3D MAPS: Three-dimensional mechanical assembly planning system

Abstract 3D MAPS, an acronym for 3-Dimensional Mechanical Assembly Planning System, is an automated system that generates detailed assembly plans for three-dimensional mechanical products. It has three major modules: description of mechanical assembly design, analysis of assembly models, and generation of assembly plans. Both geometric models and nongeometric properties are considered in describing a 3-D assembly design, and the following information is inferred from the system: mating parts, mating faces, mating directions, collision constraints, and nongeometric sequence constraints. The inferred information is then used in the subsequent planning stage for generating detailed assembly instructions. The planning scheme contains two parts: initial assembly planning that considers solely geometric constraints, and plan modification that further considers nongeometric constraints. In this paper, the algorithms developed to implement the above three modules are discussed. Examples of mechanical assemblies are used to illustrate the information flow of the entire planning system, from the assembly design input through the execution of the developed algorithms to the final assembly plan output. Analysis of the results is also included.