Manufacturing Processes and Systems

Abstract

A large number of manufacturing equipment exist for the implementation of basic discrete manufacturing processes into production machinery. Kalpakjian and Schmid provide a list of discrete manufacturing processes available under different categories of manufacturing, which are used in actual production. These major categories are: (1) Metal forming processes; (2) Bulk deformation processes; (3) Sheet Metal forming processes; (4) Metal removal processes; (5) Metal joining processes; (6) Processing of Polymers and reinforced plastics; (7) Processing of Metal Powders, Ceramics, Glasses, Composites and Super Conductors; (8) Thermal Treatment of materials; (9) Surface Treatment of materials; (10) Fabrication of Micro Mechanical and Microelectronic Devices; and (11) Non Conventional processes. The equipment used under each category of discrete manufacturing is further classified based on their: (1) Type manufacturing equipments are discrete products capable of manufacturing components, assemblies, structure, mechanism and machine (Kalpakjian and Schmid 2003); (2) Size; (3) Accessories; (4) Operation parameters, and (5) Type of control.