SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING TOOL CALIBRATION IN COMPUTER DIRECTED ASSEMBLY AND MANUFACTURING

• US 20120310397A1
• Filed: 06/06/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paramit Corporation (Tecan Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Paramit Corporation (Tecan Group AG)
• Inventors: RATAUL, BALBIR S.
• Application Number:
  US13/490,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20120310397A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/95
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41805 characterised by assembly
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4188 characterised by CIM planning or realisation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24168 Identify connected programmer to allow control, program entry
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31001 CIM, total factory control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31053 Planning, generate assembly plans
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/40 Minimising material used in manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for managing tools and calibrating tools when performing assembly instructions in a computer directed assembly system. To ensure tools remain calibrated, in one embodiment a tool identifier associated with a tool required for the assembly instruction is obtained. Using the tool identifier, a tool usage time for the tool is aggregated from an assembly record database. To determine whether the tool may need calibration, the tool usage time from a last calibration point is compared with a tool usage threshold for calibrating the tool as provided for by the associated assembly instruction. If the tool usage threshold is exceeded, using the tool is disallowed unless the tool is recalibrated. Alternatively, the tool is authorized for use to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point does not exceed the tool usage threshold.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of managing a tool used when assembling a manufactured product according to an assembly instruction from a computer directed assembly system, the method comprising:

obtaining a tool identifier associated with a tool necessary to perform an assembly instruction used in the assembly of materials onto a component of the manufactured product;

aggregating a tool usage time from an assembly record database according to the tool identifier and determining a last calibration point for the tool;

determining if the tool usage time from the last calibration point exceeds a tool usage threshold for calibrating the selected tool as provided for by the associated assembly instruction;

disallowing use of the selected tool to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point exceeds the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction; and

authorizing use of the tool to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point does not exceed the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining a tool identifier is provided from at least one source selected from a set of sources including:

a bar code on the tool, a Quick Response (QR) code on the tool, an alpha-numeric sequence visible on the tool, and a radio-frequency identification tag associated with the tool.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the last calibration point for the selected tool includes reading the last calibration point from at least one storage area selected from a set of storage areas including:

a storage area built into the tool for recording the last calibration point and a storage area in the assembly record database that associates that last calibration point with the tool identifier for the tool.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction is selected from a set of tool usage thresholds including:

a manufacturer specified tool usage threshold and a user specified tool usage threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

updating the tool usage time in the assembly record database to include additional time associated with using the tool to perform the assembly instruction.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the additional time is selected from a set of time intervals including:

an actual time interval for using tool, an estimated time interval for using the tool, and a fixed time interval associated with each use of the tool.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein authorizing use of the tool to perform specified assembly is limited to a time interval as indicated in the assembly instruction.

8. A computer program product for managing a tool used when assembling a manufactured product according to an assembly instruction from a computer directed assembly system, tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:

obtain a tool identifier associated with a tool necessary to perform an assembly instruction used in the assembly of materials onto a component of the manufactured product;

aggregate a tool usage time from an assembly record database according to the tool identifier and determining a last calibration point for the tool;

determine if the tool usage time from the last calibration point exceeds a tool usage threshold for calibrating a selected tool as provided for by the associated assembly instruction;

disallow use of the selected tool to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point exceeds the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction; and

authorize use of the selected tool to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point does not exceed the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein obtaining the tool identifier is provided from at least one source selected from a set of sources including:

a bar code on the tool, a Quick Response (QR) code on the tool, an alpha-numeric sequence visible on the tool, a radio-frequency identification tag associated with the tool.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein determining the last calibration point for the selected tool includes reading the last calibration point from at least one storage area selected from a set of storage areas including, a storage area built into the tool for recording the last calibration point and a storage area in the assembly record database that associates that last calibration point with the tool identifier for the tool.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising instructions that when executed cause the programmable processor to:

update the tool usage time in the assembly record database to include additional time associated with using the tool to perform the assembly instruction

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the additional time is selected from a set of time intervals including:

an actual time interval for using tool, an estimated time interval for using the tool, and a fixed time interval associated with each use of the tool.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein authorizing use of the tool to perform specified assembly is limited to a time interval as indicated in the assembly instruction.

14. An apparatus for managing a tool used when assembling a manufactured product according to an assembly instruction from a computer directed assembly system, the apparatus comprising:

a processor capable of executing instructions; and

a memory holding instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

obtain a tool identifier associated with a tool necessary to perform an assembly instruction used in the assembly of materials onto a component of the manufactured product;

aggregate a tool usage time from an assembly record database according to the tool identifier and determining a last calibration point for the tool;

determine if the tool usage time from the last calibration point exceeds a tool usage threshold for calibrating a selected tool as provided for by the associated assembly instruction;

disallow use of the selected tool to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point exceeds the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction; and

authorize use of the selected tool to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point does not exceed the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein obtaining the tool identifier is provided from at least one source selected from a set of sources including, a bar code on the tool, a Quick Response (QR) code on the tool, an alpha-numeric sequence visible on the tool, a radio-frequency identification tag associated with the tool.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein determining the last calibration point for the selected tool includes reading the last calibration point from at least one storage area selected from a set of storage areas including, a storage area built into the tool for recording the last calibration point and a storage area in the assembly record database that associates the last calibration point with the tool identifier for the tool.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising instructions that when executed, cause the programmable processor to:

update the tool usage time in the assembly record database to include additional time associated with using the tool to perform the assembly instruction.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the additional time is selected from a set of time intervals including:

an actual time interval for using tool, an estimated time interval for using the tool, and a fixed time interval associated with each use of the tool.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein authorizing use of the tool to perform a specified assembly is limited to a time interval as indicated in the assembly instruction.