Kai Cheng

Augmented Reality for Manufacturing

The origin of the term ‘Virtual Reality’ can be traced back to the work of French playwright, actor and director Antonin Artaud [1938]. Artaud’s drama ‘Theatre and its double’ was first of the sequel to be followed by several fiction and nonfiction novels, dramas, and movies generating enthusiasm in this novel area of work.

The Future of Virtual Manufacturing Using Augmented Reality Technology

Extracted with permission from: John J. Bollinger (ed) (1998) Visionary manufacturing challenges for 2020. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.

Augmented Reality for Computer Numerical Control-Based Applications

The subject of manufacturing commenced when human altered the geometry of work pieces by rotating either a tool or a work piece to cut and to remove pieces of the material in the production of weapons as early as 700 B.C. It was not until the fifteenth century that the machining of metal begun.

Augmented Reality for Industrial Manipulators, Gantries and Conveyors

The industrial manipulators, gantries and conveyors are essential part of an industrial environment. In order to develop a virtual manufacturing facility, the availability of augmented reality for such equipment is necessary. Following sections describe development of augmented reality for manipulators, gantries and conveyors.

Virtual Manufacturing for Discrete Manufacturing Systems

The evolution of manufacturing practices since industrial revolution relates directly to the advancement in scientific methodologies and management principles. Some examples of the manifestations of these principles are: (1) Development of coal-fired furnaces for iron making; (2) Development of steam engines and steam-driven machines; (3) Development of transportation, communication, and electricity networks; (4) Establishment and advancement in automobile industry; (5) Development of mass production systems; (6) Development and advancement in aviation industry; (7) Development of modern manufacturing processes; (8) Development in electronics industry; (9) Development of computer science and engineering; (10) Development in Aerospace industry; and (11) Advancement in weapon technology.

Augmented Reality for Sensors, Transducers and Actuators

Sensors transducers and actuators are the essential elements of a control system. These objects play an important role in implementing the proxy virtual manufacturing organization through transfer of their current state over the local area network. Thus, permitting virtual manufacturing organization to respond as the manufacturing system has been ideally programmed to perform. In case of a conflict an error signal is generated thet is traced through VMS Diagnostic (refer to Chapter 11)

Virtual Reality Design for Programmable Logic Controller Based Applications

Programmable logic controller (PLC) remained and important control element initially in automobile industry and later in almost all categories of the industries. PLC was basically designed to replace relay circuits in automobile industry. This chapter details design of augmented reality for the PLC.

Augmented Reality for Mechatronics-Based Applications

Contrary to (Transister Transister Logic) TTL or CMOS voltage levels only, the Mechatronics system may also be operating on different voltage levels.

Automation and Control in Manufacturing

Automation and control is the key element of morden manufacturing machinery. Its scope ranges from data transmission over parallel and serial interfaces as well as over local and wide area networks. Sensors, transducers and actuators are the objects of automation in open and close loop control configuratioin. Several control methodologies (refer to section 3.3.) are in practice in manufacturing sector.

Manufacturing Processes and Systems

A large number of manufacturing equipment exist for the implementation of basic discrete manufacturing processes into production machinery. Kalpakjian and Schmid provide a list of discrete manufacturing processes available under different categories of manufacturing, which are used in actual production. These major categories are: (1) Metal forming processes; (2) Bulk deformation processes; (3) Sheet Metal forming processes; (4) Metal removal processes; (5) Metal joining processes; (6) Processing of Polymers and reinforced plastics; (7) Processing of Metal Powders, Ceramics, Glasses, Composites and Super Conductors; (8) Thermal Treatment of materials; (9) Surface Treatment of materials; (10) Fabrication of Micro Mechanical and Microelectronic Devices; and (11) Non Conventional processes. The equipment used under each category of discrete manufacturing is further classified based on their: (1) Type manufacturing equipments are discrete products capable of manufacturing components, assemblies, structure, mechanism and machine (Kalpakjian and Schmid 2003); (2) Size; (3) Accessories; (4) Operation parameters, and (5) Type of control.