Commander heavy-duty manipulator from conceptual design to prototype and production

摘要

In order to remain competitive in to-days high-tech market place, it is essential that organisations keep abreast of the continuously developing design and manufacturing technologies. Within the Engineering sector, rapid advances over a relatively short timescale have resulted in the development of a staggering array of computer based design aids and modelling packages. A high proportion of these have been driven by high technology industrial sectors such as aerospace and automotive. As a consequence while they are integrated within themselves, it is still not possible in many instances to transfer data reliably between them. A fundamental pre-requisite for today's design organisations is therefore to incorporate the capability to source and select technologies key to its product(s). Also to provide the links between the islands of modelling so as to provide the design and manufacturing teams with as integrated an information system as possible. Participation in more complex projects has led to the need to introduce strategies involving risk sharing partnerships, technology transfer, concurrent engineering and the integration of inputs from multiple locations in order to achieve a satisfactory conclusion. Such strategies are aimed at reducing lead times, development and manufacturing costs. In parallel with the foregoing, the other essential inputs to the achievement of a successful end product are creativity, innovation and review.