AE-PLC-FMS10 Flexible Manufacturing System 10

The Flexible Manufacturing System 10, "AE-PLC-10" is a modular system composed of four workstations: the "AE-PLC-A" Feeding Workstation for Pieces, the "AE-PLC-CF" Sorting Workstation, the "AE-BR" Robotic Arm Workstation and the "AE-CNCF" CNC Milling Workstation.

The objective of the "AE-PLC-FMS10" system is to provide the system with pieces of different colors, heights and materials. These pieces are identified and sorted depending on the system requirements. Then, the robot arm system take the pieces from the sorting workstation and place in the CNC milling machine. Once the CNC machine finish the machining of the pieces, the robotic arm pick the pieces from the CNC machine and place at the output zone.

The process of the "AE-PLC-FMS10" is explained in the following lines:

• First, the feeding system provides the pieces of different colors and materials and place them on the sorting workstation input.
• Then, the sorting workstation identify the pieces and sorting them in three different places.
• Finally, the robot arm system, take the pieces from the sorting workstation, and place in the CNC milling machine in order to machining them. Once the pieces are machined, the robotic arm take the finished pieces and place at the output zone.

The "AE-PLC-FMS10" system design by EDIBON allows the users to learn the basic concepts of automation as the operation of an Ethernet network or how to program a PLC and about other areas as pneumatic, electro-pneumatic, etc.

Each workstation is locally commanded by a PLC device and, in turn, a central PLC coordinates all workstations. The communication network between workstations and PC is based on the Ethernet protocol.

The Robotic Arm and the CNC machine included in the "AE-PLC-FMS10" system, contains the control console controller and the programming software in order to program and operate with them.

The optional "AE-AS" software is design to teach the students how works real automation software. This software allows making 2D and 3D processes simulations, supervising and controlling SCADA systems, programming and communicating PLCs, simulating hydraulic, pneumatic and electronic devices’ operation, etc.