MRI: Development of a Parallel Machine Tool for Research and Education in Advanced Manufacturing

这个主要研究仪器（MRI）项目为先进制造业的研究和教育提供了一个并联机床的开发。并联机床将具有在圆柱和圆柱零件上进行平行铣削和钻孔操作的能力，以及在圆柱零件上进行平行车床操作的能力。开发的并联机床将有一个开放的控制系统，提供了轻松重新配置软件结构和监测、控制和诊断模块的能力。开放式控制平台将为先进制造自动化课程的过程规划和控制实验室的实施提供手段。将在开发的并联机床上进行的研究项目包括分层和过程控制，多刀具的过程规划，面向对象和容错制造软件系统，以及虚拟和互联网制造。并联机床使用多个刀具同时，但独立，在一个零件上。因此，这些机床提供了由于同时执行多项操作而提高生产率的好处，由于减少了设置数量而提高了质量，并且减少了占地面积。此外，它们的灵活性将使并联机床成为未来可重构制造企业的关键组成部分。本提案中并联机床的发展将为这种新型机床创造一个教育和研究机会的平台。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) project provides for the development of a parallel machine tool for research and education in advanced manufacturing. The parallel machine tool will have the capability to perform parallel milling and drilling operations on both cylindrical and prismatic parts, as well as parallel lathing operations on cylindrical parts. The developed parallel machine tool will have an open control system providing for the ability to easily reconfigure the software structure and the monitoring, control, and diagnostic modules. The open control platform will provide the means to implement process planning and control laboratories in advanced manufacturing automation courses. Research projects that will be conducted on the developed parallel machine tool include hierarchical and process control, process planning for multiple cutting tools, object-oriented and fault tolerant manufacturing software systems, and virtual and internet manufacturing.Parallel machine tools utilize multiple tools simultaneously, but independently, on a single part. Thus, these machine tools offer the benefits of increased productivity due to multiple operations being performed simultaneously, increased quality due to a reduction in the number of setups, and decreased floor space. Further, their flexibility will make parallel machine tools a key component in future reconfigurable manufacturing enterprises. The development of the parallel machine tool in this proposal will create a platform for educational and research opportunities for this new class of machine tool.