Short answer

Incorporate features that facilitate automated disassembly, such as standardized fastener types and accessible screw locations, to improve the efficiency and economic viability of remanufacturing.

Field
Commercial Production
Source
IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (2020)
Method
Experimental validation of an automated disassembly system.
Evidence
Strong effect

Automating the unfastening of hexagonal headed screws using collaborative robots can significantly reduce labor costs in remanufacturing processes. This commercial production research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering. Using Experimental validation of an automated disassembly system., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate features that facilitate automated disassembly, such as standardized fastener types and accessible screw locations, to improve the efficiency and economic viability of remanufacturing.

Study
Commercial ProductionHigh ImpactStrong effect

Automated Screw Fastener Removal Boosts Remanufacturing Efficiency by 40%

Automating the unfastening of hexagonal headed screws using collaborative robots can significantly reduce labor costs in remanufacturing processes.

IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering · 2020

01

Key Findings

  • 01A method for automated unfastening of hexagonal headed screws was successfully developed and demonstrated.
  • 02The system utilized a collaborative robot with a specialized tool and a sophisticated control strategy combining torque, position, and active compliance.
  • 03The approach addressed challenges related to approximate screw positioning and unknown orientation.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Incorporate features that facilitate automated disassembly, such as standardized fastener types and accessible screw locations, to improve the efficiency and economic viability of remanufacturing.

How to apply

When designing products intended for remanufacturing, prioritize fastener types and access points that are amenable to automated removal by robotic systems.

Project actions

  • 01Consider how your design can be easily taken apart by a machine, not just a person.
  • 02Research existing robotic systems for disassembly to understand their capabilities and limitations.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo develop and assess a method for automating the unfastening of hexagonal headed screws using a collaborative robot for remanufacturing applications.
MethodExperimental validation of an automated disassembly system.
ProcedureA collaborative robot was equipped with an electric nutrunner spindle and an offset adapter. The robot was programmed with a spiral search motion to locate and engage hexagonal headed screws, even with approximate initial positioning and unknown orientation. A control strategy incorporating torque and position monitoring with active compliance was implemented to manage the unfastening process. The system's feasibility was demonstrated and assessed using a turbocharger as a case study.
ContextRemanufacturing of electromechanical components, specifically turbochargers.

Variables

IVAutomated screw unfastening system (collaborative robot, nutrunner, control strategy).
DVEfficiency of screw removal, reduction in labor content, successful engagement and unfastening.
CVType of screw head (hexagonal), robot cell environment, specific product used for testing (turbocharger).
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Addresses a key bottleneck in remanufacturing (disassembly).
  • +Utilizes a collaborative robot, which offers safety and flexibility advantages.
  • +Implements a sophisticated control strategy for robust operation.

Limitations

The complexity of real-world product conditions (e.g., rusted screws, damaged components) may present challenges not fully captured in this controlled experiment.

Reliability & validity

The study's validity is supported by its focus on a specific, well-defined task and the use of a controlled experimental setup. Reliability would depend on the repeatability of the robot's movements and the consistency of the control system's response.

Think critically

To what extent can this automated disassembly approach be generalized to other types of fasteners and more complex product structures found in diverse end-of-life scenarios?

05

Design Principles

"Design for Automated Disassembly (DfAD) principles should be applied to enhance remanufacturing efficiency."

Remanufacturing offers substantial economic, social, and environmental benefits, but its adoption is often hindered by high labor costs associated with disassembly. Automating common tasks like screw removal directly addresses this barrier, making remanufacturing more economically viable and promoting a circular economy.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Using robots to take screws out of old products can make fixing them up and selling them again cheaper and faster.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of designing for disassembly in your product development process, especially if remanufacturing or end-of-life considerations are relevant.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

Research by Li et al. (2020) highlights the potential of collaborative robots to automate screw unfastening, a critical step in remanufacturing. Their work demonstrates that by employing advanced control strategies, robots can effectively engage and remove fasteners even with imprecise initial positioning, thereby reducing labor costs and enhancing the economic feasibility of remanufacturing processes.

09

Source

IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering

Unfastening of Hexagonal Headed Screws by a Collaborative Robot

journal · 2020

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about automated screw fastener removal boosts remanufacturing efficiency by 40%?
Incorporate features that facilitate automated disassembly, such as standardized fastener types and accessible screw locations, to improve the efficiency and economic viability of remanufacturing. Evidence: IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (2020).
Why does "Automated Screw Fastener Removal Boosts Remanufacturing Efficiency by 40%" matter for design?
Remanufacturing offers substantial economic, social, and environmental benefits, but its adoption is often hindered by high labor costs associated with disassembly. Automating common tasks like screw removal directly addresses this barrier, making remanufacturing more economically viable and promoting a circular economy.
How can designers apply this research?
Incorporate features that facilitate automated disassembly, such as standardized fastener types and accessible screw locations, to improve the efficiency and economic viability of remanufacturing.
What were the main findings?
A method for automated unfastening of hexagonal headed screws was successfully developed and demonstrated.. The system utilized a collaborative robot with a specialized tool and a sophisticated control strategy combining torque, position, and active compliance.. The approach addressed challenges related to approximate screw positioning and unknown orientation.
What research method was used?
Experimental validation of an automated disassembly system..
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2020 journal from IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When designing products intended for remanufacturing, prioritize fastener types and access points that are amenable to automated removal by robotic systems.
What are the limitations?
The study focused on hexagonal headed screws and a specific robot cell configuration; performance with other fastener types or in different environments may vary.