ON THE ISSUE OF AUTOMATION OF THE SECTION OF MECHANICAL PROCESSING OF POLYSTYRENE PARTS

The paper proposes a consolidated model of the analysis of industrial production in order to assess the possibility and expediency of automation of the existing production process. The main parameters of the processing objects, which affect the decision-making regarding the automation of the process of its manufacture, are revealed. Based on the analysis of the configuration, geometric parameters, features of the location of the complex profile surfaces of polystyrene parts, as well as the analysis of their manufacturability, a conclusion was made about the possibility and expediency of automating the area of mechanical processing of such parts. Special attention was paid to the analysis of existing technological processes of processing typical parts. As a result of the analysis, a set of requirements for the structure and parameters of the new automated technological system was formed, as well as a new technological process for processing a set of parts was proposed. On the basis of the formulated requirements, the software type and machine level of automation of the technological system were chosen, the basic element of which was the manipulator robot. For the selected type of technological system, a new complex technological process of processing a set of parts has been developed, which involves minor changes in the design of some parts, which does not affect their functional purpose. For the implementation of the proposed technological process and the formed requirements for the equipment, specific main elements of the system were chosen - a robot-manipulator and a power unit, as well as a cutting tool, which allows processing of almost all parts of the set without replacement during the work. This made it possible to offer an option of an automated workplace, equipped with two working rotary tables for setting workpieces. The proposed version of the automated technological system and its implementation made it possible to significantly reduce the auxiliary time of mechanical operations, release highly qualified workers and reduce the cost of manufacturing parts.