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S. Gerbino*, F. Arrichiello**
* Dept. of Industrial Engineering Design and Management (DPGI), Univ. of Naples, Federico II,
P.le Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy
** Dept. of Automation, Electromagnetism, Information Engineering and Industrial Mathematics
(DAEIMI), Univ. of Cassino, Via Di Biasio 43, 03043 Cassino (FR), Italy
Abstract
The use of the screw theory to do constraint analysis is described. Screw theory uses a matrix
representation to describe, for any mating features, the part's degrees of freedom (twist-matrix) and
the directions along which the constraint reacts (wrench-matrix). From these screw-matrices it is
possible to individuate the exact constraint conditions of parts into the assembly. Starting from the
basics of this theory, how to get screw parameters (constrained directions and degrees of freedom)
from screw-matrices is analyzed and how to make the constraint analysis for several serial and
parallel constraint configurations is described. Finally, a MATLAB algorithm to analyze possible
constraints and motions in assemblies with any complexity is presented.
Keywords:
Constraint Analysis, Kinematic Motion, Screw Theory, Assembly Feature
1 3
4
4
2
1 3
1 3
2
Figure 5: Example of Liaison Diagram. Decomposition and
2 re-composition process.
4 4
4 4
Links common to all the paths are utilized to find the sub-
groups that need successive decompositions.
1 3 3 In the example shown in Figure 5, twist-matrix can be
1 1 3
calculated as the union of the twists of common links (bold
line) with the twists of the two sub-groups (each sub-
2 2 group’s twist is the intersection of sub-paths’ twists).
2 2 When all the paths linking two parts are found out, all the
Figure 3: Path search by using LD. paths that include a same link are grouped. The twist-
matrix of each group has to be separately calculated and
Once the paths have been find out, the algorithm has to intersected with the twist-matrices of other groups.
mathematically combine the twists of the paths or sub- The link/s common to the paths of the group has/have to
paths to correctly calculate the final twist-matrix. be considered as in the previous example and eventually.
Several algorithms in literature made mistakes calculating If the common links are in the middle of some paths, they
twist-matrices for complex parts, using wrongly the separate the group in sub-groups. Each sub-group is
serial/parallel properties of screw-matrix. For example in recursively decomposed until it is made only by one link.
[6], from a mathematical point of view a wrong property Once all the sub-groups are decomposed, it is necessary
was supposed. Konkar supposed that the twist matrix to operate correctly with unions and intersections. So
obtained as T=((TA∪TB)∩(TC∪TD))∪TE was equivalent to during the decomposition all the operations are registered.
T=(TA∪TB∪TE)∩(TC∪TD∪TE). The last operation is the correct re-composition. The
As shown by Shukla, with this assumption the twist-matrix numerical calculation can start only after the end of all the
loses important information. In fact, when calculating the decompositions and it has to be executed starting from the
twist-matrix of part 4 of the assembly shown in Figure 4, last levels of the decomposition.
considering part 0 fixed, Konkar’s algorithm fails. In this The algorithm, which is applicable to any generic
example, the two paths linking parts 0 to 4 are {A,B,E} and assembly, works in a recursive way and, during the
{C,D,E}. With the previous assumption, the assembly decomposition, it needs a particular organization of the
Intelligent Computation in Manufacturing Engineering - 4
necessary information for successive decompositions and These results show that parts one and two have some
for final re-compositions. This computational complexity is dofs. Considering that the structure is planar, the only
necessary for assemblies with a branched link structure. movement locked is the instantaneous translation along Y
For practical realization, MATLAB’s multi-dimensional axis.
structured arrays have been utilized. During each
decomposition level, all the paths, including parts, and the Example n°2
operation to be executed at this level, as well as the
information about successive levels, are opportunely
registered. 4
7 EXAMPLES
3
In this section two examples of assemblies analyzed with 5 2
the described algorithm will be shown.
Example n°1 6 1
11 Y
4 7 0
1 1 1 3 X
One
Two
f3 f1 f2 f4
Figure 8: Example n°2.
