Methodological approach of sequences determination using the disassembly method

A method which automatically determines the assembly/disassembly sequence of product units from the assembly drawing, the detail drawings, and the nomenclature of parts is described. Assembly corresponds to a system in which flow parts and data are to be placed in specific order. The operative sequence is the basic program of this system. It is hypothesized that the sequence of assembly is chronologically the reverse of that of disassembly. The most important constraints are found to be mainly geometrical, mechanical, and technological. A methodology of disassembly is developed; it is based on an algorithm and on technological rules. The methodology calls for a rank-by-rank face-by-face analysis during the disassembly procedure. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated through the cases studied, namely, a computer mouse unit and a reader disk unit