Chapter 37
Automation of Manufacturing Processes
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Chapter 37 Topics
Figure 37.1 Outline of topics described in Chapter 37.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
History of Automation of Manufacturing
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Flexibility and Productivity of
Manufacturing Systems
Figure 37.2 Flexibility and productivity of various manufacturing systems. Note the
overlap between the systems; it is due to the various levels of automation and
computer control that are possible in each group. See also Chapter 39 for details.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Approximate Annual Production Quantity
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Characteristics of Three Types of
Production Methods
Figure 37.3 General characteristics of three types of
production methods: job shop, batch, and mass production.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Types of Transfer Mechanisms
Figure 37.4 Two types of transfer mechanisms:
(a) straight rails and (b) circular or rotary patterns.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Transfer Line for Engine Blocks and Cylinder Heads
Figure 37.5 A large transfer line for producing engine blocks and cylinder heads.
Source: Courtesy of Ford Motor Company.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Positions of Drilled Holes in Workpiece
Figure 37.6 Positions of drilled holes in a workpiece. Three methods of
measurements are shown: (a) absolute dimensioning referenced from one point at
the lower left of the part; (b) incremental dimensioning made sequentially from one
hole to another; and (c) mixed dimensioning a combination of both methods.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Numerical-Control
Machine Tool
Figure 37.7 Schematic
illustration of the major
components of a numerical-
control machine tool.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Open-Loop and Closed-Loop Control Systems
for Numerical-Control Machine
Figure 37.8 Schematic illustration of the components of (a) an open-loop and (b) a
closed-loop control system for a numerical-control machine. DAC means digital-
to-analog converter.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Direct and Indirect Measurement of
Machine-Tool Work Table
Figure 37.9 (a) Direct measurement of the linear displacement of a
machine-tool work table. (b) and (c) Indirect measurement methods.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Movement of Tools in Numerical-Control Machining
Figure 37.10 Movement of tools in numerical-control machining. (a) Point-to-point, in
which the drill bit drills a hole at position 1, is retracted and moved to position 2 and so
on. (b) Continuous path by a milling cutter. Note that the cutter path is compensated
for by the cutter radius. This path also can be compensated for cutter wear.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Types of Interpolation in Numerical Control
Figure 37.11 Types of interpolation in numerical control: (a) linear, (b) continuous path
approximated by incremental straight lines, and (c) circular.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Interpolation Methods
(b)
Figure 37.12 (a) Schematic illustration of drilling, boring, and milling with various
paths. (b) Machining a sculptured surface on a 5-axis numerical-control
machine. Source: Courtesy of The Ingersoll Milling Machine Co.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Application of Adaptive Control (AC) for Turning Operation
Figure 37.13 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 these parameters are excessive, it modifies process variables (such as
feed and depth of cut) to bring them back to acceptable levels.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Adaptive Control in Milling
Figure 37.14 An examples of adaptive control in milling. As depth of cut (a) or the
width of cut (b) increases, the cutting forces and the torque increase. The system
senses this increase and automatically reduces the feed (c) to avoid excessive forces
or tool breakage in order to maintain cutting efficiency. Source: After Y. Koren.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Inspection of Workpiece Diameter in Turning
Operation
Figure 37.15 In-process inspection of workpiece diameter in a turning operation. The
system automatically adjusts the radial position of the cutting tool in order to produce
the correct diameter.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Automated Guided
Vehicle (AGV)
Figure 37.16 A self-guided vehicle
(Caterpillar Model SGC0M)
carrying a machining pallet. The
vehicle is aligned next to a stand
on the floor. Instead of following a
wire or stripe path on the factory
floor, this vehicle calculates its own
path and automatically corrects for
any deviations. Source: Courtesy
of Caterpillar Industrial, Inc.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
6-Axis KR030 KUKA Robot
Figure 37.17 (a) Schematic illustration of a 6-axis KR030 KUKA robot. The payload
at the wrist is 30 kg and repeatability is 0.15mm (0.006 in.). The robot has
mechanical brakes on all of its axes, which are coupled directly. (b) The work
envelope of the robot, as viewed from the side. Source: Courtesy of KUKA Robotics.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Devices Attached to End Effectors
Figure 37.18 Types of devices and tools attached
to end effectors to perform a variety of operations.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Types of Industrial Robots
Figure 37.19 Four types of industrial robots: (a) cartesian (rectilinear), (b) cylindrical,
(c) sperical (polar) and (d) articulated (revolute, jointed, or anthropomorphic)
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Work Envelopes for Three Types of Robots
Figure 37.20 Work envelopes for three types of robots. The choice
depends on the particular application. (See also Fig, 37.17b).
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Industrial Robot Applications
(a) (b)
Figure 37.21 Examples of industrial robot applications. (a) Spot welding automobile
bodies with industrial robots. (b) Sealing joints of an automobile body with an industrial
robot. Source: Courtesy of Cincinnati Milacron, Inc.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Automated Assembly Operations
Figure 37.22 Automated assembly operations using
industrial robots and circular and linear transfer lines.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Smart Toolholder
Figure 37.23 A toolholder equipped with thrust-force and torque sensors (smart
toolholder), capable of continuously monitoring the cutting operation. Such
toolholders are necessary for the adaptive control of manufacturing operations.
Source: Courtesy of Cincinnati Milacron, Inc.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Robot Gripper
Figure 37.24 A robot gripper with tactile
sensors. In spite of their capabilities,
tactile sensors are used less frequently
because of their high cost and their low
durability in industrial environments.
Source: Courtesy of Lord Corporation.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Machine-Vision Applications
Figure 37.25 Examples of machine-vision applications. (a) In-line inspection of parts.
(b) Identification of parts with various shapes and inspection and rejection of defective
parts. (c) Use of camera to provide positional input to a robot relative to the workpiece.
(d) Painting parts having different shapes by means of input from a camera. The
systems 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.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Adjustable-Force Clamping System
Figure 37.26 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.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Case Study: Modular Fixture Design
Figure 37.27 Cast-iron housing and
the machining operations required.
Figure 37.28 Modular components used
to construct the fixture for CNC
machining of the cast-iron housing
depicted in Fig. 37.27.
Figure 37.29 Completed modular fixture with
cast-iron housing in place, as would be
assembled for use in a machining center or
CNC milling machine. Source: Courtesy of
Carr Lane Manufacturing Company.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Design-For-Assembly Analysis
Figure 37.30 Stages in the design-for-assembly analysis.
Source: After G. Boothroyd and P. Dewhurst.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Transfer Systems for Automated Asembly
Figure 37.31 Transfer systems for automated assembly:
(a) rotary indexing machine and (b) in-line indexing
machine. Source: After G. Boothroyd.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Two-Arm Robot Assembly Station
Figure 37.32 A two-arm robot assembly station. Source: Product Design for Assembly,
1989 edition, by G. Boothroyd and P. Dewhurst. Reproduced with permission.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
Part
Feeders
Figure 37.33 Examples of guides to ensure that parts are properly
oriented for automated assembly. Source: After G. Boothroyd.
Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology, Fifth Edition, by Serope
