Tools and equipment modelling for interactive assembling operating in a virtual environment

Tools and equipment (T&E) play an important role in the simulation of virtual assembly, especially in the assembly process simulation and plan. The interactive operation simulation of T&E is also a challenge for interactive assembly operation because of variety in function and complexity in structure and manipulation. Based on detailed analysis of interactive operations, the functional requirement for T&E is given. Then, a unified modelling method for information expression and function realisation of general T&E is represented, and the handling methods of some typical manual, semi-automatic, automatic T&E are discussed. Finally, the rear suspension and the front suspension assembly workplace operation simulation in the RA-750 car assembly line are introduced. The result shows that the modelling and handling methods are applicable in the interactive simulation of various T&E.