Automation for pick arrangement design of a cutting head attachment using RecurDyn/ProcessNet

A cutting head is an attachment on the front of an excavator that cuts or grinds rocks. Cutting tools, called pick cutters, are arranged on the surface of the cutting head. The exact arrangement and configuration of pick cutters is one of the most important factors in determining grinding efficiency. This study focuses on the problem of automation for pick arrangement design, in order to make the design process more efficient and convenient. Design automation was carried out using RecurDyn/ProcessNet, and it was composed of three parts: 'Drum set', 'Pick load', and 'Pick arrangement' sections. The presented method helps to decrease costs attributed to designing cutting heads and can be used to generate a wide range of attachment mechanisms.