Page 82 - Sensors and Control Systems in Manufacturing

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Cha p te r
T w o

FIGURE 2.1 Workstation, work cell, and work center.

information system, linking together subsystems of machining, pack-
aging, welding, painting, flame cutting, sheet-metal manufacturing,
inspection, and assembling with material-handling and storage
processes.
In designing various workstations, work cells, and work centers
in a flexible manufacturing system within the computer-integrated
manufacturing strategy, the basic task is to create a variety of sensors
interconnecting different material-handling systems, such as robots,
automated guided-vehicle systems, conveyers, and pallet loading
and unloading carts, to allow them to communicate with data pro-
cessing networks for successful integration with the system.
Figure 2.2 illustrates a cell consisting of several workstations with
its input and output, and indicates its basic functions in performing
the conversion process, storing workpieces, linking material-handling
systems to other cells, and providing data communication to the
control system.
The data processing links enable communication with the data-
bases containing part programs, inspection programs, robot pro-
grams, packaging programs, machining data, and real-time control
data through suitable sensors. The data processing links also enable
communication of the feedback data to the upper level of the control
hierarchy. Accordingly, the entire work-cell facility is equipped with
current data for real-time analysis and fault recovery.
A cluster of manufacturing cells grouped together for particular
production operations is called a work center. Various work centers