When it comes to assembly line manufacturing, efficiency is everything. Even a one-second time delay on any portion of an assembly can mean hours in wasted time. But, once you’ve planned the process for the assembly line, where do you even start to design? At their simplest, here are a couple of points that designers consider when designing.
First, they rely on existing technology and integrate it into the design.
Like the robotic arm in this video, other companies already have the corner on this market. They have the science down and produce these robots far cheaper than it would be to design and build one from scratch. So companies, like JR Automation, just purchase the robotics from a company whose sole business is manufacturing robots. The same goes for other hydraulic or pneumatic components. Using what’s available and reliable produces a solid, cost-effective design.
Second, they rely on robust design.
Design the item for how it will be misused rather than used. In other words, the components should not simply withstand the stress and strain they encounter, but must be robust enough to handle forces in excess of the design requirements. Factors of safety for manufacturing equipment often exceed this rule, and could handle twice the amount of force required to get the job done. Companies like a solid product that lasts a long time with nominal repairs.
Check out this episode of the Product Design Show where Allison and Vince explain how JR Automation used Creo to design an assembly line that manufactures coolant reservoirs for car radiators.
