Research On Collaborative Assembly And Simulation For Cotton Picker Roller

The cotton picker roller is composed by many complex parts which own their certain specificity. The design and assembly both are the complex and difficult work. For the structure approach is complex, it needs to test and verify the practical application to consistent with the actual use during the design process. At the same time, the participants include not only the various designers but also process planners and project managers. The different users have different data access and model operating permissions. How to effectively manage multiple users to take part the real-time assembly operation is a problem to solve.This paper applies VAPlatform to research the key technologies on collaborative virtual assembly such as assembly modeling, collision detection and response, constraint expression and processing, collaborative operation and assembly process planning for the cotton picker roller. Meanwhile, it uses nVision to carry out the real-time assembly simulation for the actual movement and achieve visualization of the assembly process.It applies three-dimensional modeling software UG NX5.0 to build the models of cotton picker roller, extracts the model information, and obtains the hierarchy, components Information, constraint information and other data information of cotton picker roller which is necessary for collaborative virtual assembly environment. It expresses part models of cotton picker roller in virtual assembly environment with the integrated models which include the exact models, display model and collision model, and meets the requirement of real-time display and interaction and collision detection for collaborative virtual assembly operation. Finally, it first uses individual parts to build up sub-assembly and then build up the whole by using abstract, cotton panel removal, drive system, and so on with the help of VAPlatform.This paper applies 3ds MAX to transform the model format which is built up in UG environment, transforms the *.prt format to the *.ive format which can be accepted in nVision through the middle format which includes *.iges format and *.3ds format. It achieves comprehensive three-dimensional realistic simulation display in nVision by setting material and assembly process in 3ds MAX.Collaborative virtual assembly process can produce some useful information such as assembly interference, assembly sequence, assembly path and so on and this information can create assembly process. Thus, the virtual product assembly simulation of the cotton picker roller can reflect the actual assembly and provide a visual reference and basis for actual assembly and maintenance. With the application of visual simulation, it is easy to find out shortcomings in the design process and change according to the issues reflected. Through the application of the two platforms, it achieves collaborative assembly path planning, assembly process visualization and product's applicability and provides the foundation for the assembly and design of the whole cotton picker. In the final, it establishes a complete collaborative assembly simulation system of cotton picker roller.