Automation in Manufacturing Automation of manufacturing processes Sensors Manual Computer aided Soft automation Hard automation Transfer machines Programming Numerical control Adaptive control Material handling Robots Assembly Flexible fixturing Direct NC Computer NC AC constraint AC optimization Manipulators, automated guided vehicles Design for assembly, disassembly, and service Fixed sequence, variable sequence, playback, NC, intelligent FIGURE 14.1 Outline of topics described in this chapter.
History of Automation Date Development 1500-1600 Water power for metalworking; rolling mills for coinage strips. 1600-1700 Hand lathe for wood; mechanical calculator. 1700-1800 Boring, turning, and screw cutting lathe, drill press. 1800-1900 Copying lathe, turret lathe, universal milling machine; advanced mechanical calculators. 1808 Sheet-metal cards with punched holes for automatic control of weaving patterns in looms. 1863 Automatic piano player (Pianola). 1900-1920 Geared lathe; automatic screw machine; automatic bottle-making machine. 1920 First use of the word robot. 1920-1940 Transfer machines; mass production. 1940 First electronic computing machine. 1943 First digital electronic computer. 1945 First use of the word automation. 1947 Invention of the transistor. 1952 First prototype numerical control machine tool. 1954 Development of the symbolic language APT (Automatically Programmed Tool); adaptive control. 1957 Commercially available NC machine tools. 1959 Integrated circuits; first use of the term group technology. 1960 Industrial robots. 1965 Large-scale integrated circuits. 1968 Programmable logic controllers. 1970s First integrated manufacturing system; spot welding of automobile bodies with robots; microprocessors; minicomputer-controlled robot; flexible manufacturing system; group technology. 1980s Artificial intelligence; intelligent robots; smart sensors; untended manufacturing cells. 1990-2000s Integrated manufacturing systems; intelligent and sensor-based machines; telecommunications and global manufacturing networks; fuzzy-logic devices; artificial neural networks; Internet tools; virtual environments; high-speed information systems. TABLE 14.1 Developments in the history of automation and control of manufacturing processes. (See also Table 1.1.)
Flexibility and Productivity Increasing flexibility Conventional job shop Stand-alone NC production Manufacturing cell Flexible manufacturing system Flexible manufacturing line Conventional flowline Transfer line Soft automation Hard automation Increasing productivity FIGURE 14.2 Flexibility and productivity of various manufacturing systems. Note the overlap between the systems, which is due to the various levels of automation and computer control that are applicable in each group. See also Chapter 15 for more details. Type of production Number produced Typical products Experimental or prototype 1-10 All types Piece or small batch < 5000 Aircraft, machine tools, dies Batch or high quantity 5000-100,000 Trucks, agricultural machinery, jet engines, diesel engines, orthopedic devices Mass production 100,000+ Automobiles, appliances, fasteners, bottles, food and beverage containers TABLE 14.2 Approximate a n n u a l q u a n t i t y o f production.
Characteristics of Production Job shop Type of production Batch production Mass production General purpose Equipment Special Production rate Production quantity Process Plant layout Flow line Labor skill Part variety FIGURE 14.3 General characteristics of three types of production methods: job shop, batch production, and mass production.
Transfer Mechanisms Power heads Power heads Workpiece Pallet Workpiece Rotary indexing table FIGURE 14.4 Two types of transfer mechanisms: straight, and circular patterns.
Transfer Line Start Machine 1: Mill Machine 2: Mill, drill, ream, plunge mill Machine 3: Drill, ream, plunge mill Machine 4: Drill, bore Machine 5: Drill, bore Machine 6: Drill, ream, bore, mill Machine 12: Bore Machine 11: Drill, ream, bore Machine 10: Bore Wash Machine 9: Mill, drill, ream Machine 8: Mill Machine 7: Drill, ream, bore End Wash Machine 13: Finish hollow mill, finish gun ream, finish generate Machine 14: Ream, tap Machine 15: hone, wash, gage, bore, mill Air test Assemble Assemble Assemble FIGURE 14.5 A traditional transfer line for producing engine blocks and cylinder heads. Source: Ford Motor Company.
