| Engineering house EDAG is developing
laser-guided assembly processes for use with reflective surfaces such
as glass, painted panels and interior plastics. It aims to automate labour-intensive
tasks in final assembly.
At the moment it is relatively common for robots to use sensors to assemble
bare metal, but painted surfaces interfere with the lasers’ colour
spectrum. Reflections also affect measurements.
The firm is close to a breakthrough that will allow such systems to move
from the bodyshop into final assembly. Optimised windshield fitment will
be a key application, especially for OEMs considering head-up displays
(HUDs).
EDAG System Technologies cost engineering manager Christian Koebel said:
“HUDs have special requirements for the surface where the image
is projected – you have to reach very tight tolerances. Glass cannot
be manufactured as accurately as a body panel and you have to compensate
for this somehow.”
The firm is starting to talk to OEMs. The system could be ready for offline
or low-volume production by the end of next year. Koerbel said it’s
unlikely that it would be ready for series production before 2010.
Using laser sensors developed in-house, EDAG’s Best Fit technology
is used in the bodyshop, automatically positioning closures to the body
in white to ±0.25mm or better.
The sensors ensure that the fitted part is in the optimum position rather
than a pre-determined nominal. This intelligence compensates for tolerances
in the parts being assembled. |
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