DESIGN OF THREE AXIS PICK AND PLACE MECHANISM FOR FRICTION WELDING MACHINE TO REDUCE THE TIME CYCLE AND TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY

This study aimed to create a proto-type robotic pick and place system that utilizes pneumatic components to drive an arm, an air compressor as a source of power, sensors technology as a feedback device, and a programmable logic controller. Robotic pick and place a system consists of a loading station, testing station, processing station, and sorting station. The process involves the pick and place operation for the friction welding machine, for loading and unloading operation of raw material. An optimum assembly design is then achieved with workable sub designs of the manipulator components. As a result, the proposed approach for manipulator design yields substantially less number of iterations, automatic propagation of design changes and great saving of design efforts. Further with best machining process and cheapest material, catering the strength and machining requirements suitable materials are selected to fulfil the objective.