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Aims to review polymeric materials used as adhesives and the related bonding procedures applicable in the medical industry.

The main types of polymeric materials used as adhesives are described. Details and the main points of the adhesive bonding processes are also described with comments on their adaptability to automated assembly. Finally, typical examples of the use of adhesives in medical device applications are provided.

Review paper with examples of applications of adhesives in assembly of medical materials and devices.

The appropriate selection of adhesive types and bonding parameters are critical for successful application of this technology in joining medical materials. Most currently available medical grade adhesives are only suitable for short‐term (<30 days) implantable application. The users must ensure that the properties of the selected adhesives, particularly the relevant biocompatibility and toxicity data are available and fully comply with any specific medical device application and regulation.

Although this is a general review paper, it contains information about new materials and processing techniques applied in successful application of adhesive bonding technology in medical devices. The information provided is expected to be of significant benefit to material scientists and design engineers evaluating and identifying suitable joining techniques for the assembly of medical devices.

Purpose – Describes how one company addressed the need for a pallet conveyor innovation which would achieve a number of goals such as reduced maintenance, operating noise, physical cross section and improve the ability to integrate into an assembly or manufacturing application. Design/methodology/approach – Presents the approach and technology applied to develop a smart conveyor that meets the project objectives. Findings – Applying new lower cost electronic controls, individual zone drive motors and sensors to a traditional product can dramatically improve the feature benefit package. Research limitations/implications – This paper provides guidance in the design of smart manufacturing and material handling related equipments. Practical implications – Innovative conveyors can still move the product while providing many cost of ownership benefits. Originality/value – Highlights how applying new thinking or thinking outside the box to a traditional product can achieve many user benefits.

This paper highlights new automated assembly system components introduced in late 2004. Products meet new levels of environmental protection and offer features for quicker assembly system design and commissioning.

Attended various trade shows and contacted key vendors for information on product introductions.

Vendors are addressing more and more application needs with features like more compact components, more features, innovative materials and new answers to system design and application problems.

Not all the new products which may have been introduced have been covered.

Users and systems integrators can find new component answers to previously troubling requirements of automated assembly system design and commissioning.

Highlights new assembly system component offerings that may be real problem solutions for system designs and integrators who previously considered products to not fully address their requirements.

Aims to determine if friction welding is suitable for welding austenitic stainless steel (AISI 304)

Uses an experimental continuous drive friction welding set‐up. Determined the strength, hardness and microstructure of the joined parts.

Finds that the joint strengths are 96 per cent of those of the base metals with no significant hardening.

Friction welding is an appropriate joining method for austenitic stainless steel (AISI 304).

Aids in understanding appropriate uses of friction welding for joining stainless steel.

The paper describes the operation of two hose maufacturing machines.

The systems use servo drives (Rexroth) and ultrasonic cutting heads.

System reduces costs and gives greater flexibility with an expected payback time of 2‐3 years.

A useful source of information for those involved in special purpose machinery manufacturing.

Develops a neural network based system for optimum assembly speeds using thread‐forming fasteners.

Uses a three layer neural network to optimise thread forming speeds based on thread diameter and pitch and the total number of thread coils.

The method demonstrates savings in energy and reduction in torque values of 20‐30 per cent.

Provides a method that works even when less experimental data are available.

The method should provide a higher quality and reliability and allow thread‐forming fasteners to be used in new application areas.

Provides an efficient and less labour intensive method for insertion speed optimisation.

To present the findings of the research on the use of concurrent engineering in the development of polymeric based composite automotive clutch pedal. It covers the use of various IT such as expert system, FEA, CAD, mould flow and rapid prototyping in order to carry out various activities such as material selection, total design, design analysis and mould flow analysis.

The work started with the conceptual design of an automotive composite clutch pedal. Various design guides related to composite materials were followed. The final concept of the composite clutch pedal is developed using Pro/Engineer solid modelling package. Design analysis was carried out using LUSAS to study the optimum pedal lever cross section and the optimum rib patterns in pedal lever. Mould flow analysis was investigated to predict the behaviour of materials inside the injection moulding machine and the results are compared with experimental values. Rapid prototyping models were developed based on two techniques namely 3D printer and stereolithography and they are compared in terms of quality, time and cost.

In this study, the integrated IT tools enable the designer to design and manufacture automotive an composite clutch pedal at higher quality and faster time compared to a metal counterpart. By adopting composite design guides, weight saving from implementing composite materials in the clutch pedal is achievable. It is found that an expert system for material selection enables designer to select the suitable composite material for the clutch pedal by considering various parameters such as strength, modulus, density, manufacturing and economic constraints. Rapid prototyping models enable the designer to communicate effectively their design to other parties early in the design process. Mould flow analysis is carried out to predict the behaviour of material inside the mould and to design the optimum moulding parameters such as fill time, fill temperature and gate location.

In this study, the originality lies in the integration of various IT tools in the development of composite clutch pedal. The designer is exposed to various design and manufacturing issues from the implementation of such approach early in the design process.

To review presentations on assembly and joining given at a seminar, “The changing face of robotics: inside and outside the factory”, organised by the UK Institution of Electrical Engineers.

Details are given of three presentations. The first is by Dr Phil Webb of the University of Nottingham, who described a project to develop a flexible robotic cell capable of riveting and assembling aero‐structure components, in which a new method of “simulation‐based control” evolved. In the second, Pearl Agjakwa of Nottingham University and Craig Johnson of Rolls Royce talked about shape metal deposition, a process by which layers of weld are deposited by robot to form complex aerospace components with minimal tooling and short lead times. The final presentation was by Dr Wolfgang Kölbl of Meta Vision Systems on laser vision robot guidance. Applications in automotive and a new cross vision sensor were described, the latter being applicable to hole location such as for drilling and riveting.

Robotics inside the factory is extending into new areas of assembly and fastening and is now finding applications in the aerospace industry and not just in automotive.

Provides a review of some new assembly‐related process developments in robotics.

Aims to develop a selective disassembly methodology for generating an optimum disassembly sequence for end‐of‐life (EOL) products.

The paper presents a selective disassembly methodology for EOL products. In order to achieve this, Nevins and Whitney's methodology for assembly was modified. In addition, a Java‐based software was developed to speed up the generation of all possible disassembly sequences.

Finds that the methodology developed by Nevins and Whitney for assembly is applicable to disassembly process. In addition, the winnowing process for disassembly is much easier than for assembly because of the selective disassembly approach, which automatically provides a significant constraint on possible sequences.

Provides an easy to use and visual disassembly sequence generation tool for end‐of‐life products.

Disassembly is one of the significant cost drivers in achieving close loop manufacturing. Application of the methodology proposed in this paper will significantly reduce the disassembly time by providing a disassembly sequence for the selected components with reuse potential.

Provides a graphical representation of disassembly sequences at different stages of the process, which allows the user to visualize the disassembly process.