Adaptive Manufacturing
Offering innovative adaptive manufacturing approaches within smart advanced manufacturing systems.
If you produce high value products that require tight tolerances, yet exhibit significant uncertainty of location and size of contour, PAR Systems’ adaptive manufacturing techniques can provide substantial benefits to your manufacturing environment.
- Improve production efficiency
- Reduce or eliminate the need for dedicated part fixtures
- Save costs by shortening cycle times and reducing re-work
- Improve production safety and quality conditions
- Achieve challenging tolerances and more consistent products
Our Patented Adaptive Approach
PAR’s patented approach helps manufacturers produce critical components with exacting tolerances in a challenging and uncertain manufacturing environment.
Sensors, monitoring systems, and real-time data available within custom PAR manufacturing systems allow for automated real-time adjustments of manufacturing processes and tool paths to produce consistent products even when parts are not in their nominal contour or shape.
Download brochure for details on PAR’s adaptive manufacturing solutions.
Core Adaptive Capabilities
Configurable, Robotic Fixtures
PAR’s configurable, robotic fixtures are designed and developed to bring the benefits of adaptive techniques to your manufacturing environment. Robotic fixtures can be used for multiple manufacturing processes, eliminating dedicated tooling and making the manufacturing process more flexible and efficient.
Advanced Part Profiling Technologies
PAR utilizes machine vision systems, laser, LiDAR, and other advanced technologies that enable manufacturing equipment to perform inspections, measurements, and vision-guided motion accurately and seamlessly. Profiled parts are compared to nominal parts and real-time adjustments are made to subsequent manufacturing processes to produce end results that meet quality requirements. In many systems, machine vision is a key process in adaptive manufacturing and process automation.
PAR Systems' Adaptive Manufacturing Processes at Work:
Laser Scribing with LiDAR
PAR’s laser scribing systems are used on large contoured parts without the need for expensive fixturing to hold the part to its nominal shape. Adaptable fixtures stabilize the part in the correct shape and position, then the onboard LiDAR scanner maps the surface. The LiDAR data is used to map the contours of the part and adapt the laser path. See laser scribing system in action.
Common features and results:
- Accurate motion and precise control
- Clean, high-quality cuts
- High-speed travel with precision linear motors
- Reduction of handling issues
- Increase of throughput
Material Challenges in Aerospace
Composite and carbon fiber parts are heavily contoured, seldom flat, and abrasive to cut. PAR adaptive manufacturing techniques have helped address all of these challenges to ensure better systems and processes that fit the need of aerospace manufacturing.
Sample feature selection:
- Six axis precision gantry machine with a large work envelope
- Configurable, robotic fixtures integrated into a single aligned working frame
- Integrated process head with laser profilometers for contour mapping
- Automation calibration capabilities including precision optical spheres, coupon stand, and fidelity between tool center points
Waterjet Trimming High Value Parts
A global leader in aerospace manufacturing set out to improve efficiency and productivity in the production of large composite structures. In response, PAR engineered a solution that enhances productivity and process efficiency and reduces material handling- all while maintaining the highest safety standards.
Project outcomes and benefits:
- Seamlessly combines multiple stages including part pre-inspection, cutting, drilling, and cleaning.
- Integration has shown over 40% improvement in productivity
- Streamlined process significantly reduced cycle time
- Cost saving from reduced facility footprint
See adaptive waterjet trimming and drilling system in action.
The PAR Advantage
Let us work with you to integrate effective adaptive manufacturing processes into your advanced manufacturing environment. We create solutions for the most challenging manufacturing applications. From design, to implementation, production, and maintenance, our manufacturing systems with adaptive technologies enable you to:
Save time and money
- Significantly improve cycle time, reduce costs, and improve productivity
- Eliminate the need for different tooling for each part or assembly and accommodates families of parts
- Save time associated with introduction and removal of dedicated tools
- Reduction of abrasive consumption
Accomplish quality results more efficiently
- Achieve challenging tolerances and more consistent products
- More stable throughput even facing assembly variation, contour deviation, and feature uncertainty
- Less material waste
Create a safer work environment
- Better ergonomics means less operator fatigue and repetitive use injuries
- Eliminate risks to personnel from handling heavy and awkward tools