Environmental Factors<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe first factor to consider is the environment in which the assembly line will be located. Some environmental factors to consider include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Temperature:<\/strong> The assembly line should be designed to operate in the appropriate temperature range. If the assembly line is located in a hot environment, it will need to be designed to withstand high temperatures. If the assembly line is located in a cold environment, it will otherwise need to be designed to withstand low temperatures.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHumidity:<\/strong> The assembly line should be designed to operate in the appropriate humidity range, whether it is high humidity or low humidity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDust:<\/strong> The assembly line should be designed to operate in the appropriate dust level. If the assembly line is located in a dusty environment, it will need to be designed to withstand high dust levels.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOther External Influences:<\/strong> Among other factors, the location of the assembly line must be considered as it undergoes automation. Floor space is another thing to factor, as limited space, for instance, can hamper the placement of parts, the system\u2019s overall design, and can possibly cause safety risks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOutside influences such as the budget and turnaround time of the project are other things to consider, and while these factors are not due to the environment, the circumstances surrounding a project’s budget and timeline affect the entire design.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Development of a Process<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe second factor to consider is the development of a process that can be automated. The processes involved in the assembly line need to be developed in a way that it can be easily automated and controlled by computers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
For instance, if a process cannot be automated (or is too costly to automate), such as the handling of fragile materials, then it must be done manually. The same thing applies to other processes in the assembly line that address worker safety, such as the use of dangerous equipment or handling hazardous chemicals; this is where automation becomes significant, as a task that can be taken off human hands is then done by a robot to reduce health and safety risks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Understanding which parts of the assembly process can be or cannot be automated is crucial to the design of an automatic assembly line, as this saves time, resources, and effort. In designing automated assembly systems, it is important to remember to “KISS” or “Keep It Simple, Stupid,” and this core principle helps ensure that the end-user benefits from the design.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n