Introduction

Automation
 What is automation
• the use of largely automatic equipment in a
system of manufacturing or other production
process.
• the creation and application of technology to
monitor and control the production and
delivery of products and services.
• the technique of making an apparatus, a
process, or a system operate automatically.
 3 basic elements of automation
• power to accomplish the process and operate
the system.
• a program of instructions to direct the
process.
• a control system to actuate the instructions.
 3 three types of automation
• fixed automation
• programmable automation
• flexible automation
 Fixed automation
• also known as “hard automation,” refers to an
automated production facility in which the
sequence of processing operations is fixed by
the equipment configuration.
• For each new batch, the production
equipment must be reprogrammed and
changed over to accommodate the new
product style.
 Fixed automation
Ex.
Machining transfer lines found in the
automotive industry
Automatic assembly machines
Certain chemical processes.
 Programmable automation
• is a form of automation for producing
products in batches. The products are made in
batch quantities ranging from several dozen to
several thousand units at a time. For each new
batch, the production equipment must be
reprogrammed and changed over to
accommodate.
 Programmable automation
• A numerical-control machine tool is a good
example of programmable automation. The
program is coded in computer memory for
each different product style, and the machine
tool is controlled by the computer program.
Industrial robots are another example. Flexible
automation is an extension of programmable
automation.
 Flexible automation
• is a type of manufacturing automation which
exhibits some form of “flexibility”. Most
commonly this flexibility is the capability of
making different products in a short time
frame.
• Flexible automation allows the production of
a variety of part types in small or unit batch
sizes.
 Flexible automation
• robot arm that can be programmed to insert
screws, drill holes, sand, weld, insert rivets,
and spray paint on objects in an assembly line.
 6 levels of automation
• Level 0: No Automation.
• Level 1: Assisted Driving Automation.
• Level 2: Partial Automation.
• Level 3: Conditional Automation.
• Level 4: High Automation.
• Level 5: Full Automation.