Abstract

COLLINS, J.E.T.  and  BRIGHT, G.. Automatic tool-changing within the reconfigurable manufacturing systems paradigm. S. Afr. J. Ind. Eng. [online]. 2011, vol.22, n.2, pp.68-79. ISSN 2224-7890.

Reconfigurable manufacturing systems were developed as a proposed solution to the varying market and customer requirements present in today's global market. The systems are designed to offer adaptability in machining functions and processes. This adaptive capability requires access to a selection of tools. The development of reconfigurable manufacturing systems has mainly been focused on the machine tools themselves. Methods of supplying tools to these machines need to be researched. This paper does so, presenting a tool-changing unit that offers a solution to this need. It then discusses the enabling technologies that would allow for automatic integration and diagnostic abilities of the unit.

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