Dimensioning Example + + + + + + + + + + + (c) FIGURE 14.6 Positions of drilled holes in a workpiece. Three methods of measurements are shown: absolute dimensioning, referenced from one point at the lower left of the part; incremental dimensioning, made sequentially from one hole to another; and (c) mixed dimensioning, a combination of both methods.
Numerical Control Computer: Input commands, processing, output commands Position feedback Drive signals Limit switches FIGURE 14.7 Schematic illustration of the major components of a numerical control machine tool. Spindle Machine tool Work table Pulse train Stepping motor Gear Work table Leadscrew FIGURE 14.8 Schematic illustration of the components of an open-loop, and a closed-loop control system for a numerical control machine. (DAC is digital-to-analog converter.) Input 1 2 Comparator DAC DC servomotor Feedback signal Gear Work table Leadscrew Position sensor
Displacement Measurement Machine column Worktable Scale Machine bed Sensor Rotary encoder or resolver Ball screw Worktable Rack and pinion Rotary encoder or resolver (c) Linear motion FIGURE 14.9 Direct measurement of the linear displacement of a machine-tool worktable. and (c) Indirect measurement methods.
Tool Movement & Interpolation 1 Workpiece 3 2 Holes 4 Cutter radius Workpiece Cutter Cutter path Machined surface FIGURE 14.10 Movement of tools in numerical control machining. Point-to-point system: The drill bit drills a hole at position 1, is then retracted and moved to position 2, and so on. Continuous path by a milling cutter; note that the cutter path is compensated for by the cutter radius. This path can also compensate for cutter wear. y FIGURE 14.11 Types of interpolation in numerical control: linear; continuous path approximated by incremental straight lines; and (c) circular. y x y 1 2 3 4 5 x Quadrant x Full circle Segment (c)
CNC Operations Point-to-point Drilling and boring Point-to-point and straight line Milling Workpiece 2-axis contouring with switchable plane 2-axis contour milling 3-axis contouring continuous path 3-axis contour milling FIGURE 14.12 Schematic illustration of drilling, boring, and milling operations with various cutter paths. Machining a sculptured surface on a five-axis numerical control machine. Source: The Ingersoll Milling Machine Co.
Adaptive Control Velocity Position Resolver Tachometer Part manufacturing data Parameter limits CNC AC Commands Servo drives % Spindle load Spindle speed Torque Vibration Machine tool Spindle motor FIGURE 14.13 Schematic illustration of the application of adaptive control (AC) for a turning operation. The system monitors such parameters as cutting force, torque, and vibrations; if they are excessive, AC modifies process variables, such as feed and depth of cut, to bring them back to acceptable levels. Readout FIGURE 14.14 An example of adaptive control in slab milling. As the depth of cut or the width of cut increases, the cutting forces and the torque increase; the system senses this increase and automatically reduces the feed to avoid excessive forces or tool breakage. Source: After Y. Koren. Cutter Workpiece Variable depth of cut Variable width of cut Feed per tooth Adaptive control Conventional Cutter travel (c)
In-Process Inspection Gaging head Cutting tool Control unit Workpiece Machine tool Final work size control FIGURE 14.15 In-process inspection of workpiece diameter in a turning operation. The system automatically adjusts the radial position of the cutting tool in order to machine the correct diameter.
Self-Guided Vehicle FIGURE 14.16 A self-guided vehicle (Tugger type). This vehicle can be arranged in a variety of configurations to pull caster-mounted cars; it has a laser sensor to ensure that the vehicle operates safely around people and various obstructions. A self-guided vehicle configured with forks for use in a warehouse. Source: Courtesy of Egemin, Inc.
