Automatic material handling, illustrated by an aerospace small parts FMS application

An aerospace small parts FMS is described. Upon receiving an order, a billet is cut, bar coded and scanned. In the billet preparation cell, the billets are stored and delivered by robot on demand to one of two machines. Four wire-guided AGVs bring new tools when necessary, and the old ones go for regrind or disposal. The machine tools´ operations are monitored. After processing the parts at manually unloaded and sent to a finished parts store by AGV. Prepared aluminum parts are sent to a conveyor by the robot. The pallets for each type of these billets are processed by a gantry robot. Then the pallet is manually loaded by the aluminum part and sent to a store where it remains until required by one of six Automax machines. It is then taken by AGV for its first of two operations on an Automax machine, returned to the store, and later sent for its second operation. After these operations the billets go for inspection. The control VAX software is modular and machine programs are downloaded. The AGV local control unit receives transport orders and performs optical handshakes for interfacing