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Unit 5 Automated Manufacturing
Automated Manufacturing Automation is the use of control systems such as numericalcontrol, programmable logic control, and other industrialcontrol systems and information technology including computer-aided technologies, to control industrial machinery and processes, reducing the need for human intervention
Reasons for Automation in the Factory Include • Reduced labor costs • Sales growth • Better quality • Reduced inventory • Increased worker productivity
Two Types of Automation • Fixed systems and • Flexible systems
Current Factory Technology Includes: • Computer networks including ERP • Data collection and reporting • Automated material handling • Cells and work centers • Automated inspection and testing • The paperless factory • Robots
Chapter 11 Production Support Machines and Systems
Industrial Robots • A robot is an automatically controlled, programmable, multipurpose, manipulating machine with several programmable axes, which may be either fixed in place or mobile for use in industrial automation applications. • Key words are reprogrammable and multipurpose
Industrial Robots • The basic robot system consists of manipulator, power supply, controller, end effectors, interfacing or required equipment such as devices and sensors and any communications interface that is operating and monitoring the robot, equipment and sensors • The mechanical arm is driven by electric motors, pneumatic devices, or hydraulic actuators • Six motions are identified: Arm sweep, shoulder swivel, elbow extension, pitch, yaw, and roll.
Industrial Robots • Robotic arm geometry classification includes the following: Cartesian geometry, cylindrical geometry, spherical geometry, and articulated geometry. • End effector or end-of-arm tooling must be provided for robots to have production capability • The controller is a special-purpose computer with a central processing unit which controls the robot’s arm and the work cell in which it is operating. • Robots are programmed by keying in or selecting menu commands in the controller language, moving the robot arm to the desired position in the work cell, and recording the position in the program often with a teach pendant.
Industrial Robots • Programming methods include: • Active robot teaching (teach pendant) • Passive robot teaching (lead-through) • Off-line robot programming • Robot applications include: Material processing, material handling, and assembly and fabrication. • Selecting and justifying robot application requires a detailed design process and cost analysis. • Justifying a robotic system is performed using this model: [P = I/(S-E)], where: • P = # of years for pay back • I = Investment in robot • S = Savings in robot • E = Cost of servicing the robot
Automated Material Handling • Material-handling process for parts and raw materials should be automated only after every unnecessary inch of material transport distance has been removed from the production process. • The work simplification and analysis process that precedes the design and selection of material-handling automation starts with a diagram of the production flow, using process flow analysis symbol shown on page 461.
Automated Material Handling • The transfer mechanism used to move parts between work cells and stations serves two main functions: • Move the part in the most appropriate manner between production machines, and • Orient and position the part with sufficient accuracy at the machine to maximize productivity and quality. • Automated transfer systems include: • Continuous transfer such as overhead monorail • Intermittent or synchronized transfer such as the walking beam transfer system • Asynchronous transfer or power-and-free systems as in conveyor and pallet system.
Automatic guided vehicles (AGV) An AGV is a vehicle equipped with automatic guidance equipment capable of following prescribed guide paths and may be equipped for vehicle programming and stop selection, blocking, and any other special function required by the system.
Automatic guided vehicles (AGV) • AGV types include: Towing vehicles, unit load vehicles, pallet truck vehicles, fork lift vehicles, light load vehicles, and assembly line vehicles. • AGV systems must perform five functions, namely: Guidance, routing, traffic management, load transfer, and system management. • AGV systems must be justified based on the current and future material-handling requirements.
Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) • Materials to be stored and retrieved include: 1) raw materials, 2) unsold finished products, 3) production parts, 4) purchased parts and subassemblies used in the assembly of products, 5) rework and scrap that result from production operations, 6) spare parts for repair of production machines and facilities, and 7) general office supplies including tools and instruments. • AS/RS is a combination of equipment and controls that handles, stores, and retrieves materials with precision, accuracy, and speed under a defined degree of automation.
Automated Machine Tools and Tooling • Includes different machines and tooling systems…: • Machine tools • Auxiliary equipment (MHS, robots etc) • Tools • Tooling