It is an extension of programmable automation. Examples of programmed automation include numerically controlled machine tools and industrial robots. Consequently, the typical cycle for given product includes a period during which the setup and reprogramming takes place, followed by a period in which the batch is produced. The physical setup of the machine must also be changed over: Tools must be loaded, fixtures must be attached to the machine table also be changed machine settings must be entered. To produce each new batch of a different product, the system must be reprogrammed with the set of machine instructions that correspond to the new product. The parts or products are typically made in batches. Flexibility to deal with changes in product configuration andĪutomated production systems that are programmable are used in low and medium volume production.Low production rates relative to fixed automation.High investment in general-purpose equipment.Some of the features that characterize programmable automation are: New programs can be prepared and entered into the equipment to produce new products. The operation sequence is controlled by a program, which is a set of instructions coded so that the system can read and interpret them. In this the production equipment is designed with the capability to change the sequence of operations to accommodate different product configurations. Examples of fixed automation include mechanized assembly and machining transfer lines. The high initial cost of the equipment can be spread over a very large number of units, thus making the unit cost attractive compared to alternative methods of production. The economic justification for fixed automation is found in products with very high demand rates and volumes. Relatively inflexible in accommodating product changes.High initial investment for custom–Engineered equipment.The typical features of fixed automation are: It is the integration and coordination of many such operations into one piece of equipment that makes the system complex.
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The operations in the sequence are usually simple. It is a system in which the sequence of processing (or assembly) operations is fixed by the equipment configuration. Automated production systems can be classified into three basic types: