"Control and Data Communications Within and Outside the Flexible Manufacturing System"
C.M. Witkowski
Proc. 15th Int. Sym. on Automotive Technology and Automation, Flims, Switzerland, 6-10 October 1986. Paper ISATA 86-127
ABSTRACT
There are many factors which must be considered when designing and installing a Flexible Manufacturing Cell. These include machine selection, workpiece envelope, material handling and integration into an overall Computer Integrated Manufacturing system. By no means the least of these considerations is the provision of adequate communications links between the component parts of the system. This paper discusses the requirements and risks associated with control and data communications in this context. We describe our approach to, and a solution to, the computer communications problems frequently encountered when many machines from multiple vendors must be integrated under central control. This methodology is discussed in the light of present circumstances, and in the context of the Manufacturing Automation Protocol.