Flexible manufacturing

An FMS consists of several computer-controlled machine tools, each capable of performing many operations. Each machine tool has a limited capacity tool magazine that holds all of the cutting tools required to perform each operation. Once the appropriate tools have been loaded in the tool magazines, the machines are under computer control. During system operation, the automatic tool interchange capability of each machine allows no idle set-up time in between consecutive operations or between the use of consecutive tools. When a new tool is required, the tool magazine rotates into position, and the changer automatically interchanges the new tool with the one that is in the spindle in seconds. Each part type that is machined is defined by several operations. Each operation requires several cutting tools (say, about 5–20). All tools for each operation need to occupy slots in one or more machine tool's magazine.

Typical FMSs consist of five to 25 machines that are linked together by common...