Additively Manufactured Components With Teardrop Recesses
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Solution Overview
Problem
3-D printed components often lack effective end effector features that allow robots to securely grip and manipulate them during assembly processes, especially due to issues with friction and stability, leading to potential damage and inefficiencies in handling complex geometries.
Innovation Solution
The development of additively manufactured components with specifically designed end effector features, including recesses with angled faces, teardrop shapes, and identification marks, which are configured to be gripped by robotic end effectors, enhancing the gripping mechanism through friction and stability improvements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If 3-D printed components are handled directly without special features, then the component geometry remains simple, but the robot cannot securely grip and manipulate the component
Solution Approach 1:
The component is divided into functional zones: a gripping zone with recesses and angled faces for robot interaction, and a functional zone maintaining the complex 3-D printed geometry. The recesses are positioned at specific locations to provide optimal gripping surfaces while preserving the overall component design.
Solution Approach 2:
Special gripping features (recesses with angled faces) are added only to specific local areas of the component where robot interaction is needed, rather than modifying the entire component. This allows secure gripping while maintaining the simplicity of non-critical areas.
2Reliability
If recesses with angled faces are added to improve gripping, then the robot can securely grip the component, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping features (recesses with angled faces) are integrated into the component during the additive manufacturing process itself, combining the gripping function with the component fabrication. This eliminates separate manufacturing steps and reduces overall complexity despite the added geometric features.
Solution Approach 2:
The angled faces are designed with specific angle ranges (e.g., 45 degrees) that are optimized for both gripping performance and manufacturability. These parameter choices ensure reliable grip while maintaining compatibility with standard additive manufacturing capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If multiple recesses are added to provide stable grip, then the gripping mechanism improves, but the component surface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recesses are designed with asymmetric geometries (different sizes, orientations, and depths) that provide stable gripping while maintaining visual and geometric simplicity. The asymmetric design allows the robot end effector to engage reliably without requiring complex symmetric feature sets.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These features enable secure and efficient handling of 3-D printed components by robots, ensuring stable grip and accurate assembly, even for parts with complex geometries, by providing a secure interface that accounts for various forces and movements during the assembly process.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing the gripping mechanism through friction and stability improvements
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect is an apparatus including an additively manufactured component including a surface with an end effector feature, the end effector feature co-additively manufactured with the additively manufactured component and configured to be gripped by a corresponding end effector on a robot. In an aspect, the end effector feature includes a recess in the surface. In another aspect, the recess includes an angled face. In an aspect, the recess has a teardrop shape. An aspect further includes an identification feature. In an aspect, the end effector feature includes a plurality of recesses in the surface. In another aspect, the end effector feature enables a 3-point kinematic self-aligning positive control lock.