TUT Microfactory
If your parts and products are getting smaller - So should your production system!
The TUT Microfactory is a highly compact production system suitable for manufacturing and assembly of small parts and products.
The modular, re-configurable microfactory concept consists of independent modules for various manufacturing tasks like assembly, laser processing and quality inspection. All needed systems of the microfactory are integrated in the 300 x 200 x 220 mm base module, which also has a clean room environment required for high precision and high accuracy manufacturing. Since the production module does not need a separate control cabinet the factory can be aggregated fast and easily on any flat surface. Small size is also the key element in the low energy consumption of the microfactory, enabling a very ecological solution for future production.
Modular interfaces to three directions allow fast build up of a production line. The base module can be specialized to various processes by placing a process module (e.g. robot, laser scanner, camera) to the top of the base module.
Benefits of microfactories:
- Increase production system flexibility
- Decrease ramp-up time
- Increase the mobility of production capacity
- Decrease floor space requirements
- Reduce energy consumption
- Improve material utilization
For more information, contact Riku Heikkilä
New report on the current state, challenges, and future visions of micro manufacturing is published and available:
Micro and Desktop Factory Roadmap (also as downloadable pdf)
Introduction of TUT Microfactory
TUT Microfactory assembly demo
Projects
ReDia
This project intends to develop a generic high-sensitive but still low-cost immunoassay concept which is based on nanoparticle labels and a microfluidic assay cartridge with self-contained ready-to-use reagents, featuring simple "add only sample" –principle.
AC-Desk
The objective of this project is to ensure the leading position of Finnish production system suppliers in global breakthrough of desktop production systems.
DeskConcept
Investigated the financial and ecological possibilities of production systems miniaturization.
Mz-DTF
This project concentrated in the material logistics and interfaces of micro and desktop manufacturing.
Desk
Developed the desktop factory systems and processes and studied their suitability for volume production. Also demonstrated the use of small robots, control systems, feeding devices and machine vision applications in microfactories.
M4 & Next
TUT Microfactory related publications:
Referee articles
2010
Heikkilä, R., Järvenpää, E. and Tuokko, R.: Advances in the TUT Microfactory Concept Development, International Journal of Automation Technology, Vol. 4 No. 2, 2010
Järvenpää, E., Heikkilä, R. & Tuokko, R. 2010. Factory level logistics and control aspects for flexible and reactive microfactory concept. In: Lee, S., Suarez, R. & Choi, B-W. (eds.), Frontiers of Assembly and Manufacturing - Selected papers from ISAM 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. pp.127-140.
Siltala, N., Heikkilä, R., Vuola, A. & Tuokko, R. 2010. Architectures and interfaces for a micro factory concept. In: Ratcev, S. (ed.), Proceedings of 5th IFIP WG 5.5, International Precision Assembly Seminar, IPAS 2010, 14-17 February, 2010, Chamonix, France pp. 293-300.
Vuola, A., Heikkilä, R., Prusi, T., Remes, M., Rokka, P., Siltala, N. & Tuokko, R. 2010. Miniaturization of flexible screwing cell. In: Ratcev, S. (ed.), Proceedings of 5th IFIP WG 5.5, International Precision Assembly Seminar, IPAS 2010, 14-17 February, 2010, Chamonix, France pp. 309-316
Prusi, T., Rokka, P. & Tuokko, R. 2010. Miniaturized camera systems for microfactories. In: Ratcev, S. (ed.), Proceedings of 5th IFIP WG 5.5, International Precision Assembly Seminar, IPAS 2010, 14-17 February, 2010, Chamonix, France pp. 115-122.
2009
Kumpulainen, T., Karjalainen, I., Prusi, T., Hölsä, J., Heikkilä, R. & Tuokko, R. 2009. Pulsed laser machining implemented with piezoelectric actuator. International Journal of Optomechatronics 3 Taylor & Francis. 1, pp. 1-17.
Järvenpää, E., Heikkilä, R. & Tuokko, R. 2009. Logistic and control aspects for flexible and reactive micro and desktop assembly at the factory level. Proceedings of 2009 IEEE International Symposium on Assembly and Manufacturing, ISAM 2009, 17-20 November, 2009, Suwon, Korea pp. 171-176.
