Sensors

[murtagh024]

I am a student studying manufacturing engineering, and my insight into robotics at this stage is very basic. I have been given an assignment, and a task within this assignment asks me to propose 3 possible methods to combat the following situation. Basically in a CNC milling machine's vice builds up with aluminium swarf, eventually causing the billet (aluminium) to sit incorrectly and there for being cut incorrectly. The CNC is part of a robotic cell along with an articulated arm robot and so the cell must work autonomously. I have been looking into several types of sensors but have not found a suitable one yet, a friend suggested i look at Location Sensors??? but as yet i have not found any existence of these? If possible has anyone got any suggestions or links that may be helpful?

[Soeren]

Hi,

[...] propose 3 possible methods to combat the following situation. [...]
[...] I have been looking into several types of sensors [...]but have not found a

I'm not sure if you want to detect a possible problem or you just wanna handle it (which can be done without sensors)?

[...] a friend suggested i look at Location Sensors??? but as yet i have not found any existence of these? If possible has anyone got any suggestions or links that may be helpful?

Depending on the shape repeatability of the billets, detection could be done by measuring the capacitance between this and a few (isolated) areas on the clamp that holds it. Infrared position detection is another option.

Not knowing the exact wording of your assignment, I'd just go for a stiff (rotating?) brush, sweeping the clamp between each billet - whether it's clean or not, as this can be done very fast and with little cost overhead.

In case of further questions... Adding sketches/photos and a precise description is a very good idea.

[murtagh024]

A solution that both detects there is a problem with swarf in the vice and has a process which then removes this swarf from the vice are required.
The process which is used to remove this swarf has to guarantee that no swarf remains in the vice, and so a rotating brush although probably the ideal solution my not guarantee this.
 Other solutions i have thought of include things such as spraying the vice with a jet of water or coolant, and if possible rotating the vice so as the swarf falls out.
I was thinking if a suitable sensors was installed then processes like the rotating brush could be repeated several times until the condition of the vice was suitable for correct billet locating could be assured.
 
Thanks