Reconfiguration processes in manufacturing systems on the base of IEC 61499 standard

Publications in the field of new generation technologies of manufacture set clear that the production shall be visualized, developed and optimized as an integral system that shall comply with the changing requirements (i.e. less time available for preparation and putting into operation). Thus a systematic approach is needed to development a manufacturing system where the processes of manufacture, equipment and technology would be able to respond when the output requirements change. The reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMSs) that are on a higher level compared to the now available specialized manufacturing systems increase both the efficiency and the flexibility of the system with regards to the market requirements. The RMSs have an open structure that makes possible the integration of new technologies and the modification of the systems for a new type of manufacture on the basis of adding, removing or updating of elements and units in their structure. The key point in the phase of development of control system for RMS is to achieve the reconfiguration of hardware and/or software on the high and low control levels. This paper presents an approach for reconfiguration of manufacturing system for cutting operations through reusable function blocks on the base of IEC-61499 standard. The reconfiguration is presented like a function of the output requirements change.