4
The assembly depicted in Figure 8 is a planar structure of
PCS2 PCS1 six parts linked by rotational joints.
X 2
Three This example shows that algorithm works also for more
GCS≡PCS3 Y complex link structures.
The parts are linked as shown by the DFC in Figure 9.
Figure 6: Example n°1.
0
The assembly shown in Figure 6 is made by three parts 01 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
mutually linked and with DFC shown in Figure 7.
6 1-1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
1 20 -1 0 1 0 0 0 -1
1
a b c 5 30 0 -1 0 1 0 0 0
a
b 1 1 0 1 40 0 0 -1 -1 0 0 0
2
2 − 1 1 0 3 50 0 0 0 0 0 -1 1
2
c
3 0 − 1 − 1 60 0 0 0 0 -1 1 0
3 4
Figure 7: DFC and DFC-matrix of the example n°1. Figure 9: DFC and DFC-matrix of the example n°2.
Each part position (and orientation) is described through The location of the PCSs are:
the Part Coordinate System (PCS) position, measured in a PCS0 = (0 0 0 0 0 0) PCS1 = (0 .5 0 0 0 90)
Global Coordinate System (GCS). In the algorithm, each PCS2 = (-.5 1.5 0 0 0 -45) PCS3 = (.5 1.5 0 0 0 45)
Coordinate System is inserted as a vector of six elements, PCS4 = (0 2 0 0 0 0) PCS5 = (-1 1 0 0 0 45)
three representing the origin position, three representing PCS6 = (-.5 .5 0 0 0 -45).
the orientation in term of Euler angles XYZ (in degree). Each link between two parts is made only by one feature,
PCS1 = (2 4 0 0 0 0 ) localized with respect to the PCS of the parts signed as 1
PCS2 = (2 1 0 0 0 0 ) in the DFC.
PCS3 = (0 0 0 0 0 0 ). f0-1= (0 0 0 0 0 0) f1-2= (.5 0 0 0 0 0)
Each feature is located with respect to the co-ordinate f1-3= (.5 0 0 0 0 0) f2-4= ( − 2 2 0 0 0 0 0)
system (PCS) of the part signed as 1 in the DFC.
In the example, feature f1 represents a pin-hole planar f3-4= ( 2 2 0 0 0 0 0) f0-6= (0 0 0 0 0 0)
joint (1dof; rotational joint), f2-f3-f4 represent pin-slot
planar joints (2 dofs: one rotation and one translation). f6-5= ( − 2 2 0 0 0 0 0) f5-2= ( 2 2 0 0 0 0 0).
Their location in the relative PCS are: Considering fixed the part zero, the twist matrices of some
f1 = (2 1 0 0 0 0) f2 = (2 4 0 0 0 0) parts are:
f3 = (2 1 0 0 0 -90) f4 = (2 7 0 0 0 0). 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
If the link between two parts is made by more than one TW 3 = TW 5 =
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
feature, as between parts one and two, the algorithm has
to calculate the resultant twist-matrix of the link. TW 6 = 0 0 1 0 0 0 .
Tw1-2 =[0 0 1 1 -2 0].
These results show that the part 6 can only rotate around
Once asked for fixed parts, the algorithm elaborates the
Z axis; part 3 can rotate around Z and translate along X,
data and gives the results.
but it cannot translate along Y; part 5 can rotate around Z
Considering fixed the part three, the twist-matrices of parts
and translate along [1 1 0] direction, but it cannot translate
one and two are:
along [1 -1 0] direction. For parts with multiple dofs (i.e.
T2 = 0 0 1 0 −4 0 ; T1 = 0 0 1 0 −4 0 . Part 3 and 5) all linear combinations of twist-matrix rows
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 are allowed.
8 OVER-CONSTRAINTS applicability of such a method on over-constraint
The algorithm presented in the previous section permits to assemblies has been finally outlined.
calculate the twist matrix of a generic part for a generic
links structure. This matrix represents the under- 10 REFERENCES
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