Concepts of Flexible Production Line, on the Example of Robotic Cell

Abstract

Modern manufacturing plants even if they produce in large quantities, they often have to change the settings of their production lines. Customers do not want a standard product but personalized models. If the differences are only an option that can be mounted to the finished elements is not difficult. When the differences are much more serious and require changes in the technology of the element. Such orders are collected and made periodically so customers have to wait. Sometimes the wait time is several months. Changing the configuration of the production line or just a robot cell is a difficult and time-consuming process. It is necessary to stop the entire production line, the partially disassemble and installation of new equipment, and after the production of the series, the process repeated. The reconfiguration can take from several hours to several days, even weeks. These changes are costly, and these costs are borne by people buying individual model. Here are examples of the concepts presented elements of an exemplary robotic cell. Different degrees of modification will be presented from simple mechanical systems shortening the time to reconfigure the cell to a fully automatic reconfigurable systems. As an example will be presented to the cell welding. This cell is ready to make a specific item. The concept of adapting the cell to make the like is the first step modification. The next step is to automate the position so that the elements can be produced alternately. The introduction of an additional item of the approximated dimensions to the list made in a cell and automation, is another way to increase the flexibility of the cell. The final stage of the present article is the concept of robotic cell, designed to make the same process for any element. These concepts require a change in transmitting information to each of the stages and the whole process control at every stage. It is possible to transfer productive resources but this requires advanced management methods. Ensuring the mobility of selected measures to increase production efficiency but this requires the use of such multi-agent systems.