AE-PLC-FMS7 Flexible Manufacturing System 7

The Flexible Manufacturing System 7, "AE-PLC-FMS7" is a modular system composed of four workstations: the "AE-PLC-A" Feeding Workstation for Pieces, the "AE-PLC-SIP" Pieces Identification Workstation, the "AE-PLC-CF" Sorting Workstation and the "AE-PLC-T" Linear Transport Workstation.

The objective of the "AE-PLC-FMS7" system is to provide the system with pieces of different colors, heights and materials. These pieces are identified and sorted depending on the system requirements.

The process of the "AE-PLC-FMS7" is explained in the following lines:

• First, the feeding system provides the pieces of different colors, heights and materials and place them on the linear transport system.
• Then, the following workstation take the pieces from the linear transport system and detect the color, the height and the material of the piece in order to discard the non-valid pieces. The correct pieces are placed on the linear transport system.
• Finally, the last workstation take the pieces from the linear transport system and sorting them in three different places.

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 "AE-PLC-FMS7" 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.

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.