ABSTRACT

The technology of pneumatics has gained tremendous importance in the field of

workplace rationalization and automation from old-fashioned timber works and coal

mines to modern machine shops and space robots. Certain characteristics of compressed

air have made this medium quite suitable for used in modern manufacturing and

production industries. It is therefore important that technicians and engineers should

have a good knowledge of pneumatic system, air operated valves and accessories. A

pneumatic system consists of a compressor plant, pipe lines, control valves, drive

members and related auxiliary appliances. The air is compressed in an air compressor and

from the compressor plant the flow medium is transmitted to the pneumatic cylinder

through a well laid pipe line system. To maintain optimum efficiency of pneumatic

system, it is of vital importance that pressure drop between generation and consumption

of compressed air is kept very low.

Pneumatic material handling system is used to move the components from one

place to another with a maximum weight of 3.5 kg. It is used in the following places:

Chemical laboratories

Welding

Foundry, etc.
WORKING PRINCIPLE

The experimental setup consist of four cylinders, all are of double acting type. The

cylinder1 is used to actuate rack and pinion assembly, piston rod of cylinder 1is

connected to rack, which is meshed with the pinion. By operating the cylinder1, rack and

pinion turns the whole assembly for 260 .

By varying the length of the rack the turning angle can be altered. Vertical cylinder

or cylinder2 is used to increase the height of the setup. The height is limited to piston rod

length. Horizontal cylinder or cylinder3 is used to increase the arm length, the working

area of the arm is limited to length of the piston rod length. Gripper cylinder or cylinder4

is used to actuate the gripper.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY

The assembly unit consists of a base block, cylinders, rack and pinion, base plate,

tie rods, solenoid valves and gripper. Cylinder 1 is mounted on the base block with rack

and pinion assembly connected with tie rods. The vertical cylinder is mounted vertically

over the base plate to increase the height with a block and endplate provided at the end.

The horizontal cylinder is mounted on the block of the vertical cylinder

horizontally to increase length of the arm with a block and end plate provided at the end

position. The gripper cylinder is mounted on the horizontal cylinder block in an inclined

position of angle 30to actuate the gripper. The piston rod of gripper cylinder is

connected to the one side of the gripper.

 APPLICATIONS

Discharge of work piece

The arm feed has a wide application in low cost automation

industries. It can be used in automated assembly lines to pick up the

finished product from workstation and place them in bins. it can also be

used to pick raw material and place them on the conveyor belts.

Work clamping

This unit can also be used in clamping. Operation in certain areas of mass

production where clamping and an clamping have to be done at high speeds. The

application of these units is limited to operations which involved moderate clamping

forces.

Tool Changing Application

When the pneumatic arms are made smaller in size they can be used in

automatic tool changes in CNC turning and drilling machines, by attaching tool holding

device to the rotary cylinder

 ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS

ADVANTAGES

The pneumatic arm is more efficient in the technical field

Quick response is achieved

Simple in construction

Easy to maintain and repair

Cost of the unit is less when compared to other robotics

No fire hazard problem due to over loading

Comparatively the operation cost is less

The operation of arm is faster because the medium used to operate is air

Continuous operation is possible without stopping

LIMITATIONS

While working, the compressed air produces noise therefore a silencer may

be used.

High torque can not be obtained

Load carrying capacity of this unit is not very high.(<50 N)

 CONCLUSION

Thus we have developed a PNEUMATIC DOUBLE AXIS JCB

EQUIPEMENT which helps to know how to achieve low cost automation. The

capacity of our material handling system is 35 N. The application of pneumatics

produces smooth operation. The work volume is produced within the angle of 120o.

This would boom the mass reduction industries having conveyors, MIG and TIG

welding and other applications. The commercial production of this project is feasible

economically.

By using more techniques, they can be modified and developed according

to the applications.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Antonio Esposito - Fluid power with application. Prentice hall of India private

limited, 1980.

Bolton,W.,Pneumatic and hydraulic systems,Butterworth-Heinemann,Jordan Hill,

Oxford,1997.

Catalogue of Janatics pneumatic product, Janatics Private Limited Coimbatore.

Design data book compiled by faculty of mechanical engineering

P.S.G. college of technology,Coimbatore

Festo Didactic KG Fundamentals of control technology, Esslingen-1998.

Festo Pneumatic Catlogue - Festo Pvt Ltd. Bangalore.

Werner Deppert/Kurt Stoll., Cutting Cost With Pneumatics,Vogel Buchverlag

Wurzburg,1998.