 These instructions describe the construction of a model designed to illustrate how a Meccano robot can be controlled by a computer, and demonstrates a manufacturing process using industrial software.
The ArcAngle robot (see ModelPlan 149) is of simple design, with motors and mechanisms easily accessible, and is very similar to an industrial prototype. Each motion has feedback to the operating computer, provided by potentiometers.
The conveyor moves coloured blocks to the robot which picks them up, sorts them by colour and places them in appropriate boxes - yellow blocks are accepted, blue blocks rejected. The controlling program records the total number of blocks processed using photocells and colour recognition cells. When activated, an interrupter situated on the conveyor stops the machine and the time of inactivity is recorded. A speed control is provided for the whole operation.
The model, which demonstrates part of a production process, has been used to demonstrate commercial OEE (Operation Efficiency Evaluation) software at a trade exhibition in Sweden, and provides an excellent introduction to robotics and Meccano
24 page instruction booklet with text description, b/w photographs and parts list. The parts include a number of non-Meccano motors, electrical parts and reference to ModelPlan 149.
Please note these Model Plans are designed by individual Meccano modellers and may use parts not currently available. The level of instruction detail is dependent on the original modeller and varies from plan to plan. These are instructions only.
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