Case Tools for Flexible Manufacturing Systems

Abstract

Case Tools for application engineering in the field of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) have gained importance due to the rising complexity of the control software. This paper presents three different case tools from the current research activities at WZL which are part of COSMOS, an open control architecture for flexible manufacturing systems. CellDesign is a graphical development tool for cell controllers using a petri net based approach. CASCADE provides a framework with class libraries and design patterns for an object oriented development of shop floor applications. MMS-3D KIT is a set of different Case Tools for the development of device drivers which are needed to integrate machine tools incompatible with the Manufacturing Message Specification (MMS).

Modular generic software system for cellular FMS

“…The FMS development process has been well addressed by design methodologies proposed by Talavage and Hannam (1988) , Newman et al (1998) and others, while problems related to implementation have been well discussed by Burnage and Jones (1991), Weston et al (1991) and Weck et al (1996) . The literature has established a general theoretical environment in which CFMS can develop.…”

“…This integrative work also provides useful insights and techniques into the general architecture in which the integration is to occur. A good example of this includes the work of Weston et al (1991), Weck et al (1996) and Burnage and Jones (1991), who produced a framework for software reuse and control logic speci® cation. The various development stages, operation and evolution usually follow the life-cycle model of FitzGerald (1987), which characterizes the crucial stages of a typical software development process.…”