Integrated flexible design and assembly system

The paper presents the research and development efforts aimed at achieving an integrated design and manufacturing system for assembly. The project's main objective is to develop methodologies and tools to design and manage a complete flexible assembly system and the design and realization of modular stations to be integrated in a flexible assembly line. A pilot plant to test and verify the results obtained at the virtual stage has also been implemented. A computer aided assembly planning simulation for the design of management rules, three-dimensional simulation of robots (serial and parallel) and the on and off control of the whole system will be described. The results of the project are tested in a specifically designed and implemented system for the assembly of electromechanical components, made by cells for manipulation and assembly, quality control and testing, and distribution of components and groups.