ASSEMBLY AUTOMATION

OF MECHANICAL JOINTS
PRESENTED BY: V VIJ AY KUMAR
1531210035
M.TECH (CAD)

UNDER THE GUIDENCE OF
Mr. S. SUNDAR, M.E
ASSITANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING,
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
SRM UNIVERSITY

SolidWorks Secondary Development with Visual Basic 6 for an
Automated Modular Fixture Assembly Approach
Abstract:
This approach is based on the secondary development of
SolidWorks integrating with Visual Basic (VB) 6 programing
language. SolidWorks API (Application programming
interface) functions were applied in order to control
SolidWorks commands and assembly operations.

The outcomes were creating new menus in SolidWorks
environment for selecting, inserting, and assembling MFs
elements. The approach was applied for a side clamping
procedure and for a semi-circular workpiece.
Keywords: SolidWorks API, Visual basic 6, Assembly simulation.
OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
WORKPIECE HOLDING PRINCIPLES
CREATING THE ASSEMBLY KNOWLEDGE BASE
CREATING SOLIDWORKS ADD-IN AND USER
INTERFACES
ASSEMBLY SIMULATION BY MACROS
CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
As a result of the rapid development of the manufacturing
systems, productivity has become one of the goals that
need to be achieved as well as production time
consuming.
Three factors should be considered by the designer, the
database of the fixture elements, the proper design
approach, and a powerful 3D CAD software for modeling
MFs design and assembly process.
This approach includes generating ActiveX DLL project
in VB 6 and integrating with SolidWorks API for creating
new menus in SolidWorks environment. A 3D model of
the specific workpiece was designed in SolidWorks.
Cont
Cont
SolidWorks API:
Application programming interface (API) is a tool to write a
code in a programming language within another application.
As a result, a direct integration between different applications
can be developed.
SolidWorks is one of the applications which support API with
different programming languages such as C++, Visual Basic,
and Visual Studio. SolidWorks API automates the design and
the assembly operations by creating codes in a specific
programming language and it has been applied for different
design methods.
Zhen and Yingyi introduced an assembly method based on
SolidWorks. They illustrated the steps of the assembly
automation procedure by using Visual C++.
Cont
Visual Basic Programming:
Visual Basic (VB) is a programming language developed by
Microsoft. This language has been used widely among a high
percentage of the developers as compared to other
programming languages language with Integrated
Development Environment (IDE) graphical user interface .
Moreover, VB is considered as then engine for building the
macros in all Microsoft software. Therefore, VB has become
an important tool for building different programs for many
applications.

Workpiece holding principles
The produced work piece should meet its specifications
particularly for shape, dimensions and tolerances and to
achieve this, it is important to locate and clamp the work piece
correctly on the machine.
Some other factors also influence the work piece holding
configuration including machining operation sequence, cost
considerations, direction and strength of the cutting forces, and
capabilities and orientation of the machine tools.

Creating the assembly knowledge
base
Based on the assembly methodology in the previous work, the
assembly knowledge base was developed in IF-then rule structure to
meet the requirements of the side clamping layout for the selected
fixture elements in this study.
Rule 1
If the locating method is V-blocks, then define the surfaces that
are used to assemble them to the baseplate.
Rule 2
If the locating surface of the V-block is defined, then identify
the location of the V-block on the baseplate. This depends on the sizes
of the V-block and baseplate. The location can be defined by
calculating the distance of the holes on the baseplate for the correct
location.
Cont
Rule 3
If the surface is defined and the location is calculated,
then use coincident mate to locate the V-block to the baseplate.

Rule 4
If the surface is defined and the location is calculated,
then use concentric mate to assemble the V-block with the
baseplate.
figure
Creating solidworks ADD-IN
& user interfaces
Add-in code was created in order to build menus in
the SolidWorks environment for automating the
inserting and assembly processes. The menus were
built by using VB 6 integrating with SolidWorks API
(Application Programming Interface).

Assembly simulation by
macros
The solution for this problem was to make global macros by
modifying the recorded macros. This was completed by
changing VB methods and classes of the recorded macros and
adding the swConst modules and swAssembly or swPart class
modules. This makes the macros available for any SolidWorks
documents.
However, these global macros are still not in the format for the
developed ActiveX DLLproject. The most important function
for the add-in project is how to make the created menus calling
the global macros which perform SolidWorks design and
assembly.
Four kinds are included in the
baseplate selection interface
program
Dim swApp As Object
Dim Part As Object
Dim boolstatus As Boolean
Dim longstatus As Long, longwarnings As Long
Sub main()
Set swApp =Application.SldWorks
Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
boolstatus=Part.AddComponent("C:\Users\Desktop\baseplate -MF40-0804) End Sub

The user interface of fixture elements
Assembly process
Conclusion
SolidWorks API was employed for automating the assembly
process.
The simulation of this process was completed by using macros
functions in SolidWorks.
The developed approach results in saving time and cost for
designing and assembling MFs elements.
Thank you.