Reconfigurable machine tools: a perspective (original) (raw)
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CIRP Annals - Manufacturing Technology, 2001
The uniqueness of Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems (RMSs) is that the structure of the system as well as of its machines and controls can be rapidly changed in response to market changes (demand and products). A major component of RMSs is the reconfigurable machine tool (RMT). By contrast to conventional CNCs that are general-purpose machines, RMTs are designed for a specific, customized range of operation requirements and may be cost-effectively converted when the requirements change. In this paper, systematic design tools that have been recently developed for RMTs are reviewed, and three examples are provided to compare RMTs to traditional types of machine tools.
Adaption of Commercial off the Shelf Modules for Reconfigurable Machine Tool Design
International Conference on Mechatronics and Machine Vision in Practice, 2008
A variety of methodologies have been utilised in the design of reconfigurable industrial machines. Authors consider some of the methods that have been used given the critical aspects of these methods, the commercial off the shelf (COTS) method of design of machine tools to achieve flexibility through reconfigurability is discussed. Highlights of the implication of this method and it's repercussions
Modular Reconfigurable Machine Tools: Design, Control and Evaluation
The South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 2009
The reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) paradigm encapsulates methodologies that enable manufacturing systems to cope effectively with market and product changes. This research presents the design and evaluation of modular reconfigurable machine (MRM) tools as a novel machining solution within the scope of RMS. Mechanical and control designs are presented, outlining the development of this novel machining system. The property of hardware modularity displayed by MRMs enables an adjustment of system functionality and the synergistic redistribution of system resources between production streams, thus facilitating inter-process capacity scaling. Scalable production capacity and adjustable system functionality are the key objectives of reconfigurable manufacturing.
Design, refinement, implementation and prototype testing of a reconfigurable lathe-mill
Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 2013
This article documents the design, refinement, and implementation of a reconfigurable machine tool that provides a flexible platform for turning and milling. Advances in the design and capabilities of machine tools drive modern industry. In fact, the expanding capabilities of the machines permit novel and economic changes in the manufacturing and design of products. After the flexible manufacturing (FMS) boom, a more recent, but no less significant, area of machine development involves the reconfiguration of milling machines. This reconfigurability can also be applied to lathe-mills. The present work demonstrates satisfactorily the reconfiguration characteristics of modularity, integrability, and convertibility. We prototype and test a completely functional bench top reconfigurable lathe mill machine implemented using a $10,000 USD budget and developed following a synthesized machine tool product development methodology that begins with concept design and cutting forces to end in prototyping. In addition to reasonable results in runout, positioning, and surface roughness, the machine demonstrates the capability to produce parts with a Cpk of 1.009, thereby demonstrating the ability to fabricate this type of machine in Mexico for the local jewelry industry.
A conceptual development of reconfigurable drill machine tool (RDMT)
SN Applied Sciences
Reconfigurable machine tools are emerging as new generation machine tools for dealing with the fluctuating market scenario and immense competition between original equipment manufacturers. New approaches, mechanism and designs principles are required for the development of these machine tools in manufacturing systems. A lot of research work has been done in reconfigurable machine tool (i.e. lathe, milling, shaper, NC, CNC etc.) but still less work has been conducted to develop reconfigurable drilling machine. This paper presents a modular approach to develop Reconfigurable Drilling Machine Tool, which will allow the machine not only to reconfigure the modules in a certain way for performing a specific task but also to develop a new type of machine which can incorporate all the features of reconfiguration for the production of multiple part families on a single platform. A module library, which includes basic and auxiliary modules, is implemented on this machine tool to explain the core features (i.e. scalability, modularity, convertibility and flexibility). Probably, this proposed design contributes a theoretical approach for the reconfiguration features of drilling machine in Reconfigurable Manufacturing System and this proposed design is illustrated through a figure, which is developed on design software (i.e. solid works platform).
Structure of Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems
DAAAM international scientific book .., 2015
The structure and production of special machine tools is under strong pressure by the automotive industry as the main users of these machines. This industry dictates the conditions and standards of product quality, demanding the implementation of modern technology, higher levels of automation, flexibility and efficiency, and at the same time put a strong pressure on price reduction. The classical construction of special machines has become questionable because the modular concept and reconfiguration becomes a promising approach towards future manufacturing machines, in which manufacturing is independent of changes. Reconfigurable machines form a new class of machines and this article outlines the fundamental properties of modernly designed flexible manufacturing cells, and provides an overview of the achievements and development of special manufacturing machines in the company SAS-Strojogradnja, Croatia.
Reconfigurable Manufacturing System: A Review
International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET), 2022
Manufacturing firms/companies in the twenty-first century might be compelled to manage unpredictably high-rate, high-risk market changes energized by overall market competitiveness. To remain competitive in the market, these businesses should put resources into flexible manufacturing solutions and new kinds of manufacturing systems that are both cost-effective and touchy to market changes without forfeiting product and production quality. Re-configurability is a recent fad in designing technology that spotlights cost-effective, fast responses to market changes. Reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS) are another manufacturing paradigm that accepts a framework that is more delicate to changing market demands, including components like reconfigurable machines and reconfigurable controllers, as well as approaches for their deliberate plan and fast increase. This paper gives a basic overview of reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMS) and the objectives that satisfy this approach.
Reconfigurable machine tool programming- a new approach
2000
T his paper presents a new programming approach based on a proposed hardware and control architecture for the reconfigurable manufacturing tool machine. A new CAM is described based on virtual machining algorithm that optimizes feedrate scheduling based on geometric simulation and aims to improve the efficiency of cutting process developed using a reconfigurable machine, configured as lathe with a specific