Development of a Rapidly Prototyped Automated Robotic Manufacturing System

The modern manufacturing industry increasingly demands cost-effective and efficient rapid prototyping solutions, especially vital for start-up businesses, small-scale research laboratories, and R&D departments. Traditional prototyping methods often fall short by failing to provide actionable data early in the development process, necessitating significant upfront financial investments without assurance of feasibility. High costs associated with industrial equipment, skilled labor, raw materials, and components further impede smaller enterprises, especially when supply chain disruptions exacerbate these financial and logistical challenges. To address these barriers, this study proposes an innovative approach utilizing a fully 3D-printed, six-axis robotic arm integrated with a similar 3D-printed conveyor system, simulating a complete, scaled-down manufacturing operation. This integrated system is designed for both autonomous and manual control, facilitating diverse prototyping scenarios, specifically emulating a packaging and sorting environment. The conveyor system manages the inflow of stocked pallets and the removal of empty ones, while the robotic arm autonomously organizes and sorts products, replicating realistic customer order assembly processes. This approach offers a scalable and cost-effective prototyping framework, enabling comprehensive validation of the entire system rather than isolated component testing, thereby significantly reducing risks and providing valuable insights into potential improvements before committing to fullscale production. Beyond cost and schedule benefits, the platform functions as an instructional testbed for training, debugging, and iterative algorithm development, creating a lowrisk pathway to mature designs prior to industrial deployment.