Flexible Study On FESTO Moduler Production System

MPS(Modular Production System) is a kind of industrial automation system. The system was separated according to modularization method into different module with different function. These modules can finish a task by itself. All of the modules have communication device which can communicate with each other. By analyzing the technological process, a production system would be made up according to stable and expedient principle. This is the mean of MPS. Standardization and flexibility are two features of MPS which make MPS widely used in modern manufacturing industry.The MPS of FESTO contain nine modules. FESTO MPS can board part, machining part and detection part and so on. The mode of supplying parts is single. This system can distinguish the color of parts. Boards module is the first one in the MPS. It contains silo, push mechanism, rocker arm. The main job of this module is offering part for the next module. The power of the system is an air pump.Through the analysis, MPS have a limitation on the size and shape. If expansion the machining range and adjust other modules, MPS can machine more kinds of parts and improve the availability and efficiency. So, on basis the requirement of production and flexibility, the tray was designed to be rounded and the conveyor was designed to be wedge. The baffle separate the tray to a number of part. The baffle push work to the assigned place. By adjusting the angle between baffles, MPS improve flexibility. In the meantime, the communication between host computer and the PLC was studied. The man-machine interface was made up with configuration software, then supervisory system was built. The real-time condition can be reacted in that interface.In a word, the flexibility of the modified MPS was improved. When the size of part changed, the follow-up process can be completed by adjusting the angle between baffles and input the size into supervisory interface. The working condition can be seen in the supervisory system. The system can be stopped when there is a bug. So, the automation of MPS was fulfilled.