ME 475

Mechatronics

Semester: February 2015

Dr. Sumon Saha

Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Wednesday, December 09, 2015
Mechatronics Today’s topic

CAD, CAM and CIM

 Mechatronics Computer-Aided Design

Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computer

systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or
optimization and documentation of a design.

CAD uses a computer and software to make accurate
drawings of parts and products.

CAD can show what the product will look like, how it
should be made, how it will work, and what materials it will
be made of.

CAD research began in the 1960s in the automotive and
aerospace industries (General Motors, McDonnell
Douglas).

Boeing’s 777 airplane was designed entirely on computer,
without the construction of an initial prototype.
 Mechatronics Need for CAD

• To increase productivity of a designer.

• To improve quality of the design.
• To improve design documentation.
• To create a manufacturing database.
• AutoCAD
• ProEngineer
• Ideas
Common CAD Packages
• SolidWorks
• Unigraphics
• Others
Mechatronics Design Process: Then and Now

Before CAD After CAD

 Engineering Analysis, Evaluation
Mechatronics
and Review

• Mass properties analysis

• Interference and tolerance checking
• Finite element analysis
• Kinematic and dynamic analysis
• Discrete event simulation
• Automatic dimensioning
• Error checking
• Animation of discrete-event simulation solutions
 Mechatronics Prototyping

Rapid prototyping – is a general term applied to a

family of fabrication technologies that allow
engineering prototypes of solid parts to be made in
minimum lead time.

Virtual prototyping – involves the use of the CAD

geometric model to construct a digital mock-up of the
product, enabling the design and others to obtain the
sensation of the real physical product without
actually building the physical prototype.
Mechatronics Rapid Prototype Process
 Mechatronics Computer-Aided Manufacturing

Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is the use of

computer systems to plan, manage, and control the
operations of a manufacturing plant through direct or
indirect computer interface with plant’s resources.

CAD drawings may sometimes be directly input into a
CAM system.

Its primary purpose is to create a faster production
process and components and tooling with more
precise dimensions and material consistency, which in
some cases, uses only the required amount of raw
material (thus minimizing waste), while simultaneously
reducing energy consumption.
Mechatronics Computer-Aided Manufacturing
 Mechatronics Computer-Aided Manufacturing

Traditionally, CAM has been considered as a numerical

control (NC) programming tool, wherein two-dimensional
(2-D) or three-dimensional (3-D) models of components
generated in CAD software are used to generate G-code
or M-code etc, which may be company/controller
specific, to drive computer numerically controlled (CNC)
machines.
Mechatronics CAD/CAM Environment
 Mechatronics Computer Integrated Manufacturing

Computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) is the

manufacturing approach of using computers to perform
many of the functions related to design and production.

CIM uses computers to monitor and control most
aspects of manufacturing / production process.

In a CIM system, functional areas such as design,
analysis, planning, purchasing, shipping, sales, cost
accounting, payroll, inventory control, and distribution
are linked through the computer with factory floor
functions such as materials handling and management,
providing direct control and monitoring of all the
operations.

It is also known as flexible design and manufacturing.
 Manufacturing Systems
Mechatronics
Integration Program
 Mechatronics Benefit from CIM

Creation of a truly interactive system that enables
manufacturing functions to communicate easily with other
relevant functional units.

Accurate data transferability among manufacturing plant or
subcontracting facilities at implant or diverse locations.

Faster responses to data-changes for manufacturing flexibility.

Increased flexibility towards introduction of new products.

Improved accuracy and quality in the manufacturing process.

Improved quality of the products at low cost.

Control of data-flow among various units and maintenance of
user-library for system-wide data.

Reduction of lead times which generates a competitive
advantage.

Better use of materials, machinery, personnel, reduction in
inventory.

Easier training and re-training facilities.
Mechatronics Major Elements of a CIM System
Mechatronics Planning
Mechatronics Planning
 Mechatronics Subsystems in CIM

• Computer-aided techniques:
– CAD (Computer-Aided Design)
– CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering)
– CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing)
– CAPP (Computer-Aided Process Planning)
– CAQ (Computer-Aided Quality assurance)
– PPC (Production Planning and Control)
– ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)
– A business system integrated by a common
database.
• Devices and equipment required
• Technologies
 Mechatronics Devices and equipment required

• CNC, Computer numerical controlled machine tools

• DNC, Direct numerical control machine tools
• PLCs, Programmable logic controllers
• Robots
• Computers
• Software
• Controllers
• Networks
• Interfacing
• Monitoring equipments
 Mechatronics Technologies

• FMS (flexible manufacturing system)

• ASRS (automated storage and retrieval system)
• AGV (automated guided vehicle)
• Automated conveyance systems
• Robotics
 Mechatronics Key challenges

• Integration of components
from different suppliers:
When different machines, such
as CNC, conveyors and robots,
are using different
communications protocols. In the
case of automated guided
vehicles (AGV), even differing
lengths of time for charging the
batteries may cause problems.
 Mechatronics Key challenges

• Data integrity
– The higher the degree of automation, the more critical is the
integrity of the data used to control the machines.
– While the CIM system saves on labor of operating the
machines, it requires extra human labor in ensuring that there
are proper safeguards for the data signals that are used to
control the machines.
 Mechatronics Key challenges

• Process control: Computers may be used to assist the

human operators of the manufacturing facility, but there must
always be a competent engineer on hand to handle
circumstances which could not be foreseen by the designers of
the control software.