Workspace and Kinematic Analysis of the VERNE machine

This paper describes the workspace and the inverse and direct kinematic analysis of the VERNE machine, a serial/parallel 5-axis machine tool designed by Fatronik for IRCCyN. This machine is composed of a three-degree-of-freedom (DOF) parallel module and a two-DOF serial tilting table. The parallel module consists of a moving platform that is connected to a fixed base by three non-identical legs. This feature involves (i) a simultaneous combination of rotation and translation for the moving platform, which is balanced by the tilting table and (ii) workspace whose shape and volume vary as a function of the tool length. This paper summarizes results obtained in the context of the European projects NEXT ("Next Generation of Productions Systems")

Analyse de la rigidité des machines outils 3 axes d'architecture parallèle hyperstatique

National audienceThe paper presents a new stiffness modelling method for overconstrained parallel manipulators, which is applied to 3-d.o.f. translational mechanisms. It is based on a multidimensional lumped-parameter model that replaces the link flexibility by localized 6-d.o.f. virtual springs. In contrast to other works, the method includes a FEA-based link stiffness evaluation and employs a new solution strategy of the kinetostatic equations, which allows computing the stiffness matrix for the overconstrained architectures and for the singular manipulator postures. The advantages of the developed technique are confirmed by application examples, which deal with comparative stiffness analysis of two translational parallel manipulators

Stiffness Analysis of 3-d.o.f. Overconstrained Translational Parallel Manipulators

The paper presents a new stiffness modelling method for overconstrained parallel manipulators, which is applied to 3-d.o.f. translational mechanisms. It is based on a multidimensional lumped-parameter model that replaces the link flexibility by localized 6-d.o.f. virtual springs. In contrast to other works, the method includes a FEA-based link stiffness evaluation and employs a new solution strategy of the kinetostatic equations, which allows computing the stiffness matrix for the overconstrained architectures and for the singular manipulator postures. The advantages of the developed technique are confirmed by application examples, which deal with comparative stiffness analysis of two translational parallel manipulators

Achievable tolerances in robotic feature machining operations using a low-cost hexapod

Portable robotic machine tools potentially allow feature machining processes to be brought to large parts in various industries, creating an opportunity for capital expenditure and operating cost reduction. However, robots lack the machining capability of conventional equipment, which ultimately results in dimensional errors in parts. This work showcases a low-cost hexapod-based robotic machine tool and presents experimental research conducted to investigate how the widely researched robotic machining challenges, e.g. structural dynamics and kinematics, translate to achievable tolerance ranges in real-world production to highlight currently feasible applications and provide a context for considering technology improvements. Machining trials assess the total dimensional errors in the final part over multiple geometries. A key finding is error variation which is in the sub-millimetre range, although, in some cases, upper tolerance limits < 100 μm are achieved. Practical challenges are also noted. Most significantly, it is demonstrated that dimensional machining error is mainly systematic in nature and therefore that the total error can be dramatically reduced with in situ measurement and compensation. Potential is therefore found to achieve a flexible, high-performance robotic machining capability despite complex and diverse underlying scientific challenges. Overall, the work presented highlights achievable tolerances in low-cost robotic machining and opportunities for improvement, also providing a practical benchmark useful for process selection

