This article discusses the issue of the preparation of the foundry moulds with the use of an industrial robot. The methodology is presented for the determination of the process capacity index for placing inserts with flat and cylindrical faces. On the basis of the relationships developed, the process capability indices were determined at various points in the workspace, which are characterised by different values of the repeatability positioning error. It was shown that the value of the process capacity index can be increased by the selection of a suitable location for the process of placing the inserts in the workspace. It should also be noted that the value of the process's capability index depends on the selection of the place in the robot workspace where the process is carried out. Implementation of the joining process at an analysed point in the robot workspace leads to an increase of the process capability index MCp for inserts with flat faces up to 1.1 (+4.5%) and for inserts with cylindrical faces up to 1.3. This results in an increase of 13% to a level corresponding to the global standard for process reliability (MCp = 1.33).

Ensuring the required quality of castings is an important part of the production process. The quality control should be carried out in a fast

and accurate way. These requirements can be met by the use of an optical measuring system installed on the arm of an industrial robot. In

the article a methodology for assessing the quality of robotic measurement system to control certain feature of the casting, based on the

analysis of repeatability and reproducibility is presented. It was shown that industrial robots equipped with optical measuring systems have

the accuracy allowing their use in the process of dimensional control of castings manufactured by lost-wax process, permanent-mould

casting, and pressure die-casting.

This article presents the results of investigations of the effect of heat treatment temperature on the content of the carbide phase of HS3-1-2

and HS6-5-2 low-alloy high-speed steel. Analysis of the phase composition of carbides is carried out using the diffraction method. It is

determined that with increasing austenitising temperature, the intensification of dissolution of M6C carbide increases. As a result, an

increase in the grain size of the austenite and the amount of retained austenite causes a significant reduction in the hardness of hardened

steel HS3-1-2 to be observed. The results of diffraction investigations showed that M7C3 carbides containing mainly Cr and Fe carbides

and M6C carbides containing mainly Mo and W carbides are dissolved during austenitisation. During austenitisation of HS3-1-2 steel, the

silicon is transferred from the matrix to carbides, thus replacing carbide-forming elements. An increase in a degree of tempering leads to

intensification of carbide separation and this process reduce the grindability of tested steels.

The introduction of the sustainable development elements in the construction industry leads to finding new ways of using waste minerals that are difficult in storage and recycling. Coal combustion products have been already introduced into building materials as a part of cement or concrete but they have been thought insufficiently compatible with the polymer-cement binders [7]. The paper presents results of the mechanical properties of polymer-cement composites containing two types of mineral additives: waste perlite powder that is generated during the perlite expanding process, and calcium fly ash which is the byproduct of burning coal in conventional furnaces. Mechanical tests of polymer-cement composites modified with wastes were carried out after 28 and 90 days of curing. As a part of preliminary study specific surface area and particle size distribution of mineral wastes were determined.