Article Abstract:
The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) is attempting to standardize interfaces and define system components of a small-batch manufacturing control system by constructing a flexible manufacturing test bed. Four major technologies are involved in the architecture standardization. The manufacturing systems control is the most important standard and has five levels of command: facility, shop, cell, work station, and equipment. Artificial intelligence will aid control in reaction and planning. Multiple data-base management systems, data directory, and data dictionary interfaces will be standardized for distributed data administration. Standards for communication are needed for information to be transferred between control processes. Finally, user interfaces will become standardized for inexperienced users. Proposed organizations of the first three technologies are illustrated with block diagrams.
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Article Abstract:
Computer-aided design (CAD) offers manufacturers increased design productivity, reduces prototyping by using three-dimensional modeling and easily transfers information from the designer to the manufacturer. Three-D modeling with solid and wire models has invaded mechanical engineering and can be linked to manufacturing operations. Ingersoll, a West German machine-tool company, uses a Cadam (Computer-augmented drafting and manufacturing) system for custom design of products. The increased productivity potential of CAD systems may not be fully realized but a case history illustrates a productivity increase using a CAD system. Screen displays of three-D graphics as well as a block diagram of the Northrup computer-aided design (NCAD) system are included.
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Article Abstract:
Simulating a manufacturing system on a computer allows testing before the system is built and evaluating changes on an existing system without shutting it down. Manufacturing is simulated by symbols that describe entities. Network-specified languages and data-specified languages simplify user simulation. Control-system design is an important application for manufacturing simulation. A proposed system or system improvement can easily be shown to management or a customer with a microcomputer simulator. Screen displays illustrate an interactive robot simulator and a MicroNET model simulation.
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