Improving Packing Efficiency and Component Handling Reliability in Logistics With a Novel CAD Approach

This paper presents a novel method of designing logistic separators based on existing 3D models of components. The proposed method is used to create horizontal sheet separators with cavities that conform to the geometry of the component. Because the method allows the components to be packed closer to one another, and because they can be made to overlap in the vertical direction, it increases the number of components that can be transported per logistic box. Additionally, because the components are constrained by cavities based on their geometry, a predefined grasping orientation for robotic arms can be guaranteed. The paper presents two methods to create separators that allow packing in three dimensions: manual and automatic.

The automatic method presented in the paper generates sheets without manual input after setting the components in a three-dimensional space. As there are several technical solutions to performing the method, the paper describes the approach on a general level, while pointing out significant hurdles that can be encountered in development.

The paper describes each step of the workflow of creating the separators in detail by using an example component. The presented method works with practically any component that has a 3D model. However, the extent of the improvement in packing efficiency is highly dependent on their complexity. The paper discusses the factors that contribute to the complexity and gives recommendations on what type of components benefit most from the concept.