2007
Huttunen, A., Laakso, P., Ellä, V., Heikkilä, R. & Kellomäki, M. 2007. Picosecond laser micromachining of biomedical materials. 26th International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-optics, ICALEO, 29.10.-1.11.2007, Orlando, USA M1306, pp. 387-394
2005
Karjalainen, I., Sandelin, T., Heikkilä, R. & Tuokko, R. 2005. Using piezoelectric technology to improve servo gripper performance in mini- and microassembly. Assembly Automation 25 2, pp. 117-123.
Conference Publications
2010
Heikkilä, R., Prusi, T., Ha, T. H., Song, J. Y., Lee, C. W. & Tuokko, R. 2010. Adaptive gripper system for small optical assemblies. Proceedings of the 7th International Workshop on Microfactories, IWMF 2010, 24-27 October, 2010, Daejeon, Korea pp. 308-312.
Järvenpää, E., Heikkilä, R. & Tuokko, R. 2010. Microfactory concept for highly flexible volume assembly of watch mechanisms. Proceedings of the 7th International Workshop on Microfactories, IWMF 2010, 24-27 October, 2010, Daejeon, Korea pp. 9-14.
Vuola, A., Heikkilä, R., Siltala, N., Tuokko, R.: Micro H-Scara Robot: Findings and Results. The 7th International Workshop on Microfactories, Daejeon, Korea, 24-27 October, 2010
Prusi, T.,Vuola, A., Siltala, N., Heikkilä, R. & Tuokko, R. 2010. Robots for micro and desktop factories: examples and experiences. Proceedings of the joint conference of the 41st International Symposium on Robotics, ISR 2010, and 6th German Conference on Robotics, ROBOTIK 2010, 7-9 June, 2010, Munich, Germany pp. 1088-109.
Siltala, N., Vuola, A., Heikkilä, R. & Tuokko, R. 2010. A H-scara mini robot - a dual parallel kinematics mini manipulator. Proceedings of the
joint conference of the 41st International Symposium on Robotics, ISR 2010, and 6th German Conference on Robotics, ROBOTIK 2010, 7-9 June, 2010, Munich, Germany pp. 1218-1224.
Vuola, A., Siltala, N., Heikkilä, R. & Tuokko, R. 2010. Micro H-scara robot: findings and results. Proceedings of the 7th International Workshop on Microfactories, IWMF 2010, 24-27 October, 2010, Daejeon, Korea pp. 20-24
Siltala, N., Heikkilä, R. and Tuokko, R.: (Keynote presentation.) Micro-Factory Concept: Modular Assembly System for Small Devices. OWL Machinenbau: 5th Management Innovation Forum: Competitive Strength through Product Modularization and Intelligent Version Management. Lemgo, Germany. 17 June, 2010
Vuola, A., Heikkilä, R., Prusi, T., Remes, M., Rokka, P., Siltala, N. and Tuokko, R.: "Miniaturization of flexible screwing cell". In 5th International Precision Assembly Seminar, IPAS 2010. Chamonix, France. 14-17 February, 2010
Siltala, N., Heikkilä, R., Vuola, A. and Tuokko, R., “Architectures and Interfaces for a Micro Factory Concept”, In 5th International Precision Assembly Seminar. IPAS 2010. Chamonix, France. 14-17 February 2010
2009
Heikkilä, R., Prusi, T., Remes, M., Ha, T. H., Song, J. Y., Lee, C. W. & Tuokko, R. 2009. Development of a flexible gripper system for small optical assemblies. Proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on Microfactory Technology, 20-21 August, 2009, Jeju-do, Korea
Heikkilä, R., Prusi, T., Remes, M., Tuokko, R., Ha, T. H., Song, J. Y. & Lee, C. W. 2009. Development of a flexible gripper system for small optical assemblies. In: Saile, V., Ehmann, K. & Dimov, S. (eds.). 4M/ICOMM 2009, The Global Conference on Micro Manufacture, Incorporating the 5th International Conference on Multi-Material Micro Manufacture (4M) and the 4th International Conference on Micro Manutacturing (ICOMM), 23rd-25th September 2009, Karlsruhe, Germany pp. 371-374.
Siltala, N. and Tuokko R. (2009). Use of Electronic Module Descriptions for Modular and Reconfigurable Assembly Systems. In: Proceedings of IEEE International Symposium on Assembly and Manufacturing (IEEE ISAM 2009). Suwon, Korea, November 17 - 20, 2009, pp. 214-219.
