Choosing an Optimal Size Range of Pneumatically Actuated Linear Modules for Sprayer Robots

Abstract

The paper presents results from the application of an approach for choosing an optimal size range of the product "Pneumatically actuated linear module". The application of the sizes in the size range is for realizing the vertical linear motion of die casting sprayer robots. The product is suitable for size range optimization, because each product type brings considerable production costs, and reducing the variety, and the related lowering of costs, would lead to a significant effect. A market research is carried out, an optimality criterion is chosen, and a mathematical model of the problem is proposed. The model accounts for a specific feature of the problem -each module can be applied only to a certain range of die casting machines built upon the locking force of the machine. On the basis of a known optimization method a recurrent dependency is used. The latter is used for calculation of the objective function, and in the application software used for solving the problem. The proposed approach is universal, and can be used for size range optimization of other products, after building the particular demand and costs models.