A desktop virtual reality-based interactive modular fixture configuration design system

Modular fixture configuration design is a complicated task requiring strong professional background and practical experience. However, automated or semi-automated computer aided modular fixture systems based on CAD packages still are not well accepted by the manufacturing industry due to the lack of intuitive interaction and immediate feedback compared with traditional models such as paper and physical models. In this paper, a novel Virtual Reality-based system for interactive modular fixture configuration design is presented. We use a multi-view based modular fixture assembly model to assist information representation and management. In addition, the suggested strategy is compatible with the principles of virtual environment and it is easy to reutilize the element model. Based on geometric constraints, we propose a precise 3D manipulation approach to improve intuitive interaction and accurate 3D positioning of fixture components in virtual space. Thus, the modular fixture configuration design task can precisely be performed in virtual space.

[1]  Andrew Y. C. Nee,et al.  Expert fixture-design system for an automated manufacturing environment , 1992, Comput. Aided Des..

[2]  Andrew Y. C. Nee,et al.  An approach to automating modular fixture design and assembly , 1997 .

[3]  Yong Wang,et al.  VADE: A Virtual Assembly Design Environment , 1999, IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications.

[4]  Philippe Coiffet,et al.  Virtual Reality Technology , 1992 .

[5]  Brian S. Thompson,et al.  The computer-aided design of modular fixturing systems , 1987 .

[6]  Uma Jayaram,et al.  Industry case studies in the use of immersive virtual assembly , 2007, Virtual Reality.

[7]  Kenneth Y. Goldberg,et al.  A complete algorithm for designing planar fixtures using modular components , 1996, IEEE Trans. Robotics Autom..

[8]  Yiming Rong,et al.  Automated Generation of Fixture Configuration Design , 1997 .

[9]  Yiming Rong,et al.  FIX-DES: A computer-aided modular fixture configuration design system , 1997 .

[10]  Amy J. C. Trappey,et al.  Computer-aided fixture design system for comprehensive modular fixtures , 2001 .

[11]  Andrew Y. C. Nee,et al.  Advanced Fixture Design for FMS , 1995 .

[12]  Brian S. Thompson,et al.  Automated design of modular fixtures for flexible manufacturing systems , 1986 .

[13]  J.U. Turner,et al.  Constraint representation and reduction in assembly modeling and analysis , 1992, IEEE Trans. Robotics Autom..

[14]  Rakesh Nagi,et al.  Assembly Variant Design Methodology , 2003 .

[15]  Dianliang Wu,et al.  Virtual assembly technologies based on constraint and DOF analysis , 2007 .

[16]  A. Senthil Kumar,et al.  An automated design and assembly of interference-free modular fixture setup , 2000, Comput. Aided Des..

[17]  Mark Lehto,et al.  A review of: “Virtual Reality Technology” Grigore Burdea and Philippe Coiffet John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1994 , 1996 .

[18]  Aaron Skonnard,et al.  Essential XML Quick Reference: A Programmer's Reference to XML, XPath, XSLT, XML Schema, SOAP, and More , 2001 .

[19]  Bin Ma,et al.  A virtual injection molding system based on numerical simulation , 2009 .

[20]  Amy J. C. Trappey,et al.  Automated fixture configuration using projective geometry approach , 1993 .

[21]  Jing-Rong Li,et al.  Desktop virtual reality for maintenance training: an object oriented prototype system (V-REALISM) , 2003, Comput. Ind..

[22]  Jianrong Tan,et al.  Constrained behavior manipulation for interactive assembly in a virtual environment , 2007 .

[23]  Arun Kumar,et al.  An Integrated Approach to Collision-Free Computer-Aided Modular Fixture Design , 2000 .

[24]  Amarnath Banerjee,et al.  A behavioral scene graph for rule enforcement in interactive virtual assembly sequence planning , 2000 .

[25]  Diego Borro,et al.  Description of a haptic system for virtual maintainability in aeronautics , 2002, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems.

[26]  Nong Ye,et al.  A comparative study of assembly planning in traditional and virtual environments , 1999, IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern. Part C.

[27]  Yiming Rong,et al.  Automated modular fixture planning: Geometric analysis , 1998 .

[28]  Rakesh Gupta,et al.  Prototyping and design for assembly analysis using multimodal virtual environments , 1997, Comput. Aided Des..

[29]  Kevin W. Lyons,et al.  Virtual assembly using virtual reality techniques , 1997, Comput. Aided Des..

[30]  Wen-Tsai Sung,et al.  Using Virtual Reality technologies for manufacturing applications , 2003, Int. J. Comput. Appl. Technol..

[31]  Yiming Rong,et al.  Automated modular fixture planning: Accuracy, clamping, and accessibility analyses , 1998 .

[32]  Csaba Antonya,et al.  Design evaluation and modification of mechanical systems in virtual environments , 2007, Virtual Reality.

[33]  H. M. Sayers,et al.  Desktop virtual environments: a study of navigation and age , 2004, Interact. Comput..