OBJECTIVES
In this activity you will accomplish the following:
♦ Understand the purpose of adding a machine to the basic CIM cell.
♦ Use the setup program to add a machine to the CIM cell.
♦ Understand the importance of connectivity in the CIM cell.
SKILLS
In this activity you will develop the following skills:
♦ Academic and Employability:
Describe how to integrate a new device into an existing CIM cell
Observe and evaluate the behavior of the modified production cycle.
Explain the need to expand an existing CIM system in order to meet customer requirements
♦ Occupational and Technical:
Adding new machines to the basic CIM cell
Configure the connectivity settings (physical and logical) between all the devices in the cell
MATERIALS
In this activity you will need the following materials:
♦ A PC with OpenCIM software installed
♦ Worksheets for this Activity
OVERVIEW
Limitations of the Basic CIM Cell
You have seen that the ability to produce a specific product is limited by the equipment included in the system. Nonetheless, there is always the possibility to expand the system by adding a new device to meet the growing needs of the factory.
Integrating a new device into an existing CIM system is sometimes more complicated than designing the cell in its entirety. Naturally, it is far simpler to modify the CIM cell in simulation mode. Simulation enables us to observe and evaluate the behavior of the modified production cycle.
In this activity we will learn how to insert an additional device into the basic CIM cell. The new device - a CNC lathe - will be added to station number 2. (More than one device can be located at each station.)
But first we will discuss the reasons for implementing this change.
Why Expand a CIM System?
The need to expand or modify a CIM system may arise as the result of different system production requirements; for example if a customer needs a new part and the existing system is not capable of producing the required part using its current machines.
Let us assume that one of our customers needs a new product, according to the design shown here:
Figure 13-1: New Part Structure Design
It is clear that the milling machine cannot produce this part. A lathe (turning machine) typically produces this type of part. Therefore, in order
A CNC lathe is frequently used for processing rounded (cylinder-like) raw materials. Below are photos that illustrate the processing of a new part and the finished part.
Figure 13-2: Part During Processing
Figure 13-3: Finished Part
Adding a Machine to the Basic CIM Cell
The production cycle in the CIM cell can combine processes performed by both the lathe and the mill. For example, a part can be processed in the lathe and then in the mill, or vice versa, as required.
In this activity, however, you will run two separate production processes.
You will continue to produce the existing parts, and you will add another part to be produced in the lathe.
You will now learn how to add a new device into the basic CIM cell, specifically a PLT3000 machine, which is a type of lathe. You will then perform the additional actions (some of which you have previously performed) that are preconditions to producing the part in the lathe.
PROCEDURES
Task 13-1: Inserting a New Object into the Basic CIM Cell
¾ Warning! You are about to enter the Setup application. Pay special attention not to move or to change anything in the system, which is not specifically indicated in the project task instructions.
1 From your Windows Start menu, select OpenCIM | Project Manager . The CIM Project Manager window is displayed.
2 From the Archive tab, select 102_ACT11-13, and then click
Save as to save the project as <USER>13 (for example, JOHN13) in the User Projects tab, as described in Activity 2, Task 2-1: Accessing Working Cells from the Project Manager.
3 From the User Projects tab, select this <USER>13 project and then click CIM Setup to activate the Virtual CIM Setup application for this project. All the tasks described in this activity refer to this selected
<USER>13 project.
The Virtual CIM Setup window is displayed.
4 From the Virtual CIM Setup window, click the Top View
button . The viewing camera is placed at the top of the cell at the center of the image.
Figure 13-5: Virtual CIM Setup Window – Top View
5 Click the New Object button . The New Objects window is displayed.
Figure 13-6: New Objects Dialog Window
6 Double click the Machines folder.
Figure 13-7: New Objects Dialog Window – Machines Folder A list of machines is displayed under the Machines folder.
Figure 13-8: New Objects Dialog Window – PLT3000 7 Select PLT3000 from the list and click the OK button.
A placement cursor is displayed.
Note: the PLT3000 machine is a type of lathe (turning machine)
Place the cursor below the CNC mill and to the left of the computer table.
Then left click.
Figure 13-9: Virtual CIM Setup Window – Cursor Below CNC Mill The PLT3000 lathe image is placed into the virtual cell.
Figure 13-10: Virtual CIM Setup Window – Adding PLT3000 Lathe Image
8 Click the Cancel button in the New Objects window. The cell is displayed in the window (with the embedded lathe image).
Figure 13-11: Virtual CIM Setup Window – PLT3000 Lathe (Before Rotation)
9 A hand-shaped cursor is displayed .
10 Place the cursor on the lathe image and drag the image to a location that is slightly below and to the left of the mill.