Computer Integrated Manufacturing Midterm Vocab

Post Processing

A common practice that includes clean up and finishing procedures on models after they are removed from the rapid prototyping machine. It may also include mechanical or chemical removal of support structures, powder removal, and surface finishing.

Computer Integrated Manufacturing.

A company-wide management philosophy for planning, integration, and implementation of automation.

Automated Guided Vehicle.

A computer-controlled system that uses pallets and other interface equipment to transport work pieces to NC machine tools and other equipment in a flexible manufacturing system

Open Loop

A control system that has no means for comparing the output with input for control purposes

Schematic

A diagram that uses special symbols in place of actual pictures. In a wiring schematic, for example, a squiggly line is used to represent a resistor.

Flexible Manufacturing System.

A flexible group of CNC machine tools that are highly automated and integrated capable of producing a family of parts.

Prototype

A full-scale working model used to test a design concept by making actual observations and necessary adjustments.

Input and Output Block

A function that makes information available for processing or that records processed information.

Flow Chart

A graphical representation of the progress of a system for the definition, analysis, or solution of a data-processing or manufacturing problem.

Six Sigma

A highly structured methodology that incorporates techniques and tools for eliminating defects and variability from a process. To achieve Six Sigma, a process must not produce more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities.

Comment

A line of text in a computer program that is ignored by the computer. They are used to explain programs to humans.

Molding

A manufacturing process in which the industrial material is made into a liquid. The liquid is then introduced (poured or forced) into a prepared mold of proper design.

Mass production

A manufacturing process that can include specialized and single-purpose machines to produce a great many identical parts.

Workcell

A manufacturing unit consisting of a group of work stations and their interconnecting materials-transport mechanisms.

Computer Numerical Control.

A numerical control method in which one computer is linked with one machine tool to perform NC functions.

Fixed Costs

A periodic cost that remains (more or less) unchanged irrespective of the output level or sales revenue of a firm.

Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)

A process by which an electrode spark is used to erode small amounts of material from a work piece.

Forging

A process by which metal is heated and shaped by plastic deformation by suitably applying compressive force.

Injection Molding

A process during which plastic is heated in a machine and forced into a cavity by a screw or ram. The material solidifies and is then ejected.

Electrochemical Machining (ECM)

A process in which a stream of electrolyte (typically salt water) is pumped at high pressure through a gap between the positively charged work and the negatively charged tool (electrode).

Sand CAsting

A process of pressing moist sand around a pattern to make a mold. The pattern is removed, leaving a cavity in the sand. The cavity is the mold that will be filled with liquid metal. The result will be a casting that is identical in shape to the original pattern.

Forming Process

A process that changes the size and shape of a material by a combination of force and a shaped form.

Separating

A process that removes excess material to change the size, shape, or surface.

Water Jet Cutting

A process that uses a high speed jet of water emitted from a nozzle under high pressure (10,000-60,000 psi or greater). The advantage of water jet cutting is that it does not create a burr and it is a low temperature process.

Stereolithography (SLA)

A rapid prototyping process that fabricates a part layer-wise by hardening a photopolymer with a guided laser beam.

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

A rapid prototyping process that used a moving laser beam to sinter heat-fusible powders one layer at a time.

Simulation

A representation of a situation or problem with a similar but simpler model or a more easily manipulated model in order to determine experimental results

Manufacturing

A series of interrelated activities and operations that involve product design and the planning, producing, materials control, quality assurance, management, and marketing of that product.

Code

A set of computer instructions to perform a given operation or solve a given problem

Programmable Logic Controller.

A solid-state control system that has a user-programmable memory to store instructions.

Control System

A system in which one or more outputs are forced to change in a desired manner as time progresses

Just in Time.

A system that eliminates work-in-process (WIP) inventory by scheduling arrival of parts and assemblies for an operation at the time they are needed and not before.

Automated Storage/Retrieval System.

A system that moves material either vertically or horizontally between a storage compartment and a transfer station or within a process

Closed Loop

A system that uses feedback from the input to control the output

Polyactic Acid (PLA)

A thermoplastic formed using organic material

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

A thermoplastic with rubber added for high toughness

Potentiometer

A variable resistor

Dependent Variable

A variable whose value depends on the value of another variable

Design flaws

An imperfection in an object or machine.

Grinding

An operation that removes material by rotating an abrasive wheel or belt against the work.

Metals

Any of a category of electropositive elements that usually have a shiny surface, are generally good conductors of heat and electricity, and can be melted or fused, hammered into thin sheets, or drawn into wires.

