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
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.
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.
Method & Evidence
Variables
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?
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.
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.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2020). Unfastening of Hexagonal Headed Screws by a Collaborative Robot. IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1109/tase.2019.2958712 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/b201b835-9aee-4023-ba0f-d12f4964d769/automated-screw-fastener-removal-boosts-remanufacturing-efficiency-by-40
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.
Source
IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering
Unfastening of Hexagonal Headed Screws by a Collaborative Robot
journal · 2020
View sourceQuestions 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.
- Is there evidence that remanufacturing affects design outcomes?
- The research successfully demonstrated an automated system using a collaborative robot to unfasten screws, a task that accounts for a significant portion of disassembly efforts in remanufacturing. Remanufacturing offers substantial economic, social, and environmental benefits, but its adoption is often hindered by high Source: IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (2020).
- Where does this collaborative robot research apply?
- Remanufacturing of electromechanical components, specifically turbochargers. It sits within commercial production research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
remanufacturing design research · evidence on remanufacturing · does remanufacturing improve design outcomes · collaborative robot studies for designers · remanufacturing and collaborative robot findings · commercial production research evidence