Grammar revision exercise

1. Read and translate the sentences paying attention to the Continuous Infinitive:

1. An automated production line is able to be processing only one product style.

2. An FMS can be manipulating several product styles simultaneously.

3. At any moment each machine tool can be machining a different part type.

4. СNС machine tools may be performing machining and inspection operations.

5. The central computer is to be controlling all aspects of the system during the production operation.

6. The central computer system must be communicating NC part programs to each machine.

7. The central computer program is to be coordinating the activities of the machines and the material-handling system.

8. The material-handling system must be loading and unloading the parts during the whole cycle.

9. The conveyor system should be delivering work parts to any machine in the FMS.

10. Human workers are still needed to be maintaining and repairing the equipment.

Oral practice tasks

I. Put the points of the plan in the corresponding order:

1. The components of an FMS and their functions.

2. The notion of an FMS.

3. The specifications of an FMS.

II. Answer the questions:

1. What is flexible manufacturing system?

2. What is the role of the central computer in an FMS?

3. What is the difference between an FMS and an automated production line?

4. What changes in a production cycle can an FMS cope with?

5. For how long can new product styles be introduced into production with an FMS?

6. When is this kind of system considered to be ideal?

7. How many components does an FMS contain?

8. What are they?

9. What is the function of processing machines?

10. What is the function of inspection stations?

11. What is the function of a material-handling system?

12. What is the function of a central computer system?

13. What are the functions of human workers in an FMS?

III. Do the tasks below:

1. Look through the scheme.

2. Using the scheme put some questions concerning flexible manufacturing systems.

3. Comment on the scheme.

IV. Make a short report on flexible manufacturing systems.

Text 17B

Translate the text in written form using a dictionary:

Towards Flexible Production Facilities

Present-day industry, in particular engineering, is defined by the fact that its products — machine tools, devices, instruments, etc. – are normally produced for a very short period of time and replaced by other, more advanced products. The range of products is growing, and the size of batches is decreasing. The new production environment has brought about new requirements. Thus, for example, earlier functionally "rigid" automatic production lines require considerable changes to be introduced or the line to be fully dismantled when the factory switches to a new product. Unlike the above lines, flexible production lines can be switched over to a new product virtually instantaneously. When operated on a 24-hour basis, these lines need only a minimal team of operators to attend the production.

The highest level of a flexible production facility – an automatic factory – incorporates several flexible production workshops. Such a factory has both automated equipment and automated services, including computer-aided design of products and processes, and software development for its control systems. Such automated factories are being designed and are expected to become fully operational in the near future. All industrialized countries are currently making use of flexible modules and workshops.

Text 17c

Look through the text and do the tasks below:

Electronic Base of Flexible Production

The three basic conditions for the development of flexible production systems are – technology, equipment and electronization. Electronization is extensive development and wide use of electronic equipment: computers at all levels, sensors, information transmission systems and so on. In flexible production a computer must play the role of an organizer and a guide¹.

The more production was automated, the larger became the army of people specializing in these fields: parts had to be checked² and counted. The management had to be promptly informed about the production process. The condition of machines and instruments had to be constantly inspected. In flexible systems microelectronics must assume³ all these tasks. The world has produced big and small computers, microcomputers, numerical control systems for machine tools, presses and industrial robots. New designs of pickups⁴, including sensors, are being developed.

The task is to increase the production of facilities for automating the work of engineers, in particular, highly efficient small computers, personal computers, numerical control systems for multifunctional machine tools, flexible production modules, and programmed master controllers⁵.

Thus, the electronic base of flexible production is developing rather dynamically in the world.

Notes:

¹ guide – руководитель

² to check – проверять, контролировать

³ to assume – принимать на себя

⁴ pickup – датчик

⁵ master controller – ведущий регулятор

6. Translate the title of the text.

7. Formulate the main idea of the text.

8. Choose the main information from every paragraph.

9. Make up the plan of the text.

10. Write down the annotation of the text in Russian.

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