Robot-served surface-grinding cell control system using programmable controllers

A robot-served surface-grinding cell for machining engine connecting-rods incorporates the following process equipment: a continuous surface-grinding machine with round table and vertical spindle; a manipulator, mounted in the machine and designed to load the blanks onto the machine table and discharge machined parts from it, and to turn the work (if machining from two sides is necessary); loading and discharge tilters for transferring the blanks and finished parts from the transport system to the manipulator and back. Several cells linked by a transport system form a transfer line for complete machining of connecting rods. Cell throughput is increased by reducing the machining cycle time. To ensure a high level of efficiency, the control system of the cell must be highly reliable at high operating rates, and must provide constant monitoring of the cell mechanisms at all stages of the cycle. To reduce downtime for finding faults which stop the cell, the control system must have a fault-finding facility.