Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Flexible Automation & Intelligent Manufacturing; FAIM 2014

Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Flexible Automation & Intelligent Manufacturing, held May 20-23, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas, and organized by the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Lean Systems, University of Texas at San Antonio; Includes bibliographical references; Reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) is the recent addition in the field of manufacturing system. Different approaches deal with the generation of design solutions of RMS. Keeping in view quality as a key performance indicator there is a necessity to evaluate the generated solutions of RMS. In this work a comparative study between the two methods for evaluation of tolerances is performed. First using an algorithmic approach a three dimensional analysis of generated solutions of RMS is carried out. Secondly the model of the indeterminate is used for the tolerance analysis. In both methods the approach used among the existing ones for the tolerance representation and evaluation is the small displacement torsors (SDT). In order to represent the machining process plans the modified methods of graph is chosen. In the algorithmic approach the torsor equations are obtained between the interacting surfaces. Each geometric error is represented as a torsor which are then accumulated. Solutions are classified according to the tolerance values of the parameters. In the second method the gasps and defects of the surfaces are first identified and then are written in the form of torsors. The compatibility equations are obtained by resolving the loop equations. These equations are analyzed to obtain the sources of error and eventually part tolerances are calculated. The above methodologies have wide applications in the generative approach for process planning of RMS. They provide a direct link between the sources of error and part requirements. The said methodology acts as a feedback system for the capability of the system