IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/uiiexx/v53y2020i3p273-284.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Robotic additive manufacturing with toy blocks

Author

Listed:
  • Mikiya Kohama
  • Chiharu Sugimoto
  • Ojiro Nakano
  • Yusuke Maeda

Abstract

We develop and study a block-type three-dimensional (3D) printer that can assemble toy blocks based on 3D CAD models. Our system automatically converts a 3D CAD model into a block model consisting of toy blocks in basic shapes. Next, it automatically generates a feasible assembly plan for the block model. An industrial robot then assembles the block sculpture layer-by-layer, from bottom to top, using this assembly plan. This approach has advantages including the ease of combining multiple types of materials and reusing them which is difficult for conventional 3D printers to accomplish. We also introduce a technique to reliably determine the order of block placement to assemble block models from various patterns. This technique includes converting unassemblable shapes in the models to assemblable ones with support blocks and/or decomposing them into subassemblies. In addition, we implement a robot control system that automatically generates a stable sculpture according to a predetermined placement order. We also demonstrate the assembly of various toy block models using our system.

Suggested Citation

  • Mikiya Kohama & Chiharu Sugimoto & Ojiro Nakano & Yusuke Maeda, 2020. "Robotic additive manufacturing with toy blocks," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(3), pages 273-284, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:uiiexx:v:53:y:2020:i:3:p:273-284
    DOI: 10.1080/24725854.2020.1755067
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/24725854.2020.1755067
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1080/24725854.2020.1755067?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:taf:uiiexx:v:53:y:2020:i:3:p:273-284. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Longhurst (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.tandfonline.com/uiie .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.