Anastasios Tzotzis,
  • João Paulo Davim

摘要

Assembling multiple identical components with a base part is common in industrial processes. Therefore, assembly automation within the graphical environment constitutes a critical aspect of a system’s development stage. Present paper introduces the utilization of Computer-Aided Design (CAD)-based programming for the realization of automated assembly tasks. Traditional programming with the Visual Basic for Application (VBA™) language was employed for this purpose. Specifically, the API methods that are available in SolidWorks™ CAD system were utilized. The assembly process between a set of bolt-shaped components and an orthogonal solid was used to test the developed tool. API-based programming was employed to search for the appropriate geometric objects and handle the obtained data. The textual programming was preferred instead of the visual programming or the use of tools that involve Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and similar methods, for simplicity. Moreover, the traditional methods were used, since they require far less computational resources and do not require specialized tools at all. By combining the developed code with a graphical User Interface (UI), the tool becomes more convenient and practical, as well as more efficient.