Preparation of the production line for LiDAR scanning
First determine the question, then the area covered
A good scan starts before the scanner arrives. It is not enough to order the recording of space when preparing robotics. Specify clearly what you want to check: space for robots, route of product, position of transporter or access to service doors. On this page we present the recommended preparatory process, which is adapted to the concrete line before implementation.
For a small manufacturing company, it makes sense to start with one project decision. Instead of requiring the whole hall to be captured, you can define the part of the line and the surrounding area that affects the change. Autodesk describes the status quo as a spatial starting point for factory planning. This is the purpose of covering, not ensuring that each scan will be sufficient for the whole project. [1]
Mark Scope and Important Sites
We propose a simple sketch with machines, walls, pillars and the intended area of new equipment. There's no need for a complete drawing. It is important that all participants understand the boundaries of the order. Mark also areas outside the direct site where affected: pallet driveway, material filling or removal of finished products.
- Machinery and parts of the line remaining in place.
- The area of the intended robot, grips and disposal.
- Service accesses, cabinets and tool change sites.
- Transport routes and material positions.
- Critical measures requiring a specific verification arrangement.
- Areas not to be covered or photographed.
Connect every important city for a reason. The indication that the distance to the wall is important due to opening the door is more useful than the unmarked dimension. This is how you communicate the space function to the designer, not just its current form.
Sync access and state of production
Before the term, identify the contact person, the authorised areas of movement and the manner of escort. The execution is coordinated with the instructions of the plant. Do not assume that the entire line can be covered in good quality during normal operation. We agree on the necessary access and possible suspension of individual parts according to the task.
We suggest removing temporary barriers only where permitted and safe. If the position of the door, mobile table or trolley is relevant to the project, please agree which position should be the documented state of play. Do not interfere yourself in safety, wiring or hazardous areas solely for the purpose of containment.
For each area it is useful to note whether it shows normal production, service condition or temporary installation. This prevents the planner from mistaking temporarily delayed equipment as a permanent part of the line.
Prepare drawings and inspection measures
Collect available layouts, external dimensions of machines and information on planned new equipment. Attach version code and date of drawing. If you are aware of the deviation from the documentation, please indicate in advance. An old plan can be useful aid, but it does not make sense to treat it as the current situation without verification.
For critical dimensions, we propose a specific list with a purpose and the required acceptability. Example: fixing positions of the carrier require a different treatment than a general overview of the width of the passage. The number of points in the capture alone does not confirm the correctness of such dimensions.
Reliable surfaces can cause unwanted data; Autodesk also describes their filtering when preparing the project. [2] Therefore, mark glass barriers, shiny surfaces and inaccessible places as audit areas. Missing surfaces shall not be presented as measured inconspicuously.
Arrange a data transfer
Before capture, tell us who will take over the data and in which programme it intends to use them. We suggest that you jointly define the format of files, units, starting point and orientation. In the case of a more demanding exchange, it makes sense to check a smaller sample before agreeing on a full surrender.
| Data | Issue before implementation |
|---|---|
| Scope | Which part of the line and surrounding area should be covered? |
| Purpose | Which project decision should the data allow? |
| Verification | What dimensions or areas are particularly important? |
| Surrender | Who takes over the files and how does it work? |
| Accounting | What does the agreed number of weighted units include? |
Example of packing line preparation
Illustration case, not customer reference: the workshop wants to add robotic disposal of boxes. We suggest marking the exit of the transporter, pallet sites, operator access and service cabinet doors on the sketch. Prepare also information about the largest box and the expected process. The spatial capture then represents the agreed surroundings, not the final choice of the robot.
The intended benefit of such preparation is that production and integrator deal with the same important sites. The actual result must be verified in a concrete project. In the Council of Blacks we harmonise the scope and surrender before implementation; 1 € with VAT means the unit of account of weighted services, not the price of the total visit.
Resources and next step
[1] Autodesk: Factory Design. https://www.autodesk.com/solutions/factory-design
[2] Autodesk: Set up and configuration a new ReCap project. https://www.autodesk.com/learn/ondemand/curated/recap-pro-quick-start-guide/vJvQLbUBsxPqC1v9giZNK
Send a sketch and a description of the planned change! Which city on your line would be most expensive to miss before ordering new equipment?