Modular Robotic Tooling Assembly with Anti-Rotation Receptacles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic tooling assemblies require custom designs that are time-consuming and costly to produce, limiting flexibility in tool mounting configurations and spatial adjustments, as they are typically fixed to specific tools and robots, leading to inefficiencies in machine loading, unloading, and multiple tool operations.
Innovation Solution
A modular robotic tooling assembly that breaks down the robot mount into interchangeable components, including a base mount with anti-rotation receptacles and stems of varying lengths, allowing for customizable configurations without the need for custom machining, enabling mass production and kit-based assembly for specific applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If custom tooling is designed for specific tools and robots, then the tooling can be precisely matched to specific applications, but the production time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The tooling assembly is divided into separate modular components: a base that attaches to the robot and tool mounts that attach to tools. These components can be independently manufactured using standard processes and then assembled together, eliminating the need for custom-machined integrated tooling while maintaining precise alignment through standardized mounting interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The base and tool mounts are designed as universal components that can work with multiple different tools and robot types through standardized mounting patterns. This allows a single set of base components to support various tool configurations, reducing the need for custom tooling designs while maintaining precise and reliable attachments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom tooling is machined to match specific parameters, then the tooling fits the application perfectly, but the cost and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the tooling into standardized base components and tool mounts, each component can be manufactured using conventional machining processes rather than custom one-off machining. The modular design allows these components to be adapted to different applications through configuration rather than custom manufacturing, reducing cost while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular components are designed with adjustable and configurable parameters such as stem lengths, mounting orientations, and tool positions. These parameters can be changed by selecting different standard components or configuring the assembly rather than machining new parts, providing application-specific fit without the high cost of custom machining.
3Reliability
If the robot mount is fixed to specific tools, then the tooling is optimized for those tools, but the flexibility for different configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tooling system is segmented into a base that provides stable attachment to the robot and separate tool mounts that can be configured for different tools. This segmentation maintains reliable and stable connections through standardized mounting interfaces while allowing flexible reconfiguration by changing which tool mounts are used or how they are arranged.
Solution Approach 2:
The tooling system is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, allowing the base and tool mounts to be assembled in different configurations for different applications. The standardized mounting patterns enable tools to be changed, repositioned, or reoriented without redesigning the entire tooling system, providing both stability and flexibility.
4Manufacturing precision
If tool mounts are custom made for each tool, then each tool has a dedicated mounting solution, but the complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating custom tool mounts for each tool, the system uses universal tool mounts with standardized mounting patterns that can accommodate multiple different tools. This reduces the number of unique components needed while maintaining precise mounting capability through the standardized interfaces and anti-rotation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The tooling is segmented into standardized components that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation reduces complexity by allowing each component to be designed and manufactured separately using standard processes, then combined through simple assembly operations rather than requiring complex custom-integrated designs.
Data Source
AI summary
A multiple mounting robotic tooling assembly (10) includes a base mount (12) for mounting with a robot. The base mount (12) includes a plurality of receptacles (32), each for receiving a tool stem. One or more tool stems (14) each coupled with one of the plurality of receptacles (32) to mount a tool to the base. One or more tool mounts (16) each couples with one of the one or more stems (14). The one or more tool mounts (16) receive a tool for conducting an operation.