Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)
we have seen that a number of activities and operations viz. designing, analyzing, testing, manufacturing, packaging, quality control, etc. are involved in the life cycle of a product or a system (see Figure 1.1.4). Application of principles of automation to each of these activities enhances the productivity only at the individual level. These are termed as ‘islands of automation’. Integrating all these islands of automation into a single system enhances the overall productivity. Such a system is called as “Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)”. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) defined CIM as ‘CIM is the integration of the total manufacturing enterprise through the use of integrated systems and data communications coupled with new managerial philosophies that improve organizational and personal efficiency’. CIM basically…
Flexible Manufacturing System
Nowadays customers are demanding a wide variety of products. To satisfy this demand, the manufacturers’ “production” concept has moved away from “mass” to small “batch” type of production. Batch production offers more flexibility in product manufacturing. To cater this need,Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) have been evolved. As per Rao, P. N. , FMS combines microelectronics and mechanical engineering to bring the economies of the scale to batch work. A central online computer controls the machine tools, other work stations, and the transfer of components and tooling. The computer also providesmonitoring and information control. This combination of flexibility and overall control makes possible the production of a wide range of products in small numbers. FMS is a manufacturing cell or system consisting of one or more CNC machines, connected by automated material handling system, pick-and-place robots and all operated under the control of a central computer. It also has auxiliary sub-systems like component load/unload station,automatic tool handling system, tool pre-setter, component measuring station, wash station etc. Figure 1.2.4 shows a typical arrangement of FMS system and its constituents. Each of these will have further elements depending upon the requirement as given below, A. Workstations - CNC machine tools - Assembly equipment - Measuring Equipment - Washing stations…
Tool monitoring systems
Uninterrupted machining is one of the challenges in front manufacturers to meet the production goals and customer satisfaction in terms of product quality. Tool wear is a critical factor which affects the productivity of a machining operation. Complete automation of a machining processrealizes when there is a successful prediction of tool (wear) state during the course of machining operation. Mechatronics based cutting tool-wear condition monitoring system is an integral part of automated tool rooms and unmanned factories. These systems predict the tool wearand give alarms to the system operator to prevent any damage to the machine tool and workpiece. Therefore it is essential to know how the mechatronics is helping in monitoring the tool wear. Tool wear can be observed in a variety of ways. These can be classified in two groups (Table1.2.1). Table 1.2.1 Tool monitoring systems Direct methodsIndirect methodsElectrical resistanceTorque and powerOptical measurementsTemperatureMachining hoursVibration & acoustic emissionContact sensingCutting forces & strain measurements Direct methods deal with the application of various sensing and measurement instruments such as micro-scope, machine/camera vision; radioactive techniques to measure the tool wear. The used or worn-out cutting tools will be taken to the metrology…
Computer numerical control (CNC) machines
CNC machine is the best and basic example of application of Mechatronics in manufacturing automation. Efficient operation of conventional machine tools such as Lathes, milling machines, drilling machine is dependent on operator skill and training. Also a lot of time is consumed inwork part setting, tool setting and controlling the process parameters viz. feed, speed, depth of cut. Thus conventional machining is slow and expensive to meet the challenges of frequently changing product/part shape and size. Figure 1.2.1 Comparison between a conventional machine tool and a CNC machine tool Computer numerical control (CNC) machines are now widely used in small to large scale industries. CNC machine…
Mechatronics: products and systems in manufacturing
Mechatronics has a variety of applications as products and systems in the area of ‘Manufacturing automation’. Some of these applications are as follows: 1. Computer numerical control (CNC) machines 2. Tool monitoring systems 3. Advanced manufacturing systems a. Flexible manufacturing system (FMS) b. Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) 4. Industrial robots 5. Automatic inspection systems: machine vision systems 6. Automatic packaging systems Now, let us know in brief about these applications one by one.
Importance of Mechatronics in automation
Figure 1.1.3 Operations involved in design and manufacturing of a product Today’s customers are demanding more variety and higher levels of flexibility in the products. Due to these demands and competition in the market, manufacturers are thriving to launch new/modified products to survive. It is reducing the product life as well as lead-time tomanufacture a product. It is therefore essential to automate the manufacturing and assembly operations of a product. There are various activities involved in the product manufacturing process. These are shown in figure 1.1.3. These activities can be classified into two groupsviz. design and manufacturing activities. Mechatronics concurrently employs the disciplines of mechanical, electrical, control and computer engineering at the stage of design itself. Mechanical discipline is employed in terms of various machines and mechanisms, whereas electrical engineering as various electric primemovers viz. AC/DC, servo motors and other systems is used. Control engineering helps in the development of various electronics- based control systems to enhance or replace the mechanics of the mechanical systems. Computers are widely…
Where do Mechatronics Engineers work?
Graduates with a Mechatronics degree can take up careers in a wide spectrum of industries including robotics, aerospace, chemical, defence and automotive and manufacturing where complex software plays a major…
What do Mechatronics Engineers do?
Mechatronics combines mechanical, electrical and software engineering in the design, development and control of diverse systems used in a range of industries including manufacturing, medicine and the service industries. Examples…
The Development of the Automobile as a Mechatronic System
The evolution of modern mechatronics can be illustrated with the example of the automobile. Until the 1960s, the radio was the only significant electronics in an automobile. All other functions…
Key Elements of Mechatronics
The study of mechatronic systems can be divided into the following areas of specialty: 1. Physical Systems Modeling 2. Sensors and Actuators 3. Signals and Systems 4. Computers and Logic Systems 5. Software and Data…
