The Flexible Manufacturing System 11, "AE-PLC-FMS11" is a modular system composed of eleven workstations: the "AE-PLC-A" Feeding Workstation for Pieces, the "AE-PLC-CF" Sorting Workstation, the "AE-PLC-M" Mounting Workstation, the "AE-PLC-MR3" Rotary Table Workstation 3, the "AE-PLC-SIP" Pieces Identification Workstation, the "AE-PLC-ALV" Vertical Storage Workstation, the "AE-CNCT" CNC turning workstation, the "AE-CNCF" CNC Milling Workstation and two "AE-BR" Robotic Arm Workstation.
The "AE-PLC-FMS11" system can be divided into a main process line and two secondary process lines. In the main line the feeding system provides pieces of different colors, materials and heights to be identify and classified. Furthermore, in the main process line an auxiliary piece is mounted in the base piece.
In the secondary process lines, two robotic arms are configured to pick and place the pieces from the main process line to inside each CNC machines. The two CNC machines performs different machining processes of milling and turning. Once the process is over, the piece is place again in the main line to be stored.
The "AE-PLC-FMS11" system design by EDIBON allows the users to learn the basic concepts of automation as the operation of an Ethernet network or how to program a PLC and about other areas as pneumatic, electro-pneumatic, etc.
Each workstation is locally commanded by a PLC device and, in turn, a central PLC coordinates all workstations. The communication network between workstations and PC is based on the Ethernet protocol.
The Robotic Arms and the CNC machines included in the "AE-PLC-FMS11" system, contains the control console controller and the programming software in order to program and operate with them.
The optional "AE-AS" software is design to teach the students how works real automation software. This software allows making 2D and 3D processes simulations, supervising and controlling SCADA systems, programming and communicating PLCs, simulating hydraulic, pneumatic and electronic devices’ operation, etc.