Automated Head Assignment for Multihead Composite Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing composite material application machines with multiple heads lack efficient programming capabilities to produce a variety of composite parts, requiring excessive manual programming and limiting their ability to manufacture large, complex parts efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A computer-readable medium with software that generates course head assignments for multihead composite material application machines, using a course head manager to determine compliance with head characteristics and assign heads to paths, enabling efficient programming of multiple heads for complex composite parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a multihead composite material application machine is used to increase production efficiency, then productivity is improved, but programming complexity increases excessively requiring manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic head assignment where the computer automatically determines which head processes which path based on geometric characteristics, eliminating the need for manual programming intervention. The machine serves itself by autonomously optimizing head-to-path assignments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of head assignment from manual specification to automatic calculation based on path geometry parameters. By analyzing path characteristics and matching them with head capabilities, the system dynamically determines optimal assignments without manual programming.
2Productivity
If multiple composite material application heads are used to manufacture large composite parts, then productivity is improved, but the difficulty of programming and controlling multiple heads increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual programming operations with an automated computer-based assignment system. Instead of operators manually configuring head assignments, a computer algorithm automatically determines optimal assignments based on part geometry and head characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary computer-based assignment system that mediates between the multiple heads and the control system. This intermediary automatically manages head-to-path assignments, simplifying the control architecture and reducing operational complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual programming is used for multihead machines to handle complex paths, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but excessive manual labor and time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automatic analysis of path geometries and head characteristics before manufacturing begins. By pre-calculating optimal head assignments based on path properties, the system maintains precision requirements while eliminating time-consuming manual programming activities.
Data Source
AI summary
To generate course head assignments for a multihead composite material application machine having a set of heads, a set of paths for a ply for a composite part is received and it is determined whether each path of the set of paths complies with a head characteristic for the set of heads. In addition, a special head of the set of heads is assigned to a non-standard path of the set of paths in response to determining the non-standard path does not comply with the head characteristic and ones of the set of heads are assigned to corresponding ones of the set of paths in response to the ones of the set of paths being in compliance with the head characteristics. Furthermore, a constellation of head locations is calculated in response to the set of paths being in compliance with the head characteristic and the set of heads are assigned to the constellation of head locations in response to calculating the constellation of head locations.