A Master-Slave Controller for a Flexible Manufacturing System

• Published in: CIRP annals Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 397 - 400
• Main Authors: French, D., Lu, Wei-Wen, Yang, Zong Xu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 1982
• ISSN: 0007-8506
• DOI: 10.1016/S0007-8506(07)63335-6

The control of a flexible manufacturing system is the key to the efficiency of the system. The controller must be capable of ensuring that the schedule specified for the system is adhered to, and that the machine tools and their handling units are sequenced correctly. The paper reports research into the feasibility of producing a low cost Master-slave controller capable of controlling up to 15 manufacturing units. The master unit consists of a microcomputer with 48k of memory, 2 mini floppy discs, interfacing and distributing units. The slave units are single board microprocessors using EPROM's for the machine drive program, which includes interpolation. The master unit has facilities for allowing part programs to be input to a disk, or a disk holding part programs may be used in the master system. The main function of the master however is to act on the schedule input by the operator for the work period of the system. The master using an interrogation system ensures that the part programs are downloaded to the machine slave control and/or the materials handling unit as requested. It also ensures that the machines and materials handling units are synchronized for correct functioning of the system. All inputs to the master are in an interactive mode, provision is also made for reporting of machine status by the slaves to the controller.