• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.1048-1055
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• 2002

The problem of generating torch paths for 2D laser cutting of a stock plate nested with a set of free-formed parts is investigated. The objective is to minimize the total length of the torch path starting from a blown depot, then visiting all the given Parts, and retuning back to the depot. A torch Path consists of the depot and Piercing Points each of which is to be specified for cutting a part. The torch path optimization problem is shown to be formulated as an extended version of the standard travelling salesman problem To solve the problem, a hybrid genetic algorithm is proposed. In order to improve the speed of evolution convergence, the algorithm employs a genetic algorithm for global search and a combination of an optimization technique and a genetic algorithm for local optimization. Traditional genetic operators developed for continuous optimization problems are used to effectively deal with the continuous nature of piercing point positions. Computational results are provided to illustrate the validity of the proposed algorithm.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.30-39
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• 2010

This paper considers a problem of optimizing torch paths to cut stock plates nested with open contours. For each contour, one of the two ending points is to be selected as a starting point of cutting with the other being the exit point. A torch path is composed of a single depot and a series of starting and ending points of contours to be cut. The torch path optimization problem is shown to be formulated as an extended version of the standard travelling salesman problem. To solve the problem, a hybrid genetic algorithm with the local search of torch paths is proposed. The genetic algorithm is tested for hypothetical problems whose optimal solutions are known in advance due to the special structure of them. The computational results show that the algorithm generates very near optimal solutions for most cases of the test problems, which verifies the validity of the algorithms.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1827-1835
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• 1996

This paper addresses the problem of a torch path generation for the 2D laser cutting of a stock plate nested with resular or irregular parts. Under the constaint of the relative positions of parts enforced by nesting, the developed torch path algorithm generate feasible cutting path. In this paper, the basic object is a polygon( a many-slide figure) with holes. A part may be represented as a number of line segments connected end-to-end in counterclockwise order, and formed a closed contour as requied for cutting paths. The objective is to tranverse this cutting contours with a minimum path length. This paper proposes a simulated annealing based dtorch path algorithm, that is an improved version of previously suggested TSP models. Since everypiercing point of parts is not fixed in advance, the algorithm solves as relazed optimization problem for the constraint, thich is one of the main features of the proposed algorithm. For aolving the torch path optimization problem, an efficient generation mechanism of neighborhood structure and as annealing shedule were introduced. In this way, a global solution can be obtained in a reasonable time. Seveeral examples are represented to ilustrate the method.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.802-809
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• 2005

A hybrid genetic algorithm is proposed for the problem of generating laser torch paths to cut a stock plate nested with free-formed parts each having a set of sub-parts. In the problem, the total unproductive travel distance of the torch is minimized. The problem is shown to be formulated as a special case of the standard travelling salesman problem. The hybrid genetic algorithm for solving the problem is hierarchically structured: First, it uses a genetic algorithm to find the cutting path f3r the parts and then, based on the obtained cutting path, sequence of sub-parts and their piercing locations are optimally determined by using a combined genetic and heuristic algorithms. This process is repeated until any progress in the total unproductive travel distance is not achieved. Computational results are provided to illustrate the validity of the proposed algorithm.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.32-37
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• 2009

In shipyard, plate forming is widely used to form the ship hull plate in various shapes. Line heating method by using a flame torch is one of the major shipbuilding processes carried out by skilled workers. Since the forming characteristics depend upon their experiences in manual forming, there are much variations between products and difficulties in communication between engineers and workers. Hence, it needs to develop an automatic forming system which can not only reduce the working time and rework costs but also improve the working environment and hull forming productivity. One of the final goals of plate forming automation is to form a target shape from the initial plate automatically. For automated plate forming, it is required to determine where and how to heat on the plate. To realize this procedure, the inverse problem should be first solved and the effect of curvature shape formed at the heating path should be investigated. In this study, the inverse problem was solved by geometrical approach using the relationship between bending angle and radius of curvature of the curved shape. In addition, experiments of two-dimensional plate forming were performed with the distance-based method considering the curved bending with curvature. The result of the formed shape agreed considerably well with the target shape.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.64-74
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• 2007

Because of the size and environment in the shipbuilding process, the portable type robot is required for the automatic seam tracking. For this reason, the structure of laser sensor should be considered in the initial design step and the coordinate transformation between welding robot and laser sensor, which is joint finder, must be identified exactly and the real time tracking algorithm based on these consideration could be developed. In this research, laser displacement sensor in which its structure is laser beam's vertical projection, is developed to recognize the location of weld joint. In practical applications, however, images of weld joints are often degraded because of the surface specularity or spatter. To overcome the problem, the constrained joint finding algorithm is proposed. In the approach of coordinate conversion rule for the visual feedback control among welding torch, robot body and laser sensor is applied by the same reference point method. In the real time seam tracking algorithms we propose constrained sampling method which uses look ahead distance. The RLS(Recursive Least Square) filter is applied to obtain the smooth tracking path from the sensitive edge data. From the experimental results, we could see the possibility that the developed laser sensor with proposed processing algorithm and real time seam tracking method can be used as a welding under the shipbuilding condition.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.446-452
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• 2016

Recently, heat resistant super alloys (which are wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and heat-resistant), have been used as the basic structural material in offshore and petrochemical plants. On the other hand, making valves from very expensive, high heat-resistant alloys increases the production cost and decreases its market competitiveness. To solve these problems, the technique of overlaying only those that flow on the fluid has been used as an effective method. Nevertheless, because the former technique of overlaying the ball is performed manually, it takes too much time and perfect welding is difficult to perform. To solve this problem, this study developed a robot automation system that can make uniformly overlay welding of the ball for ball-valves. The system consists of a 6-axis welding robot with a welding torch and additional 2 axes for the rotation of positioner, the controller, and a robot path OLP (Off-Line Programming). The CAD drawing data was entered in the Off-line program to obtain the robot teaching point and drive source. Overlay welding paths were implemented using Matlab. Through an automated overlaying system that implemented the OLP, the productivity rose 2.58 times, as the amount of time required for work decreased from 88 hours to 41 hours.