Fault Analysis in a Flexible Manufacturing Cell

Abstract

This paper discusses the on-line quality control in a Flexible Manufacturing Cell. A vision system is being used to compute a 3-dimensional image of a manufactured component (in this case produced by hot open-die forging). The algorithm which converts the visual information into a 3-dimensional representation of the part has been developed. Once the data have been collected and reconstructed, measurements are taken and correlated with possible error conditions. The goal of the research is to relate discrepancies in these two 3-dimensional images, obtained and desired, to the plastic deformation processes occurring during the hot open-die forging process. Thus of particular interest is that the fault analysis and correction will draw on the traditional theory of plasticity, in particular slip line field theory, in order to approximately predict component shape. An industrial application of this work is briefly outlined.