Development of a Shape-memorable Adaptive Pin Array Fixture
This addresses a domain-specific problem in manufacturing or robotics for handling varied part shapes, but it appears incremental as it builds on existing adaptive fixture concepts.
The paper tackled the problem of fixing multiple different shaped parts with a common pin configuration by developing an adaptive pin-array fixture that uses a shape-memorable mechanism, and it verified feasibility through physical peg-in-hole tasks.
This paper proposes an adaptive pin-array fixture. The key idea of this research is to use the shape-memorable mechanism of pin array to fix multiple different shaped parts with common pin configuration. The clamping area consists of a matrix of passively slid-able pins that conform themselves to the contour of the target object. Vertical motion of the pins enables the fixture to encase the profile of the object. The shape memorable mechanism is realized by the combination of the rubber bush and fixing mechanism of a pin. Several physical peg-in-hole tasks is conducted to verify the feasibility of the fixture.