A hierarchical workcell model for intelligent assembly and disassembly

An intelligent virtual assembly and disassembly (VIRAD) system that can be integrated into a CAD/CAM environment is developed for designers to evaluate products for assembly and disassembly efficiencies during the design process. The VIRAD system uses a hierarchical model of a generic assembly and disassembly (GENAD) workcell to generate merging trees for simulating assembly and disassembly processes. In a GENAD workcell, every object is either a part for making a product or a handler to facilitate the workcell operations. Each workcell operation is associated with a cost for product assembly and disassembly. The estimated cost is used for representing a product´s manufacturability, providing important feedback for the designer. This paper presents details of the GENAD workcell model and its inner representation