The Adaptive Corner Cutting Algorithm (ACCA)
The Adaptive Corner Cutting Algorithm (ACCA) is based on a concept origionally devised by Electronic Innovations Pty. Ltd. in 1992. First conceived by Ross Pink, as a method of increasing machine productivity, the algorithm has evolved continually, having been applied to a wide range of equipment.
In today’s economic climate, manufacturing firms must cut production costs in order to remain competative. Unfortunately, many pieces of industrial manufacturing equipment are controlled by electronic systems that are not optimised for maximum machine output, and therefore cost efficiency. ACC methodology overcomes the restrictions imposed by conventional systems, with the use of proprietary software from EI.
ACCA Concepts
Traditional control methods break a machine cycle into a number of actions. The actions, when organised into the correct sequence, will produce the desired result from the equipment. In many instances, operation is based upon absolute worst case time estimates for each action.
ACC methodology builds upon the “sequence of actions” concept, by adaptively removing unnecessary dead time and delayed actions. An ideal machine will perform a cycle with zero time between each action. This can be conceptualised as two actions just touching. Thus if all adjacent actions within a cycle are just touching, the machine is running at its optimal continually just touching rate. However, if the action follows too closely it is said to interfere with the previous action, an undesirable result. Thus, an integral part of the ACCA is to gather sufficient feedback to ensure minimum interference whilst maintaining the continually just touching path.
ACCA Practicalities
In practice, an action may perform with a statistical variation rather than a precise carbon copy performance each time, and it is the cost criteria of the ACCA method that dictates how close to the ideal CJT rate that the process follows.
A typical performance criteria may be for an intended gap to be placed in the connection of two actions such that the likelihood of overlap is neglibable.
If speed is important to identify a criteria that aims to touch every so often, otherwise the criteria may be too wasteful of time.
Are you Upgrading your Machinery?
In many instances, increasing machine output is not considered an essential part of an upgrade. However, the long term productivity increases possible with the ACCA make it an attractive option. By incorporating ACCA, repetitive machine operations can be optimised to give an increase in production speed with no loss of accuracy.
Electronic Innovations Pty. Ltd. have applied ACCA to a wide range of industrial equipment, providing substancial production increases ranging from 5% to 40%.
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