Ceramics

Any of various hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing a nonmetallic mineral, such as clay, at a high temperature.

Raw Materials

Basic substance in its natural, modified, or semi-processed state, used as an input to a production process for subsequent modification or transformation into a finished good.

Renewable Resources

Biological materials that can be replaced.

Rapid Prototyping

Computer-controlled additive fabrication

Kaizen

Continuous improvement that involves all participants.

Economics

Dealing with production, distribution, and consumption of products or wealth

Additive Process

Fabrication of a part by adding material.

defective

Imperfect in form or function.

Build time

Length of time for the physical construction of a rapid prototype, excluding preparation and post-processing time. Also known as run time.

Photopolymer

Liquid resin material that utilizes light (visible or ultra-violet) as a catalyst to initiate polymerization, in which the material cross-links and solidifies. This technique is used by various rapid prototyping technologies.

Finishing Process

Machining a surface to size with a fine feed produced in a lathe, milling machine, or grinder.

Quality Control

Making sure that products or services meet consistent high standards

Industrial Material

Material that has been changed from raw material so that it is ready to be used in manufacturing. Also referred to as standard stock.

Work-in-Process.

Materials or parts that are actually being processed into final products.

Plastics

Materials that undergo a permanent change in shape or size when subjected to a particular amount of stress.

Sequential

Occurring in regular succession without gaps

Process Block

Part of a flowchart that tells the program what action to take

Variable Cost

Periodic cost that varies in step with the output or the sales revenue of a firm. Such costs include raw material, energy, wages, distribution, etc.

Concept Model

Physical model intended primarily for design review and not meant to be sufficiently accurate or durable for full functional or physical testing.

Iterative

Process flow that may repeat or skip steps until some condition is satisfied

Conditioning Process

Process in which the properties of a material are changed using mechanical, thermal, or chemical means.

Vacuum Forming

Process to heat a thermoplastic sheet until it softens and then force the hot and pliable material against the contours of a mold using vacuum pressure.

Subtractive Process

Processes that remove material to change the size, shape, or surface of a part. There are two groups of separating processes: machining and shearing.

Competent

Properly or sufficiently qualified; capable or efficient.

Fused Deposition Modeling

Rapid prototyping process in which a filament of wax or polymer is extruded onto the existing part surface from a workhead to complete each new layer.

Laminated Object Manufacturing

Rapid prototyping process in which sheet stock is cut and bonded into a stack.

3D Printing

Rapid prototyping process that builds a part by ejecting adhesive bonding material onto successive layers of powders. Note that this term is often used to describe all rapid prototyping processes.

Exhaustible Resources

Resources of which there are a limited supply.

Morality

Rules relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior

Die Casting

Similar to permanent mold casting except that the metal is injected into the mold under high pressure.

Functionality

The ability of a product to do the job for which it was intended

Flow lines

The connecting line or arrow between symbols on a flow chart.

Interface

The connection between the computer and the control system

Independent Variable

The controlling factor between variables, on which the value of the other variable depends

Decision Block

The diamond-shaped block used for Yes/No questions. They have two inputs: 1 or 0

Value-Added

The difference between the price at which good are sold and the cost of the materials used to make them

Primary Processing

The first step in manufacturing where raw materials are processed into a usable form for further manufacture.

Overhead

The general, fixed cost of running a business which cannot be charged or attributed to a specific product or part of the work operation

Profit

The monetary surplus left to a producer or employer after deducting wages, rent, cost of raw materials, etc.

Casting

The process in which a solid material is made into a liquid, poured into a mold, and allowed to harden in the shape of the mold.

Declare

The process of letting a program know that you plan to use a variable, what you want to call it, and how big it is.

Assembling

The process of putting a product together out of separate parts.

Durability

The quality of equipment or goods of continuing to be useful after an extended period of time and usage.

Robotics

The science and technology of robots, their design, manufacture, and application.

Secondary Processing

The second step in manufacturing which takes the useable material form primary processing and uses it to create products. Common processes include casting and molding, forming, separating and joining, conditioning, assembling, and finishing

Ethics

The standards for ethical or moral behavior of a particular group

Lean Manufacturing

The systematic elimination of waste.

Computer Aided Manufacturing.

The use of computers in converting engineering designs into finished products.

Computer Aided Design.

The use of computers in converting the initial idea for a product into a detailed engineering design.

Automation

The use of technology to ease human labor or to extend the mental or physical capabilities of humans.

Non-Value Added

Typically generates a zero or negative return on the investment of resources and usually can be eliminated without impairing a process

Purpose

What one intends to do or bring about.