The Use of Microprocessors in Master-slave Control Applications for Flexible Manufacturing Systems
R.N. Roth, D. French · 1979
The concept of the automatic factory has been discussed in great detail over the last decade. Computer controlled manufacturing systems have been designed. These systems are expensive and complex and are generally designed for specialised manufacture. The advent of the microprocessor has given a means whereby the control of a flexible manufacturing system can be conceived. The major limitation of microprocessors in such a system is the speed at which the necessary calculations can be performed to allow production of pulse trains for stepping motor or D.C. servomotor control of machine tools. It is shown in this paper that very limited low cost board level microcomputers can give results which are industrially acceptable.