A multi-phase planning heuristic for a dual-delivery SMT placement machine optimization. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: He, Tian; Li, Debiao; Yoon, Sang Won
• Is Part Of: Robotics and computer-integrated manufacturing. Volume 47(2017)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 94
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Printed circuit board assembly -- Surface mount device -- Workload balance -- Multi-phase planning; Robots, Industrial -- Periodicals; Computer integrated manufacturing systems -- Periodicals; Robotics -- Periodicals; Robots industriels -- Périodiques; Productique -- Périodiques; Robotique -- Périodiques; 670.285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rcim.2016.11.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0736-5845

Abstract

Abstract: This paper proposes a heuristic multi-phase approach to minimize the moving distance of gantries by balancing the workload of a dual-delivery surface mount technology (SMT) placement machine. The SMT placement machine under study is a rotary-head dual-gantry machine. Several practical factors are considered, such as the component-nozzle compatibility and the machine structure. The machine has two stations with a symmetric layout. Each station has a printed circuit board (PCB) conveyor belt, a fixed camera, an auto nozzle changer, a feeder base, and a movable gantry with several nozzle heads. In the pick-and-place assembly operation, two independent gantries alternately mount on one PCB. Most research in literature considers three main decisions in the SMT placement machine optimization: nozzle setup, feeder arrangement, and pick-and-place sequence. In this research, two more decisions are introduced into the dual-gantry problem: workload balance between gantries and gantry cycle scheduling. A hierarchical strategy is developed to solve the workload balance problem, including nozzle and component allocations. The other decisions, such as the feeder arrangement and the pick-and-place sequence, are made using existing heuristics. The experimental results show that this heuristic approach has advantages compared to other algorithms proposed in literature. Abstract : Highlights: A mathematical model for a dual-delivery SMT machine optimization is developed. Multiple nozzle types and component-nozzle compatibility are considered. The entire problem is divided into four sub-problems and solved step by step. A novel heuristic workload balance strategy is proposed. A multi-phase heuristic method with no random search is proposed.