Desktop microfactory for high precision assembly and machining

This work presents a modular and reconfigurable desktop microfactory for high precision machining and assembly of micro mechanical parts. Miniature factory is inspired by the downsizing trend of the production tools. The system is constructed based on primary functional and performance requirements such as miniature size, operation with sub-millimeter precision, modular and reconfigurable structure, parallel processing capability, ease of transportation and integration. Proposed miniature factory consists of several functional modules such as two parallel kinematic robots for manipulation and assembly, galvanometric laser beam scanning system for micromachining, camera system for inspection, and a rotational conveyor system for sample part delivery. The overall mechanical structure of the proposed microfactory facilitates modularity and reconfigurability, parallel processing, flexible rearrangement of the layout, and ease of assembly and disassembly of the whole structure. Experiments involve various tasks within a single process such as pick-place of the 3 mm diameter metallic ball, marking a 2D sub-millimeter image on the ball surface with high power laser, and inspection along with verification of the image by means of microscopic camera. Results have shown the possibility of implementation of the desktop microfactory concept for machining and assembly of tiny mechanical parts with microprecision.