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Fettling is the process of removing excess material from castings. This excess material is often formed at the die’s parting lines during the casting process as molten material is injected into the die at high pressure. By using a robot as a positioning tool for the fettling operation, the process can be carried out safely and with consistent results. This paper proposes a computer‐assisted robotic fettling technique using visual feedback. In particular, emphasis is placed on the establishment of a technique and investigating its performance for the determination of the casting profile. Also examines the process parameters associated with high‐speed fettling operations. Further, the experimental set‐up employed and the results obtained are also presented.

Increasingly, the laborious task of removing burrs on castings is being automated with the introduction of robots. This is largely to ensure higher level of consistency and efficiency generally not possible with manual fettling. These burrs are unpredictable in size and shape, and if not removed, can lead to major problems in automated factory lines. Fettling is an important area in advanced robotic applications. This paper presents a strategy using a compliant wrist unit to obtain forces during robotic fettling. A specialised fettling wrist unit incorporating a remote centre of compliance (RCC) unit and a CCD camera is described. Experiments are carried out to evaluate the feasibility of this method. Fettling experiments are also performed using a force/torque sensing unit. A comparison of the results of these experiments is provided. The process parameters for fettling are described and relationships among these are established.

Force feedback system to allow for variations in the amount of metal to be removed. John Hartley reports.

January 15, 1973 Ironfoundry — Statutory duty — Breach — Noxious dust — Prolonged inhalation of noxious dust — Chronic lung illness — Employers' actual or constructive knowledge of health hazard — Test to apply when determining constructive knowledge — Whether employer should be aware of recent medical or scientific knowledge — Factories Act, 1961 (9 & 10 Eliz.II, c.34), ss.4(l), 63(1).

The Secretary of State in exercise of powers conferred by sections 139(1) and 180(3) of the Factories Act 1961 and now vested in him and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following Order:—

During the casting of steel components, burrs and other unwanted material are formed which need to be removed in the deburring process. This is usually effected manually in what is an unpleasant, monotonous, strenuous and even a dangerous task. Robotic deburring can overcome these disadvantages, but many problems must be addressed before this becomes the normal practice because of the complexity of the process. One of the major concerns in all robotic deburring applications is the time that it presently takes to program the robot. It is universally recognised that off‐line programming offers very many advantages and enormous benefits are to be gained; however, to date there are very few if any successful applications. The research being conducted at Sunderland aims to address several of the problems associated with off‐line programming of robots. Some of the problems are particular to the industrial collaborators’ robotic workcell; however, the main concern is in developing an accuracy compensation method in order that “so called” off‐line programming software can be applied.

The role of the industrial robot has changed in the 20 years since it was first introduced. This special report traces the changes in application that have taken place, from the services of machines to active processing such as fettling.

WITH the approach of the European Management Conference at Torquay and the news that The Work Study Society will be holding a one‐day Conference in London on October 14th and another in Hereford on November 25th it looks as if work study men will have plenty of opportunities of exchanging points of view this autumn.