AUTOMATED ASSEMBLY
Assembly operations have traditionally been performed manually, either at single assembly workstations or on assembly lines with multiple stations. Owing to Ihe high labour content and high cost of manual labour, greater attention has been given in recent years to the use of automation for assembly work. Assembly operations can be automated using production line principles if the quantities are large, the product is small, and the design is simple (e.g., 12 mechanical pencils, pens, and cigarette lighters). For products that do not satisfy these conditions, manual assembly is generally required. Automated assembly machines have been developed that operate in a manner similar to machining transfer lines, with the difference being that assembly operations, instead of machining, are performed at the workstations. A typical assembly machine consists of several stations, each equipped with a supply of components and a mechanism for delivering the components into position for assembly. A workhead at each station performs the actual attachment of the component. Typical workheads include automatic screwdrivers, welding heads and other joining devices. A new component is added to the partially completed product at each workstation, thus building up the product gradually as it proceeds through the line. Assembly machines of this type are considered to be examples of fixed automation, because they are generally configured for a particular product made in high volume. Programmable assembly machines are represented by the component-insertion machines employed in the electronics industry.
Vocabulary:
supply of components - поставка компонентов;
automatic screwdrivers - автоматические отвертки;
joining devices - устройства соединения;
machining transfer lines - линия передачи механической обработки.
1. Give the English equivalents:
Действия по сборке, принципы поточной линии, отвечать условиям, доставить компонент в позицию для сборки, новый компонент добавляется к частично законченному изделию, постепенно создавая изделие.
2. Match the phrases and translate them into Russian:
Assembly manual transfer fixed programmable electronic; Operation labour line automation machine industry.
3. Find the sentences with the Participle I and translate into Russian. Answer the questions:
a) What are the reasons of the appearing of the automated assembly? b) What conditions should product satisfy for the automated assembly? c) What is the unit of the automated assembly? d) What does a typical assembly machine consist of?
4. Give the explanations of the following definitions:
automated assembly; manual assembly; workstation; fixed automation.
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APPLICATIONS OF AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS IN INDUSTRY
Manufacturing is one of the most important application area for automation technology. There are several types of automation in manufacturing. The examples of automated systems used in manufacturing are described below.
1. Fixed automation, sometimes called «hard automation» refers to automated machines in which the equipment configuration allows fixed sequence of processing operations. These machines are programmed by their design to make only certain processing operations. They are not easily changed over from one product style to another. This form of automation needs high why it is suitable for products that are made in large volumes. Examples of fixed automation are mashing transfer lines found in the automobile industry, automatic assembly machines and certain chemical processes;
2. Programmable automation is a form of automation for producing products in large quantities, ranging from several dozen to several thousand units at a time. For each new product the production equipment must be re programmed and changed over. This reprogramming and changeover take a period of non-productive time. Production rates in programmable automation are generally lower than in fixed automation, because the equipment is designed to facilitate product changeover rather than for product specialization A numeral control machine tool is a good example of programmable automation, The program is coded m computer memory for each different product style and the machine-tool is controlled by the computer programs.
3. Flexible automation is a kind of programmable automation. The programmable automation requires time to re-program and change over the production equipment for each series of new product. This is lost production time which is expensive. In flexible automation the number of products is limited so that the changeover of the equipment can be done very quickly and automatically. The reprogramming of the equipment in flexible automation is done at a computer terminal without using the production equipment itself. Flexible automation allows a mixture of different products to be produced one right after another.
Vocabulary:
Only certain processing operations – только некоторые операции по обработке;
needs high initial investments - нуждаться в больших начальных инвестициях;
high production rates - высокие нормы производства.