A comparative analysis of tool management system, architectures designed for flexible machining and assembly (FMS/FAS) systems in CIM environment

The design is discussed of a flexible machining system (FMS) turning-tool database and tool-management system design as well as a robot-tool-management system design for flexible assembly systems (FAS), both based on common principles, resulting in generic system architecture. Besides explaining the methodology, based on hierarchical decomposition principles, both turning-tool and robot-tool-management system designs and sample database runs are illustrated to highlight common and diverse features and to point out the CIM (computer-integrated manufacturing) specific design and implementation goals