Development and Performance of an Aerospace Flexible Automated Electronic Component Assembly Cell

Summary This paper will present the results of a continuing development effort which started approximately five years ago with a Lockheed-funded experimental automation laboratory. The techniques developed in this laboratory have been incorporated in the first production assembly application which will go on-line in the second quarter of 1984. Continuing, active laboratory study will add to the production capability during 1985 and 1986. The final step is planned for 1986 when the last factory computer interface will be closed and a paperless, electronic design/manufacture production system will go on-line. The design and performance of an electronic assembly cell using robotic insertion of components into printed circuit boards for an aerospace application will be described and the time-phased evolution of the automated production cell will be outlined. Discussions will be included about such technical aspects as grippers and fixtures, bar coding of parts, and peripheral support equipment. The discussion will emphasize the planned expansion and integration of the above system into an overall electronic integrated design/manufacturing system. This system will use an existing computerized engineering design data base as a basis for component ordering, receiving, and inspection; manufacturing planning; tool design, and determination of the automated cell software for assembly and testing of the final product. The end result will be a completely computer-integrated CAD/CAM production system without the need for internal factory paper work, all factory operation interfaces being computer-compatible.