A picture of the Wire-cut machine in the EDM Laboratory is shown.
The Manufacturing Engineering
Laboratory has a 150-ton hydraulic press, a KLN Diatron-CN ultrasonic machine,
several dynamometers for cutting force measurement, a high speed data acquisition
system for tool condition monitoring, a tool-maker microscope for tool
wear measurement, and a HP laser interferometer for machine performance
study.
A picture of the setup of dynamometers for measurement of turning forces
can be seen here.
The first station is for storage purpose and consists of a carousel type automatic storage and retrieval system and an articulated robot. The carousel is capable of holding up to 54 templates. The robot serves to transfer templates containing raw and finished parts between pallets on the conveyor and the carousel.
The second station is for turning operation and has a Takisawa TC-1
lathe with an 8-tool turret, an articulated robot, and buffers for two
templates. The third station is for milling operation and has a Makino
RMC-A10 vertical milling machine with a 10-tool ATC, an articulated robot,
and buffers for two templates. The robot at the turning or milling station
retrieves templates containing the parts to be processed from the conveyor,
loads and unloads parts to and from the machine, and returns the templates
containing the finished parts to the conveyor.
The FMS has a three-level hierarchical co-ordinate and control structure: central control, station control and individual equipment control. An RS-232C star network provides communications between the central controller and the station controllers. Digital inputs/outputs are used for communications between the station controller and the individual equipment. The central control software allows for basic functions of production and monitoring as well as interfaces to external MRP packages such as Fourth Shift and Mapics.
Last date of modification: 30 July 2001
Maintained by: Dr S K Ong