Contribution à l'étude cinématique et dynamique des machines parallèles

This thesis deals with the kinematic and dynamic modelling of limited degree-of-freedom parallel robots. These robots with less than six degrees of freedom are able to carry out several industrial tasks. The main reason of using such robots is to reduce the production costs by using less legs and motors. However, in some cases, these structures can produce a complex motion defined as a simultaneous combination of translation and rotation of the moving platform, which is the case of the Verne parallel module having three translation degrees of freedom. The modelling of this type of robots can prove to be complicated. This report includes five chapters. In the first chapter, a classification of parallel architectures is presented and a state of the art on important notions on kinematics and design of manipulators is exposed. The second and the third chapters are devoted to the kinematic modelling, serial singularity analysis and workspace calculation of the Verne machine. The fourth chapter deals with parallel singularity analysis of limited degrees of freedom robots using Grassmann-Cayley algebra. The geometrical conditions of existence of parallel singularities of three classes of parallel manipulators are found. Finally, the fifth chapter covers the dynamic modelling of limited degree-of-freedom parallel manipulators. A general method based on the Newton-Euler algorithm is developed. The proposed method takes in consideration all the dynamics of these robots including the legs dynamics as well as the mobile platform dynamics.Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse portent sur l’étude cinématique et dynamique des robots parallèles à mobilités restreintes. Ces robots à moins de 6 degrés de liberté permettent d’effectuer de multiples tâches demandées par l’industrie. La raison principale de l’utilisation de ces robots est la volonté de réduire le coût en utilisant moins de jambes et moins de moteurs. Cependant, ces structures peuvent dans certains cas produire un mouvement de la plate-forme contraint par un couplage entre la position et l’orientation comme pour le module parallèle de la machine Verne ayant trois degrés de liberté de translation. Dans ce cas, la modélisation peut s’avérer compliquée. Ce mémoire comporte cinq chapitres. Dans le premier chapitre, une classification des architectures parallèles est présentée et des notions importantes liées à la cinématique et à la conception des manipulateurs sont exposées. Les deuxième et troisième chapitres sont consacrés à la modélisation géométrique, à l’étude des singularités sérielles et au calcul de l’espace de travail de la machine Verne. Le quatrième chapitre traite les singularités parallèles des manipulateurs à mobilités restreintes en utilisant l’algèbre de Grassmann-Cayley. Les conditions géométriques d’existence des singularités pour trois classes de manipulateurs sont trouvées. Les chaînes de ces manipulateurs transmettent des forces et/ou couples à la plate-forme mobile. Finalement, le cinquième chapitre concerne la modélisation dynamique des manipulateurs à mobilités restreintes. Une méthode générale basée sur les algorithmes de type Newton-Euler est développée. La méthode proposée prend en compte la dynamique des jambes et de la plate-forme. Nous obtenons ainsi des modèles dynamiques complets de ces robots

Design of hybrid-kinematic mechanisms for machine tools

The machine tool industry is a well established, old and extremely important branch of today's manufacturing industry. With the ongoing globalization and the resulting increase of competition in this industry, the manufacturers have to push their technology to the limits in order to stay competitive. The architecture (kinematics) of most machine tools is based on a serial arrangement of joints and segments, like a human arm. The requirements regarding dynamics, stiffness and precision of these machines brought the scientists and industries to evaluate parallel kinematics for this type of application. Parallel kinematics possess a much higher potential to fulfill these demands, and they would therefore allow the access to a next level of machine performance. Whereas the success of parallel kinematics in domains like packaging is incontestable, it proved to be less evident in machine tools. The low rotation amplitudes and the complexity of the mechanism, the main weak points of parallel kinematics, slow down the development and integration of this kind of machines. In the last few years however, we could observe an increase in development, and more important, in the sales (1)(37)(54) of hybrid kinematic machines. Hybrid kinematics can, by appropriate combination of parallel and serial axes, present a well performing compromise, especially in the machine tool domain where 5 axes/mobilities and high rotation amplitudes are common. The present document is concerned with the mechanical, industrialized design of hybrid-kinematic machine tools and their mechanical elements, and will show that "Hybrid-kinematic mechanisms can outperform fully-parallel mechanisms considering all attributes for a successful and industrialized machine design." The work will point out the limits of fully-parallel mechanisms and justify the use of hybrid solutions. The most important elements of the mechanisms, thereof particularly the spherical and universal joints, will be treated in a detailed manner. Industrialization aspects will be analyzed, the difficulty for their integration will be shown, and solutions provided in order to increase the accessibility of hybrid and parallel mechanisms. A design methodology will be synthesized from all these elements and applied to three case studies. The methodology will point out important and often neglected steps and provide elements and tools to support the designer in the whole process of creation. Furthermore, by providing a broad catalogue of both new and existing hybrid and parallel kinematics, this work is intended to stimulate and inspire the creativity of the designer. The three final cases studies, each differing in their application domain and representing each an unpublished concept, will illustrate and validate the methodology. The work took place around multiple industrial projects and therefore always keeps in mind the practical feasibility, with respect to an industrial environment, and the economic aspects and risks

12th IFToMM World Congress, Besançon (France), June18-21, 2007 Kinematics analysis of the parallel module of the VERNE machine

*The paper derives the inverse and forward kinematic equations of a spatial three-degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism, which is the parallel module of a hybrid serial-parallel 5-axis machine tool. This parallel mechanism consists of a moving platform that is connected to a fixed base by three non-identical legs. Each leg is made up of one prismatic and two pair spherical joint, which are connected in a way that the combined effects of the three legs lead to an over-constrained mechanism with complex motion. This motion is defined as a simultaneous combination of rotation and translation. † Keywords: Parallel manipulators, Parallel kinematic machines, inverse kinematics, forward kinematics, complex motion. I