3.3 Coordinate Systems and Reference Points
3.4 The Ten Steps of CNC Programming
3.5 Advantages and Disadvantages of CNC Technology
3.6 When to Use CNC Technology
3.7 Summary
3.8 Key Words
3.9 Review Questions
3.10 Bibliography
Chapter 4
CNC Programming
4.1 Overview of CNC Programming
4.2 Program Code
4.3 Cutting Parameters
4.4 Program Organization
4.5 Programming Process
4.6 Turning Programs
4.7 Summary
4.8 Key Words
4.9 Review Questions
4.10 Bibliography
Chapter 5
CNC Simulation Software
5.1 Overview of CNC Simulation Software
5.2 Installation and Setup of CncSimulator®
5.3 User Interface
5.4 Simulation Examples
5.5 Summary
5.6 Key Words
5.7 Review Questions
5.8 Bibliography
Chapter 6
Introduction to Robotics Technology
6.1 Industrial Robotics
6.2 Robot Hardware
6.3 Robot Applications
6.4 Robot Safety
6.6 Robot Selection Considerations
6.7 Summary
6.8 Key Words
6.9 Review Questions
6.10 Bibliography
Chapter 7
Robot Programming
7.1 Robot Programming Concepts
7.2 Programming Methods
7.3 Robot Programming Languages
7.4 Robot Program Development, Organization, and Structure
7.5 Writing Robot Program of Instructions
7.6 Robot Simulation
7.7 Robot Program Simulation Example
7.8 Summary
7.9 Key Words
7.10 Review Questions
7.11 Bibliography
Chapter 8
Introduction to Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
8.1 Programmable Logic Control Overview
8.2 Industrial Process Control
8.3 PLC Terminology
8.4 PLC Hardware Components
8.5 PLC Applications
8.6 Sensors and Actuators
8.7 Implementing Automation with PLCs
8.8 Summary
8.9 Key Words
8.10 Review Questions
8.11 Bibliography
Chapter 9
Programming PLCs
9.1 Programming Concepts
9.2 Ladder Logic Terminology
9.3 Typical PLC Instruction Set
9.4 PLC Programming Process
9.5 PLC Program Simulation
9.6 PLC Programming Example
9.7 Summary
9.8 Key Words
9.9 Review Questions
9.10 Bibliography
Chapter 10
Automated Workstations and Work Cells
10.1 Automated Workstations and Work Cells
10.2 Workstation and Work Cell Components
10.3 Automated Workstation and Work Cell Examples
10.4 Summary
10.5 Key Words
10.6 Review Questions
10.7 Bibliography
Index
This book would not have been possible without the incredible patience, support and guidance of both John Carleo of Industrial Press and Kathy McKenzie of Radical X Editing Services. I also thank Janet Romano of Industrial Press for her craft and care in designing the book’s layout. Special thanks to Dr. Raj Chowdhury who first suggested and made me believe that I could and should write a text. Without his encouragement, I would not have considered undertaking such a project. I finally express my deepest appreciation to my wife Tammie for her patience and understanding during the long and often arduous preparation of this manuscript.
For many years I taught an engineering technology course on robotics and flexible automation. I found that books that covered the fairly familiar concept of robotics were available, as were books that did an excellent job with computer numerical control (CNC) and programmable logic controllers (PLCs). However, books that truly addressed flexible automation were not so easy to find. In fact, it was very difficult to find a single text that incisively and usefully addressed all these engineering technology topics. So, throughout the years I collected and organized necessary and important information concerning flexible automation, from various sources, and disseminated it to my students. Armed with these notes, students would not need to purchase several books that would cover the course topics. Eventually, I decided to write the present book; with it I hope to fill a significant void in the literature.
Flexible automation