The design and control of FMS for rotational parts

The objective of this thesis is to make a study of the design methodology and the structure of the control algorithms for FMS for rotational parts. The work is divided into three main parts. In the first part, the several types of manufacturing systems are defined, the relation between FMS and manufacturing division in the total manufacturing organisation is identified and the elements composing an FMS are analysed. In the second part, the design methodology for an FMS is divided into a number of steps and the importance of simulation techniques in assisting the decision making is identified. A generalised simulation model, written in the ECSL language which can be used for a variety of systems, is described. The main characteristics of an FMS for rotational parts are attributed to the several entities included in the model. In the third part of the thesis the several levels of control for an FMS are identified and the study of several priority rules forming the control for an FMS are identified and the study of several priority rules forming the control strategy is made by the use of a hypothetical model configured on the basis of a realistic parts spectrum of disc shaped parts. The flexibility of the system to several disturbances is also assessed. The structure and dimensioning of robot operated systems and the relation between robot utilisation and system performance is also examined.