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A consortium of interested parties has conducted an experimental characterization of two Tau parallel kinematic machines which were built as a part of the EU-funded project, SMErobot1. Characteristics such as machine stiffness, work envelope, repeatability and accuracy were considered. This paper will present a brief history of the Tau parallel machine, the results of this testing and some comment on prospective application to the aerospace industry.

Modern manufacturing processes are constantly under observation to improve efficiency and reduce costs. In many cases new materials like CFK need a different approach to check part tolerances which in general increase the effort. Based on these facts a 6DoF Laser Tracker System could become one solution to reduce costs and improve measurement quality especially in the direction of automation. The following paper describes a Laser Tracker with a machine control probe (T-Mac) for online measurements of machines or robots. Measurements to analyse static and dynamic robot performance and different methods to calibrate or improve absolute accuracy of robots are shown. Meanwhile online corrections for a robot or a machine can be realized with an update-rate of 10 Hz, but activities to establish a 1000 Hz real-time interface are planned.

For integrating Life Cycle Assessment into the design process it is more and more necessary to generate models of single life cycle steps respectively manufacturing processes. For that reason it is indispensable to develop parametric processes. With such disposed processes the aim could only be to provide a tool where parametric environmental process models are available for a designer. With such a tool and the included models a designer will have the possibility to make an estimation of the probable energy consumption and needed additive materials for the applied manufacturing technology. Likewise if he has from the technical point of view the opportunity, he can shift the applied joining technology in the design phase by changing for instance the design.