Design of a tool management system for a flexible machining facility

Abstract

This paper addresses the design of an integrated tool management system for flexible machining facilities (FMFs). Modules with functions ranging from issuing tools according to a tooling strategy to diagnosing system operation have been developed and integrated around a centralized manufacturing database to guarantee streamlined manufacture. A review of the state-of-the-art tools to model an automated tool management system (TMS) within flexible machining facilities is presented first, in order to establish the merits of different design approaches. The approaches used in modelling, the structures and the functions of the modules are presented. Finally, a walkthrough example utilizing the design facility presented is given with an illustration of typical results.