Control of an Automated Machining Workstation

The software architecture of the Vertical Machining Workstation (VWS) in the Automated Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF) at the National Bureau of Standards is presented in this paper. This prototype system demonstrates flexible computer integrated manufacturing for a family of prismatic parts. The workstation software components include: a feature-based design system for defining part geometries, an automatic process planning and numerical control code generation system, an automatic robot program generator, a state machine-based hierarchical control system which executes process plans, a diagnostic tools package, and mailbox communications software. The system is capable of running stand-alone, as a single station manufacturing system, or integrated under the AMRF cell controller.