Industrial Robots 5 4 6 2500 mm 3000 mm 3 1 2 FIGURE 14.17 Schematic of a six-axis KR-30 KUKA robot; the payload at the wrist is 30 kg and repeatability is ±0.15 mm (±0.006 in.). The robot has mechanical brakes on all of its axes. The work envelope of the KUKA robot, as viewed from the side. Source: Courtesy of KUKA Robotics. 1075 mm 1200 mm 2025 mm FIGURE 14.18 Various devices and tools that can be attached to end effectors to perform a variety of operations. Vacuum line Suction cup Robot arm Workpiece Electromagnet Sheet metal Small power tool Nut driver Deburring tool (c) Dial indicator Gripper Object (d) (e) (f)
Robot Types & Workspaces (c) (d) FIGURE 14.19 Four types of industrial robots: Cartesian (rectilinear); cylindrical; (c) spherical (polar); and (d) articulated, (revolute, jointed, or anthropomorphic). Some modern robots are anthropomorphic, meaning that they resemble humans in shape and in movement. These complex mechanisms are made possible by powerful computer processors and fast motors that can maintain a robot's balance and accurate movement control. Rectangular Cylindrical Spherical FIGURE 14.20 Work envelopes for three types of robots. The selection depends on the particular application (See also Fig. 14.17b.) Work envelope Work envelopes (c)
Robot Applications FIGURE 14.21 Spot welding automobile bodies with industrial robots. Source: Courtesy of Ford Motor Co. FIGURE 14.22 Sealing joints of an automobile body with an industrial robot. Source: Cincinnati Milacron, Inc.
Robots and Transfer Lines Robots Remote center compliance Circular transfer line Linear transfer line Torque sensor Visual sensing Programmable part feeder FIGURE 14.23 An example of automated assembly operations using industrial robots and circular and linear transfer lines.
Advanced End Effectors Toolholder Inductive transmitter On-board electronics to process signals Chuck Drill Strain gages FIGURE 14.24 A toolholder equipped with thrustforce and torque sensors (\it smart tool holder), capable of continuously monitoring the machining operation. (See Section 14.5). Source: Cincinnati Milacron, Inc. FIGURE 14.25 A robot gripper with tactile sensors. In spite of their capabilities, tactile sensors are now being used less frequently, because of their high cost and low durability (lack of robustness) in industrial applications. Source: Courtesy of Lord Corporation.
Applications of Machine Vision Controller Controller Camera 1 Camera 2 Good Good Good Camera Reject Reject Reject Reject Robot controller Workpiece Camera view 1 Camera view 2 Vision controller Camera Workpieces Paint spray Vision controller with memory Robot (c) (d) FIGURE 14.26 Examples of machine vision applications. In-line inspection of parts. Identifying parts with various shapes, and inspection and rejection of defective parts. (c) Use of cameras to provide positional input to a robot relative to the workpiece. (d) Painting of parts with different shapes by means of input from a camera; the system's memory allows the robot to identify the particular shape to be painted and to proceed with the correct movements of a paint spray attached to the end effector.
Fixturing Relay Microcomputer Hydraulic line Solenoid valve Hydraulic cylinder Clamp Work table Amp ADC Strain gage Workpiece FIGURE 14.27 Components of a modular workholding system. Source: Carr Lane Manufacturing Co. FIGURE 14.28 Schematic illustration of an adjustable-force clamping system. The clamping force is sensed by the strain gage, and the system automatically adjusts this force. Source: After P.K. Wright and D.A. Bourne.
Design for Assembly Select the assembly method Analyze for manual assembly Analyze for high-speed automatic assembly Analyze for robot assembly Improve the design and re-analyze FIGURE 14.29 Stages in the design-for-assembly analysis. Source: After G. Boothroyd and P. Dewhurst.
Indexing Machines Parts feeder Stationary workhead Work carriers Indexing table Parts feeder Stationary workhead Completed assembly Work carriers indexed FIGURE 14.30 Transfer systems for automated assembly: rotary indexing machine, and inline indexing machine. Source: After G. Boothroyd.
Vibratory Feeder Guides Narrowed track Bowl wall V cutout Bowl wall To delivery chute Widthwise parts rejected while only one row of lengthwise parts pass To delivery chute Part rejected if resting on its top Slotted track Bowl wall Pressure break Wiper blade Bowl wall Scallop Wiper blade To delivery chute Slot in track to orient screws Screws rejected unless lying on side Screws rejected unless in single file, end-to-end, or if delivery chute is full To delivery chute Parts rejected if laying on side Cutout rejects cup-shaped parts standing on their tops (c) (d) FIGURE 14.31 Examples of guides to ensure that parts are properly oriented for automated assembly. Source: After G. Boothroyd.
Robotics Example: Toboggan Deburring Robot Cutouts Toboggan Deburring tool Fixture FIGURE 14.32 Robotic deburring of a blow-molded toboggan. Source: Courtesy of Kuka Robotics, Inc. and Roboter Technologie, GmbH.