Systems and methods for AI assisted reconfigurable, fixtureless manufacturing is disclosed. The invention eliminates geometry-setting tools (hard points, pins and netstraditionally known as 3-2-1 fixturing schemes) and to replace the physical geometry setting with virtual datums driven by learning AI algorithms. A first type of part and a second type of part may be located by a machine vision system and moved by material handling devices and robots to locations within an assembly area. The parts may be aligned with one another and the alignment may be checked by the machine vision system which is configured to locate datums, in the form of features, of the parts and compare such datums to stored virtual datums. The parts may be joined while being held by the material handling devices or robots to form a subassembly in a fixtureless fashion. The material handling devices are able to grasp a number of different types of parts so that a number of different types of subassemblies are capable of being assembled. The system enables one skilled in the art to develop a product design with self-locating parts that will eliminate and minimize the need for geometry setting dedicated line tools and fixtures. This leads to the development of a manufacturing process that utilizes the industry 4.0 technologies to once again eliminate or significantly reduces the need for geometry setting line tools.

According to one implementation, a machining apparatus includes an electromotive saw and an attaching structure. The electromotive saw cuts off a workpiece to be machined. The attaching structure attaches the saw to an arm of a robot. Further, according to one implementation, a machining method is provided. In the machining method, a machined product is manufactured by processing a composite material or a honeycomb structure with a cutting tool attached to an arm of a robot. Further, according to one implementation, a machining method is provided. In the machining method, a machined product is manufactured by processing a workpiece to be machined with a cutting tool attached to an arm of a robot. The workpiece is processed along a shape of a jig for setting the workpiece. The workpiece is processed with contacting a guide with the jig. The guide is attached to the arm.

Automated fixture layout is approached in two distinct stages. First, the spatial locations of clamping points on the work piece are determined to ensure immobility of the fixtured part under any infinitesimal perturbation. Second, spatial locations are matched against a user-specified library of reconfigurable clamps to synthesize a valid fixture layout or configuration that includes clamps that are accessible and collision free. The spatial locations matching during the second stage can be the same spatial locations chosen in the first stage to ensure immobility, or a different set of spatial locations.

Automated fixture layout is approached in two distinct stages. First, the spatial locations of clamping points on the work piece are determined to ensure immobility of the fixtured part under any infinitesimal perturbation. Second, spatial locations are matched against a user-specified library of reconfigurable clamps to synthesize a valid fixture layout or configuration that includes clamps that are accessible and collision free. The spatial locations matching during the second stage can be the same spatial locations chosen in the first stage to ensure immobility, or a different set of spatial locations.

A jig positioning system includes a robot arm and a control unit. The robot arm grips an assembly jig designed to be positioned on an assembly table. The control unit controls motion of the robot arm. The control unit causes the robot arm: to grip one or more assembly jigs including the assembly jig that are to be selected in sequence for assembly components; and to adjust position and orientation of each of the one or more assembly jigs in accordance with shapes of the assembly components in course of positioning of the assembly jigs on the one or more assembly table.

To hold a long member in the original shape of the long member at a precise position, a long member assembling device has: a plurality of hand parts configured to grip a long member; arm parts and trunk parts configured to move the hand parts to adjust the positions of the plurality of hand parts gripping the long member; a storage unit in which the original shape of the long member is stored; and a control unit configured to, on the basis of the original shape of the long member stored in the storage unit, drive the arm parts and the trunk parts to adjust the positions of the plurality of hand parts gripping the long member such that the shape of the long member gripped by the plurality of hand parts matches the original shape of the long member stored in the storage unit.

An apparatus to assist a machinist in the setup of a remote computer controlled machine tool table has an X-axis electronic gauge block assembly, a Y-axis electronic gauge block assembly, and a Z-axis electronic gauge block assembly each positioned on the machine tool table, to respectively collect X-axis probe position values, Y-axis probe position values, and Z-axis probe position values. Environmental sensors collect environmental values. An electronics processing system establishes a raw X-axis probe position, a raw Y-axis probe position, and a raw Z-axis probe position. A wireless interface transmits the environmental values, the raw X-axis probe position value, the raw Y-axis probe position value, and the raw Z-axis probe position value to the remote computer and receives from the remote computer refined probe position values to assist the machinist in the setup of the machine tool table.

A measurement jig for measuring precision errors caused by multi-axis synchronized motion is provided and includes: a stand vertically fixed to a table of a machine tool; a first support transversely disposed at an appropriate height of the stand to connect with a first measurement component; a second support vertically disposed on the first support and keeping a distance from the stand to connect with a second measurement component and move relative to the first support; and a third support vertically disposed on the first support between the stand and the second support to connect with a third measurement component and move relatively to the first support, wherein the first, second and third measurement components measure precision errors caused by a multi-axis synchronized motion and examine the precision of the Tool Center Point (TCP).

Systems and methods for reconfigurable, fixtureless manufacturing are provided. Material handling robots grasp and move parts within an assembly area to adjoin one another in a predetermined orientation. While the parts remain grasped and suspended within the assembly area, out of contact with any fixtures, work surfaces, jigs, and locators, a machine vision system performs an alignment scan to determine locations of datums on the parts which are transmitted to a controller for comparison against stored virtual datums for a subassembly comprising the joined parts. The location of the datums are transmitted to a joining robot which joins the parts to form the subassembly. The machine vision system performs an inspection scan of the datums on the parts after joining.

According to one implementation, a machining apparatus includes an electromotive saw and an attaching structure. The electromotive saw cuts off a workpiece to be machined. The attaching structure attaches the saw to an arm of a robot. Further, according to one implementation, a machining method is provided. In the machining method, a machined product is manufactured by processing a composite material or a honeycomb structure with a cutting tool attached to an arm of a robot. Further, according to one implementation, a machining method is provided. In the machining method, a machined product is manufactured by processing a workpiece to be machined with a cutting tool attached to an arm of a robot. The workpiece is processed along a shape of a jig for setting the workpiece. The workpiece is processed with contacting a guide with the jig. The guide is attached to the arm.