Reconfigurable Machine Tools for a Flexible Manufacturing System

A flexible manufacturing system with CNC machining centers is becoming decidedly appealing to automotive industry. Such production systems are required to have minimal cycle times and exhibit high flexibility. Consequently, the development and supply of machine tool systems that can fulfill the utmost important requirements such as flexibility, reliability, and productivity for mass production is necessary. This chapter will discuss newly developed CNC machine tools with reconfigurable features. The design concept, machine tool configuration, and application examples of the machines are addressed.