Building upon the current major thrust in manufacturing systems, a FMS (Flexible Manufacturing System) is being constructed to allow students to study the interaction of the many variables in manufacturing systems, such as manufacturing lead time, work-in- process, scheduling, control structures, and part programming. The current FMS has two major deficiencies. First, the only machine tool in the systems is horizontal machining center. Therefore, the system is limited to the machining of prismatic parts. Second, the machining center is very complex and difficult for students to program. This project will alleviate the deficiencies by adding a turning center and software that will afford students the opportunity to program with minimal training. It will also make the system more flexible by adding the capability to machine rotational parts. The turning center will also function as a stand-alone machine tool to illustrate state-of-the-art machining capabilities such as adaptive control principles and machining parts requiring multiple tools or complex geometries. The proposed project will directly impact every industrial engineering student as well as other engineering majors who elect to study manufacturing.
