Flexible Manufacturing
Systems
Flexible Manufacturing Systems
• Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) is an automated workshop.
• Automation means – automated processing,– automated transportation,– automated storing.
Decision Making in FMS
• Decision means– what,– when,– how,– with what
to process/transport/store.
• Decision making is still a research topic in the forefront.
History of FMS
• First FMS in 1960’s in England.
• System 24: ever working workshop.
• Huge majority of FMSs is working in Japan.
Technical Development of Automated Processing 1.
• NC: Numeric Control– punch tape + dedicated input device– origin: textile industry used circuits of
punch cards.
Technical Development of Automated Processing 2.
• CNC: Computer Numeric Control– A mainframe computer directed the
production manchines used in the production.
– What is mainframe computer?– World record: one computer controled
more than 200 machines.
Technical Development of Automated Processing 3.
• DNC: Direct Numeric Control. The machine has its own PC.
• Since 1980’s.
DNC Machine
Machine Related Resources
• The capacity of the machine. Measured in time.• The capacity of the tool magazine. Measured in number of
places.
•Buffer capacity
Transportation System
• AGV: Automated Guided Vehicle
AGV Transports a Palette
•
Path is Coded into the Floor
•
Industrial Robot
•
Arm
Hand
The Moves of an Industrial Robot
• Arm:– forwards/backwards– up and down– rotation around a vertical axis
• Hand:– up and down– rotation around a vertical axis– rotation around a horizontal axis
Robot as Transportation Device
•
Robot as Production Device
• Painter robot
• Welding robot– They are more expensive
• Assembly robot
Welding Robot
•
Assembly Robot 1.
•
Assembly Robot 2: The Case of Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
•
Conveyor
•
Conveyor on Assembly Line
•
Traditional Conveyor
•
Automated Storing System
•
Positions
Robot of the
storing
system
Advanteges of FMS
• High precision of NC machines.
• Flexible change among technological alternatives.
• Low level of workforce.
• Small batches.
• High productivity.
• Reduced set-up times.
Scientific Problems
• Avoiding deadlock
• Optimal schedule of production, transportation and storing simultanuously.– Exact models are too large.– Rule of thumb ↔ Heuristics
A Modern Layout
•
Sources of Pictures and Videos
• http://www.cncmachinesinmotion.com/Images/3VK_cnc_machine.jpg
• http://www.biesse.it/dati/files/246_510_intermac_stone_master_30_tool_change.jpg
• http://www.fke.utm.my/lab/robotics/image/fmsp10.JPG
• http://www.robot-welding.com/images/robotwelding.jpg
• http://www.aw-systems.com/images/gsa_products/conveyor.jpg
• http://www.imps4ever.info/linwood/factory/main_assembly_conveyor.jpg
• http://www.pacline.com/images/conveyor_for_assembly_of_pl.jpg
• Thank you for your attention