SolidWorks Secondary Development with Visual Basic 6 for an Automated Modular Fixture Assembly Approach

Modular fixtures (MFs) play an important role in terms of cost and production time reduction in manufacturing processes. In this paper, the authors illustrate an automated approach for MFs design and assembly. This approach is based on the secondary development of SolidWorks integrating with Visual Basic (VB) 6 programing language. SolidWorks API (Application programming interface) functions were applied in order to control SolidWorks commands and assembly operations. An ActiveX DLL project was created in VB 6 and a plug-in file in .dll format was generated. The outcomes were creating new menus in SolidWorks environment for selecting, inserting, and assembling MFs elements. The approach was applied for a side clamping procedure and for a semi-circular workpiece

Research and development of a knowledge-based design system for designing selected elements of mechatronic devices

The design of mechatronic devices is a demanding process not only in terms of the time required but also of the demands placed on the knowledge and experience of development workers. The aim of this research and development was to create suitable procedures, algorithms, and databases of 3D models, with the help of which could this process be significantly shortened and simplified. The results of the development are a software tool for the design of electric drive units, procedures for creating 3D models with the possibility of using the SolidWorks software API, methods for automating the creation of assemblies of 3D models and a description of the knowledge database in which various data and algorithms are stored. The benefits of the proposed procedures, the Drive Picker software tool, and the knowledge database, are demonstrated on the design of a robotic arm with 5 degrees of freedom. Despite the complexity of the preparation of documents needed, it turns out that the chosen approach can significantly speed up and simplify the design of mechatronic devices.Web of Science20215390538

An integrated computer-aided modular fixture design system for machining semi-circular parts

Productivity is one of the most important factors in manufacturing processes because of the high level of market competition. In this regard, modular fixtures (MFs) play an important role in practically improving productivity in flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) due to this technology using highly productive computer numerical control (CNC) machines. MFs consist of devices called jigs and fixtures for accurately holding the workpiece during different machining operations. The design process is complex, and traditional methods of MF design were not sufficiently productive. Computer-aided design (CAD) software has rapidly improved as a result of the development of computer technology, and has provided huge opportunities for modular fixture designers to use its 3D modelling capabilities to develop more automated systems. Computer-aided fixture design (CAFD) systems have become automated by the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. This study will investigate the further improvement of automated CAFD systems by using AI tools. In this research, an integrated CAFD is developed by considering four main requirements: · a 3D model of the workpiece, · an expert system, · assembly automation of MFs, · an efficient feature library. The 3D model is an important factor that can provide the appropriate specification of the workpiece; SolidWorks is used the CAD environment for undertaking the 3D modelling in this study. The expert system is applied as a tool to make right decisions about the CAFD planning process, including locating and clamping methods and their related element selection. This helps achieve a feasible fixture design layout. SolidWorks API and Visual Basic programming language are employed for the automating and simulation of the assembly process of MFs. A feature library of modular fixture elements is constructed as a means to simplify the fixture design process

An integrated system to design machine layouts for modular special purpose machines

This thesis introduces the development of an integrated system for the design of layouts for special purpose machines (SPMs). SPMs are capable of performing several machining operations (such as drilling, milling, and tapping) at the same time. They consist of elements that can be arranged in different layouts. Whilst this is a unique feature that makes SPMs modular, a high level of knowledge and experience is required to rearrange the SPM elements in different configurations, and also to select appropriate SPM elements when product demand changes and new layouts are required. In this research, an integrated system for SPM layout design was developed by considering the following components: an expert system tool, an assembly modelling approach for SPM layouts, an artificial intelligence tool, and a CAD design environment. SolidWorks was used as the 3D CAD environment. VisiRule was used as the expert system tool to make decisions about the selection of SPM elements. An assembly modelling approach was developed with an SPM database using a linked list structure and assembly relationships graph. A case-based reasoning (CBR) approach was developed and applied to automate the selection of SPM layouts. These components were integrated using application programing interface (API) features and Visual Basic programming language. The outcome of the application of the novel approach that was developed in this thesis is reducing the steps for the assembly process of the SPM elements and reducing the time for designing SPM layouts. As a result, only one step is required to assemble any two SPM elements and the time for the selection process of SPM layouts is reduced by approximately 75% compared to the traditional processes. The integrated system developed in this thesis will help engineers in design and manufacturing fields to design SPM layouts in a more time-effective manner