a) What is fixed automation?
b) What are the limitations of hard automation?
c) What is the best example of programmable automation?
d) What are the limitations of programmable automation?
e) What are the advantages of flexible automation?
Task 7. Give English equivalents for the following Ukrainian phrases.
1) сфера застосування
2) фіксована послідовність операцій
3) автоматичні складальні машини
4) певні хімічні процеси
5) станок з числовим програмним керуванням
6) втрачений виробний час
7) різноманітна продукція
Task 8. Give English definition for the following.
1. automation technology
2. fixed automation
3. assembly machines
4. non-productive time
5. programmable automation
6. computer terminal
7. numerical-control machine-tool
Task 9. Read and translate the text.
Robots in Manufacturing
Today most robots are used in manufacturing operations. The applications of robots can be divided into three categories:
1. material handling
2. processing operations
3. assembly and inspection.
Material-handling is the transfer of material and loading and unloading of machines. Material-transfer applications require the robot to move materials or work parts from one to another. Many of these tasks are relatively simple: robots pick up parts from one conveyor and place them on another. Other transfer operations are more complex, such as placing parts in an arrangement that can be calculated by the robot. Machine loading and unloading operations utilize a robot to load and unload parts. This requires the robot to be equipped with a gripper that can grasp parts. Usually the gripper must be designed specifically for the particular part geometry.
In robotic processing operations, the robot manipulates a tool to perform a process on the work part. Examples of such applications include spot welding, continuous arc welding and spray painting. Spot welding of automobile bodies is one of the most common applications of industrial robots. The robot positions a spot welder against the automobile panels and frames to join them. Arc welding is a continuous process in which robot moves the welding rod along the welding seam. Spray painting is the manipulation of a spraypainting gun over the surface of the object to be coated. Other operations in this category include grinding and polishing in which a rotating spindle serves as the robot's tool.
The third application area of industrial robots is assembly and inspection. The use of robots in assembly is expected to increase because of the high cost of manual labor. But the design of the product is an important aspect of robotic assembly. Assembly methods that are satisfactory for humans are not always suitable for robots. Screws and nuts are widely used for fastening in manual assembly, but the same operations are extremely difficult for a one-armed robot. Inspection is another area of factory operations in which the utilization of robots is growing. In a typical inspection job, the robot positions a sensor with respect to the work part and determines whether the part answers the quality specifications. In nearly all industrial robotic applications, the robot provides a substitute for human labor. There are certain characteristics of industrial jobs performed by humans that can be done by robots: 1. the operation is repetitive, involving the same basic work motions every cycle, 2. the operation is hazardous or uncomfortable for the human worker (for example: spray painting, spot welding, arc welding, and certain machine loading and unloading tasks), 3. the work piece or tool are too heavy and difficult to handle, 4. the operation allows the robot to be used on two or three shifts.
Vocabulary:
transfer — передача, перенесення
pick up — брати, підбирати
arrangement — розміщення
to utilize — утилізувати, знаходити застосування
gripper — захват
to grasp — схоплювати
spot welding — точкове зварювання
continuous — неперервний
arc welding — електродугове зварювання
spray painting — фарбування розпиленням
frame — рама
spray-painting gun — розпилювач фарби
grinding — шліфування
polishing — полірування
spindle — шпиндель
manual — ручний
shift — зміна
