Essential Issues Related To The Purchase Of Automated Machinery That Play A Vital Role In Providing Real World (Industrial) Applications To Students

Abstract

Colleges and Universities purchasing automated equipment particularly CNC machinery and robotics have the choice of either purchasing smaller machineries made specifically for educational applications or buying small to medium size industrial machines. The decision to go either way not only effects what type of machinery is purchased but also influences a wide array of other issues such as, the relevancy of the CNC programming language presented by the machine compared with what is being used in industry, topics that can be included in the curriculum, maintenance problems related to the upkeep of the machine, cost factors compared to the technology purchased, etc.

This article evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of selecting either kind of equipment by comparing features and capabilities, cost, limitations and capabilities of these machines in material processing and operations. Other issues such as resale value and cost of maintenance will be discussed providing current data and information useful to the institutions deciding to upgrade or purchase new equipment.

I. Introduction

Advancement in the field of manufacturing is so rapid that major machine makers and manufacturers have a hard time competing with the technological breakthroughs. Among the most notable technological advances on machine controls are pc-based controls/fusing technologies, machining simulation, CAD/CAM capabilities, on-line maintenance, and diagnostics. These are the results of the global customer’s need for better and increasingly more customized equipment, in an era in which customizing is not cost-efficient. According to Teruyuki Yamazaki, president of Yamazaki Mazak, at EMO (The international machine tool show held in Paris) different industries have different priorities. Some automotive manufacturers want to go faster, small manufacturers want to be more flexible, whereas aerospace industry wants to hog out parts at a faster pace3.

As educators we may not need the large table travel that some of the industrial machines provide but we need to be able to teach the technical know-how of modern manufacturing methods available on the market today2. Additionally, “learning the latest technologies in machine tool operation requires hands-on training one can only get by actually using today’s modern machines5.”

“Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright Ó 2001, American Society for Engineering Education”