THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY LEVEL 06
ACADEMIC YEAR 2014/2015

MEX6270- FACTORY AUTOMATION

ASSIGNMENT NO 01
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE ANSWERING THE ASSIGNMENT
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. This assignment is based on Book 01 and Book 02. You may require referring addition resources for more
information.
2. Answer all questions
3. Submission of assignments can be done by any of the following methods
I.

By registered post to the address given below

THE COURSE CO-ORDINATOR IN MEX6270
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA
P.O.BOX 21, NAWALA
NUGEGODA

II.

Depositing it into the assignment box located outside the Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory at
Science & Technology building, Nawala.

III.

Personally handing it over to the respective Coordinator. (Make sure that it is day stamped).

4. Deadline for submission: 06th February 2015. Please note that late submissions will not be entertained.

1) Identify an industry in Sri Lanka that you think should opt for manufacturing automation and
computer-integrated manufacturing. Explain the reasons to justify your argument and discuss them
separately.
2) In automatic control of systems, feedback control is often required to ensure high-performance
control. Explain with special emphasis on:
a) Practical difficulties in implementation
b) Cost concerns
Why control in domestic bread toasters is usually implemented as open loop systems.
3) Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) more closely associated with the process industries or the
discrete manufacturing industries. Explain.

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4) Consider an automated cell consisting of a CNC machine tool, a parts storage unit, and a robot for
loading and unloading the parts between the machine and the storage unit. Possible errors that
might be affect this system can be divided into following categories.

a)

i.

Machine the process

ii.

Cutting tools

iii.

Work holding fixtures

iv.

Part storage unit

v.

Load//unload robot

Develop a list of the possible errors (deviations and malfunctions) that might be included in
each of the above categories.

b)

Develop a list of the possible corrective actions that might be taken by the system to address
some of the errors.

5) Automation is not always the right answer for a given production situation. Explain giving reasons.
6) Consider an automated turning operation that generates a cone-shaped product. Assume that
system is automated and that a robot is used to load and unload the work unit. The work cycle
consists of the following steps.
i.

Load starting work piece

ii.

Position cutting tool prior to turning

iii.

Turn

iv.

Reposition tool to a safe location at end of turning

v.

Unload finished work piece.

Identify the activities and process parameters for each step of the operation.
7) What do you understand by Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)? Discuss the types of AGVs.
8) Explain the advantages of AGVs as compared to other established material transport systems in
manufacturing and warehouse facilities.
9) Describe the production situations in which Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) technology can be
applied.
10) Describe the benefits of introducing flexibility in manufacturing.

END

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