NGI Goal: Revolutionary Applications
Octahedral Hexapod:
Information Age Machine Tool
Partners:
NIST
Deneb Robotics
Ingersoll Milling Machine Co.
United Technologies Research Center/Pratt & Whitney
Ohio State University
University of Florida
University of Maryland
Sandia National Laboratories
Other Hexapod User Group Members
Contact:
Albert Wavering, MEL
phone: (301) 975-3461
email: albert.wavering@nist.gov
This octahedral hexapod is representative of a still-experimental class of machine tools that has the potential to deliver an unprecedented combination of versatility, speed, accuracy, and portability. Its geometric design lends itself to software-mediated performance improvements: a change in programming might be able to accomplish what, in today's machine tools, is accomplished through costly, laborious mechanical adjustments. Remote access to the NIST machine is helping a national group of machine tool builders, prospective users, and researchers to gain experience with the promising technology and to evaluate its capabilities.
Demo Abstract. "Hexapods" and other so-called parallel-actuated machine tools mark the first major departure in machine tool design in nearly a century. Although long contemplated as an intriguing alternative technology, hexapods and their relatives have only become practical with the recent advent of software-based control and performance enhancement techniques. Potential advantages over conventional machine tools include increased stiffness and machining accuracy, higher machining speeds, greater versatility, and lower production and installation costs. For hexapods to achieve widespread use, however, a number of important questions and issues must be resolved.
Through its National Advanced Manufacturing Testbed, NIST is enabling remotely located industry and university researchers to investigate the performance characteristics and capabilities of the experimental technology, to develop and use new simulation and modeling tools, and to examine critical control and integration issues. Currently, real-time collaborations involve "over the shoulder" participation, enabled by cameras manipulated by the off-site observers. More extensive capabilities for remote collaboration, including the sharing of hexapod sensor and control information, will be enabled by advances in communication, networking, and security technologies.
While characterizing and enhancing the performance of the hexapod are immediate aims, this collaborative work also will pave the way for new, multiorganizational manufacturing enterprises that are assembled over an advanced network. Electronically linked partners are building experience in conducting and integrating remotely performed manufacturing activities. They are developing, for example, some of the prototype interfaces and other standards necessary to support geographically distributed design and manufacturing capabilities.
The NGI Difference. Full-motion video and the low-latency data transmission are critical in this type of collaboration. Quality of service and security also are vital, necessary for safe and reliable operation of manufacturing and research equipment. Means of assured privacy must be developed to foster commercial applications and to protect intellectual property. Without the envisioned NGI technologies and capabilities, opportunities for delivering new, powerful manufacturing technologies and business capabilities may not be fully realized.
Contact: inquiries@nist.gov
Last Update: March 1999