Configurable hybrid integral manufacturing platform: subtractive-additive process with industrial robot arm, proof of concept results

In accordance with the new trends demanded by Industry 4.0, the idea of having manufacturing processes using industrial robotic arms with capabilities and functionalities to achieve reconfigurable and adaptable production, has become a novel research field. A new concept to have different manufacturing tools integrated and controlled by the same system arises, this new idea allows the implementation of integrated hybrid systems for manufacturing process purposes. In the last decade, the three-axis hybrid manufacturing has become a viable or promising option to cover these new needs, it shows the feasibility of achieving applications that combine additive and subtractive methods. However, it is still a challenge to implement this new concept with robotic arms aid manufacturing. This article presents an overview of developed systems using this hybrid integral approach up to now, which focuses on subtractive and additive manufacturing methods of 3D printing using robotic arms. The objective of this research, is to show the possibility of such approach to be develop as an integral manufacturing platform with an industrial robotic manipulator as the central element and a hardware-software sinergy concept, which allows the implementation of an integral hybrid manufacturing platform having different tools controlled by a unique system. The system allows to integrate others working production tools such a laser cutting device, just by way of attach the specific hardware and CAD/CAM design for the desired manufacture piece. Once the requirements and necessary components to develop the integral hybrid manufacturing platform have been established, a case of study for additive-subtractive manufacturing is presented. A proof-of-concept experiment is proposed and realized to demonstrate the manufacturing quality challenges that a system such as the one shown must face.