Using Machine Vision for Flexible Automatic Assembly System

Flexible automatic assembly systems become the useful automation system for high mixed production lines of manufacturing processes. This research was aimed to design the primary prototype of the flexible automatic pick and place assembly system. We integrated the machine vision system with the robotic system to conduct a pick and place process. The product models consisted of a main part and an assembly part. The main parts were transferred to the mechanical system through a conveyor belt. When the main parts were held at the specific location, the images of the main parts were captured. Using the image processing of LabVIEW NI vision software and NI vision builder and image calibration method, we could obtain the shape, and orientation of assemble space in the main part which were used to control selective compliance articulated robot arm (SCARA). The SCARA was used to pick the assembly parts from the storage station and place them into the assembly spaces on the main parts. As the results of the prototyping, we evaluated the coordinate conversion factors from the image calibration and used them to control the movement of the SCARA. We finally obtained the reliable flexible automatic assembly system that could detect and identify the shape, and orientation of the assembly space correctly. The SCARA could also pick the correct assembly parts and place them into the assembly space perfectly.