Page 119 - Modular design for machine tools

Engineering Guides and Future Perspectives of Modular Design 81

two variants exhibit high future potential: one is the LCA-oriented type
and the other is the “maintaining up-to-date specifications” type. In the
former, the module obtained from the machine tool in the end of life
might be used again as a new module after readjustment or modifica-
tion, if necessary. In other words, a group of modules is, in preferable
cases, guaranteed reusability to a larger extent, because the reuse is
more desirable than recycling. Importantly, this LCA-oriented type has
not yet been realized, but it was in the conceptual stage at the begin-
ning of 2000, although the same concept is being employed in the case
of the automobile, as already proposed by Neumann [14].
In the latter (maintaining up-to-date specifications) type, some modules
can be replaced on-site by the user depending upon their deterioration
rates, so that a machine tool can maintain its functionality and per-
formance in constant standard. In an advanced case, users may prop-
erly determine by themselves the machine life desired in replacing the
objective modules given the leverage of the lives of all the modules [15].
A predecessor of this type is a machine designed according to the prin-
ciple of preventive quality assurance, which often has been used in
designing the main spindle of quill type. In preventive quality assurance,
the modules being incorporated, e.g., unit and functional complex, should
be replaced with new ones after operating a certain time, even when the
module has no trouble or damage.
More specifically, in a cost-effective machine tool for civil supplies
production, at burning issue is to develop a modular design coping
with the production in which the module life is determinable by the
user. This modular design differentiates itself from others in the
following ways.

1. The user can carry out the on-site replacement of the module at any
time, to maintain the functionality, performance, and quality of the
machine in preferable standard.
2. The user can determine the machine life by himself or herself by
looking for the label modular design of selective quality assurance
type.

In contrast, the customer could apply this idea also to the durables,
home appliances, daily supplies, and so on. This trend will create
another requirement for developing a new machine tool, i.e., machine
tool capable of providing the customer with the spare part and unit,
which should be replaced in accordance with the due life determined by
the customer. In fact, this implies the necessity and inevitability of
developing a “dexterous machine tool” that is compatible with one-off
production as well as enabling quick response to customer demands
with the reasonable production cost.