Material Handling Mechanisms Used in Flexible Manufacturing Systems

Abstract:

In small and medium batch series manufacturing the small tool and workpiece changing time is one of the main objectives to follow in obtaining high productivity. These auxiliary times are defined as the times consumed with preparing and changing the next tool or workpiece to follow the machining process, times that usually overlap the machining process. For this purpose machining centres are equipped with an automatic tool changer system and an automatic pallet changer system. The palletizing systems imply eliminating the times consumed with the alignment, fixing and clamping of the workpieces, these systems consisting of several mechanisms: the pallet, the automatic pallet changing mechanism, the positioning mechanism and the pallet clamp/unclamp mechanism. In this paper we present an general overview of the automatic pallet changing mechanisms used both in flexible manufacturing systems and machining centres.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 245)
• Pages: 197-202
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.245.197
• Online since: December 2012
• Authors: Lucian Adrian Mihaila
• Keywords: Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Machine Center, Material Handling, Pallet, Palletizing Systems, Workpiece

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