Hirohisa Narita

Environmental Burden Analysis for Machining Operation Using LCA Method

We have developed an environmental burden analyzer for machine tool operations, which can evaluate an NC program from the view point of an environment burden by simulating a cutting process and using emission intensities. In this paper, global warming is selected as an impact category and the environmental burden analysis of dry, wet and MQL machining operations are carried out by using this analyzer with consideration of various situations. The influence of the peripheral devices of a machine tool, the spindle and the servo motors, the coolant, the lubricant oil, the cutting tool and the metal chips to global warming is introduced in detail.

Development of an Acupuncture Training System Using Virtual Reality Technology

It is believed in oriental Chinese medicine that some special points called acu-points, and meridians connecting such acu-points, are existing in the human body. The acupuncture is accordingly such a medical treatment to cure the illness or to keep the human body healthy by stimulating related acu-points particularly those on a meridian. Acupuncture was originated from ancient China with the typical Chinese thinking and special philosophy, and recently has been accepted as a useful curing method, attracting quite much interest and being studied by many medical institutions worldwide. In this study, an acupuncture training system using virtual reality technology was developed. A virtual 3D human acu-points model was constructed on computer. The position and depth of acu-points are quantitatively indexed with the model. Acupuncture practices with quantitative targeting values and real-time true-false judgments are carried out.

A preliminary Research on Analysis of Pulse Diagnosis

Pulse diagnosis has been one of the most important diagnosis methods in the orient medicine. Pulse taking is carried out by putting fingers on the radialis artery, diagnosing the patient from the feeling transferred to the finger by pulsation of the artery. Because pulse diagnosis is very sensitive, requiring high level of skill and long experience, it is mostly difficult for a trainee to master. It is also a problem that pulse diagnosis is such a technique depending mostly on the feelings of separate doctors without a clear standard. In this study, the vibration of the surface of the skin caused by pulsation of the artery was measured as a method of settlement of the above issue points, and the development of the device to analyze pulse taking quantitatively was tried.

Proposal of a concept of future oriented machine tools for advanced manufacturing systems

In order to satisfy the recent various consumers’ needs, an advanced manufacturing system will be required. So, the innovative concept of Future Oriented Machine Tools (FOMT), which consists of four function blocks to realize the advanced manufacturing system, is proposed. The four function blocks are Management, Prediction, Observation and Strategy, and intelligent manufacturing processes are realized by utilizing these function blocks. FOMT can make a significant contribution in four stages: design stage, production scheduling stage, machining stage and post-machining stage. In the design stage, the product information such as accuracy can be evaluated in CAD, considering the manufacturing ability concurrently. In the production scheduling stage, the product schedules can be generated automatically and flexibly for the various products. In the machining stage, cutting conditions adjusted autonomously according to the machining status and machining problems. In the post-machining stage, the machining know-how data are accumulated and stored for future production and human engineers. The feasibility of it, especially the machining stage, is discussed using the developed cutting process simulator called VMSim (virtual machining simulator) from the view points of cutting force, machining error and environmental burden (CO2 emission).

Insertion force of acupuncture for a computer training system

In this study, a training computer simulation system for acupuncture training was proposed for the purpose of a quantitative characterization of the traditional oriental technique. A system using a force measuring device was constructed to record and analyze the basic data of insertion force. The index of insertion force was decided, and fundamental data for the development of such a computer simulation system of acupuncture training was obtained.

A Minimization of Environmental Burden of High-Speed Milling

An environmental burden analyzer of machine tool operation has been developed. This system can evaluate cutting conditions from the view points of total environmental burden due to electric consumption, cutting tool status, coolant, lubrication oil and metal chip of machine tool by considering the emission intensities and other parameters related to the evaluation factor of machine tool operations. Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 100 years impact was considered and equivalent CO2 emissions (based on emission intensities?) were evaluated. The environmental burden analysis of high speed milling due to cutting speed was determined by using the aforementioned system and is presented in this paper. We figured out that high speed milling is effective in reducing CO2 emission.

A Training System for Operating Medical Equipment

There are continuously increased new possibilities for the application of computer-added learning-education systems as the result of highly developed information communication technology (ICT). In this study, a computer-added training system was proposed for the education of clinical engineers. As the first step, problems in operating medical equipment are made clear, and research subjects are focused accordingly with their solutions clarified.

A STUDY ON CALCULATION METHODS OF ENVIRONMENTAL BURDEN FOR NC PROGRAM DIAGNOSIS

ABSTRACT Some activities for environmental protection have been tried to reduce environmental burdens in a lot of fields. Manufacturing field is also required to reduce them. Hence, prediction system of environmental burden for machining operation is proposed based on LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) policy. This system can calculate environmental burden (equivalent CO2 emission) due to the electric consumption of a machine tool, the cutting tools status, the coolant quantity, the lubricant oil quantity and the metal chips, and provide the information of the accurate environmental burden of the machining process by considering some activities related to the machine tool operations. In this paper, the development status of prediction system is described. As a case study, two NC programs that manufacture simple shape are also evaluated to show the feasibility of it.

Proposal of Modification Strategy of NC Program in the Virtual Manufacturing Environment

Virtual manufacturing will be a key technology in process planning, because there are no evaluation tools for cutting conditions. Therefore, virtual machining simulator (VMSim), which can predict end milling processes, has been developed. The modification strategy of NC program using VMSim is proposed in this paper.

An Installation Position and a Shape of an Artificial Hip Joint Suitable for Japanese Daily Activities

Regarding Japanese daily activities, there are a lot of situations of dislocation for persons after total hip arthroplasty. The objective of this research is to obtain an installation position and a shape of an artificial hip joint which reduce the risk of the dislocation even if the people do Japanese daily activities. Two magnetic positional sensors attached to body surface are used to measure motions of a hip joint between Westerner dairy and Japanese activities. As a result, adequate conditions of the artificial hip joint suitable for Japanese daily activities can be obtained.Copyright