Multi-objective robust design optimization of a sewing mechanism under uncertainties

This work deals with the multi-objective robust design optimization of a needle-bar-and-thread-take-up-lever (NBTTL) mechanism used in sewing machines. A combined multi-objective imperialist competitive algorithm and Monte Carlo method are developed and used for the robust multi-objective optimization of the NBTTL mechanism. This robust optimization considers simultaneously the Needle Jerk, the transmission angle, the coupler tracking error and their standard deviations where the design parameters uncertainties are considered. The obtained results showed that the robust design reduces significantly the sensitivity of the NBTTL performances to the design parameters uncertainties compared to the deterministic one and to the commercialized Juki 8700 machine.