2008
Heikkilä, R., Huttunen, A., Vuola, A. & Tuokko, R. 2008. A microfactory concept for laser-assisted manufacturing of personalized implants. 6th International Workshop on Microfactories IWMF 2008, October 5-7-, 2008, Evanston, IL, USA pp. 77-80.
Heikkilä, R., Remes, M., Prusi, T. & Tuokko, R. 2008. Development of micro gripper systems for microfactories. Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Microfactory Technology, 10-11 July, 2008, Jeju-do, Korea 4 p.
Prusi, T., Heikkilä, R., Tuokko, R., Vuola, A. & Uusitalo, J. 2008. Visual on-line measurement in a laser micro lathe. 6th International Workshop on Microfactories IWMF 2008, October 5-7-, 2008, Evanston, IL, USA pp. 185-189.
Remes, M., Heikkilä, R., Prusi, T., Ha T. H., Song, J. Y., Lee C. W. & Tuokko, R. 2008. Flexible gripper system for small optical assemblies. Proceedings of MSEC 2008 ASME International Conference on Manufacturing Science and Engineering and ICM&P 3rd JSME/ASME International Conference on Materials and Processing, October 7-10, 2008, Evanston, IL, USA 1 p.
2007
Heikkilä, R.H., Karjalainen, I.T., Uusitalo, J.J., Vuola, A.S. & Tuokko, R.O. 2007. Possibilities of a microfactory in the assembly of small parts and products - first results of the M4-project. Proceedings of the ISAM 2007, IEEE International symposium on assembly and manufacturing, July 22-25, 2007, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA pp. 166-171.
Heikkilä, R., Karjalainen, I., Uusitalo, J., Vuola, A. & Tuokko, R. 2007. The concept and first applications of the TUT-Microfactory. IWMT 2007, 3rd International workshop on microfactory technology, August 23-24, 2007, Seogwipo KAL Hotel, Jeju-do, Korea pp. 57-61.
Huttunen, A., Laakso, P., Ellä, V., Heikkilä, R. & Kellomäki, M. 2007. Picosecond laser micromachining of biomedical materials. 3rd Marie Curie Cutting-Edge conference in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, 4.6. - 8.6.2007 1 p.
Tuokko, R., Karjalainen, I., Desktop-valmistuksella asiakas- ja ympäristömyötäisyyteen, Automaatio 07 Seminaaripäivät 27.-28.3.2007, Helsinki
2006
Tuokko, R. Manufacturing in front of challenges - Status, trends and research initiatives, Proceedings of the International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering, Advances in Mechanical Engineering. 14.-16. December 2006, SRM University, Chennai, India
Tuokko, R., A Finnish View to Microfactories - From Basic Technologies to Assembly and Manufacture, 5th International Workshop on Microfactories (IWMF 2006), October 25-27, 2006, Besancon, France
Tuokko, R., Views to Micro and Desktop Factories –From Miniaturization of Products to Miniaturization of Production Equipment and Factories, Philips Precision Technology Conference (PPTC), October 3rd and 4th 2006, Groenendael, Hilvarenbeek, The Netherlands
Tuokko, R., Developed and planned technologies and applications for micro and desktop factories - a Finnish view, The 2nd International workshop on Microfactory Technology, IWMT 2006. 6-7 July, 2006., Jeju-do, Korea
Prusi, T., Heikkilä, R., Uusitalo, J. & Tuokko, R. 2006. Test environment for high-performance precision assembly - development and preliminary tests. In: Ratchev, S. (ed.). Precision assembly technologies for mini and micro products. Proceedings of the IFIP TC5 WG5.5 Third International Precision Assembly Seminar (IPAS'2006). 19-21 February, 2006, Bad Hofgastein, Austria pp. 93-100.
2005
Heikkilä, R. 2005. Beyond -projekti. Koneenrakennuksen teknologiaohjelma MASINA, Tulosseminaari 19.10.2005, Hämeen AMK, Hämeenlinna 30 s.
Karjalainen, I. & Tuokko, R., Methods for comparing servo grippers for mini and micro assembly applications, Third International Precision Assembly Seminar (IPAS'2006). 19-21 February, 2006, Bad Hofgastein, Austria