Virtual disassembly-a software tool for developing product dismantling and maintenance systems

A product is typically designed in the assembled configuration. However, CAD systems do not analyze the product design for disassemblability, a significant part of maintenance. This paper presents a new methodology for performing disassembly evaluation of CAD models of designs for maintenance. This methodology involves analyzing the product for disassemblability utilizing several disassembly techniques, such as selective disassembly and destructive disassembly, to assess: (i) the ease of product disassembly for maintenance, (ii) disassembly sequencing to maintain a selected set of components and (iii) disassembly cost for maintenance. The methodology utilizes a metric for quantitative assessment of the product in order to arrive at an acceptable design and to compare alternate designs for maintenance. Moreover, the disassembly methodology presented in this paper can serve as a basis for identifying an efficient product design for maintenance