Automation Potential Analysis of Assembly Processes based on 3D Product Assembly Models in CAD Systems

The planning of production processes is still a manual process. Until this day, there is no comprehensive approach to generate assembly processes out of 3D assembly models. Based on missing information, past approaches displayed the boundaries of feature-based approaches. Former research also discussed some missing features for a comprehensive approach to generate assembly sequences automatically. This work is an extension to complement this kind of work by defining the automation potential of assembly processes just based on 3D product assembly models in CAD systems. Currently, planners decide by their own past experience how to handle assembly processes. Therefore, the degree of automation depends on personal preferences, experience and corporate know-how. To overcome this gap, a novel approach is examined to analyze automation potentials directly from 3D product assembly models. Every assembly process can be split up to four main categories: separation, handling, positioning and joining. Based on geometrical data and the recognition of assembly features, these categories will be analyzed and checked for their ability to identify the automation potential directly from 3D product assembly models in CAD systems.