ABSTRACT
The ever-increasing demand in the aerospace and automotive sectors for enhanced performance, fuel efficiency and tighter tolerances drive the need for next-generation materials and processes. Industrial robots can provide a great alternative to traditional, machine-tool based machining solutions with superior benefits in terms of flexibility and reconfigurability. In this study, we demonstrate how an ultrasonically assisted machining attachment can be retrofitted into a commercial robot yielding benefits in drilling outcomes in carbon/epoxy components.
