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

这个主要研究仪器（MRI）项目提供了一个并行机床的研究和教育先进制造的发展。并联机床将有能力进行平行铣削和钻圆柱形和棱柱形零件的操作，以及平行车削圆柱形零件的操作。开发的并联机床将有一个开放的控制系统提供的能力，很容易重新配置的软件结构和监测，控制和诊断模块。开放式控制平台将提供在先进制造自动化课程中实施工艺规划和控制实验室的手段。研究项目包括多刀具的分级和过程控制、多刀具的过程规划、面向对象的容错制造软件系统、虚拟制造和网络制造。并联机床在一个零件上同时使用多个刀具，但独立地使用。因此，这些机床提供了由于同时执行多个操作而提高生产率、由于减少设置数量而提高质量以及减少占地面积的好处。此外，他们的灵活性将使并联机床的关键组成部分，在未来的可重构制造企业。并联机床的发展，在这个建议将创建一个平台，教育和研究的机会，这类新的机床。

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.