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Vocabulary Focus

2. Match the words and phrases to their translation and make sentences: a.

3. Distinguish nouns and adjectives:

Quality; sensor; screw; alternative; specification; consistent; assembly; mixture; manual; method; repetitive; cycle; part; application; surface; arrangement; hazardous.

4. Translate the following pairs of words:

To paint – painting; to polish – polishing; to arra nge – arrangement; to handle – handling; to produce – production; to apply – appli cation; to mix – mixture; to fasten

– fastening; automation – automated; industry – ind ustrial; to grow – growing; to perform – performed.

5. Find the pairs of synonyms:

5. Read the text and answer the following questions:

1.Where are most robots used today?

2.What is an important aspect of robotic assembly?

3.What are certain characteristics of industrial jobs performed by humans that identify the work as a potential application of robots?

Robots in Manufacturing

Today most robots are used in manufacturing operations; the applications can be divided into three categories: 1) material handling, 2) processing operations, 3) assembly and inspection.

Material handling applications include material transfer and machine loading and machine unloading. Material-transfer applications require the robot to move materials or work parts from one location to another. Many of these tasks are relatively simple, requiring robots to pick up parts from one conveyor and place them on another. Other transfer operations are more complex, such as placing parts onto pallets in an arrangement that must be calculated by the robot. Machine loading and unloading operations utilize a robot to load and unload parts at a production machine. For this purpose the robot must be equipped with a gripper that can grasp parts. Usually the gripper must be designed specifically for the particular part geometry. In robotic processing operations, the robot manipulates the tool to perform a process on the work part. Examples of such applications include spot welding, continuous arc welding, and spray painting. Spot welding of automobile bodies is one of the most common applications of industrial robots in the United States. The robot positions a spot welder against the automobile panels and frames to complete the assembly of the

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basic car body. Arc welding is a continuous process in which the robot moves the welding rod along the seam to be welded. Spray painting involves the manipulation of a spray-painting gun over the surface of the object to be coated. Other operations in this category include grinding, polishing, and routing in which a rotating spindle serves as the robot’s tool.

The third application area of industrial robots is assembly and inspection. The use of robots in assembly is increasing because of the high cost of manual labour common in these operations. Since robots are programmable, one strategy is to produce multiple product styles in batches, reprogramming the robots between batches. An alternative strategy is to produce a mixture of different product styles in the same assembly cell, requiring each robot in the cell to identify the product style as it arrives and then execute the appropriate task for that unit.

The design of the product is an important aspect of robotic assembly. Assembly methods that are satisfactory for humans are not necessarily suitable for robots. Using a screw and nut as a fastening method, for example is easily performed in manual assembly, but the same operation is extremely difficult for a one-armed robot. Designs in which components are added from the same direction using snap fits help accomplish the work more easily by automated and robotic assembly methods. Inspection is another area of factory operations in which the utilization of robots is growing. In a typical inspection job, the robot positions a sensor with respect to the work part and determines whether the part is consistent with the quality of specifications.

In nearly all industrial robotic applications, the robot provides a substitute for human labour. There are certain characteristics of industrial jobs performed by humans that identify the work as a potential application of robots: 1) the operation is repetitive, involving the same basic work motions every cycle; 2) the operation is hazardous or uncomfortable for human worker (e.g. spray painting, spot welding, arc welding, and certain machine loading and unloading tasks; 3) the task requires a work part or tool that is heavy and awkward-to-handle; 4) the operation allows the robot to be used in two or three shifts.

EXERCISES AFTER READING THE TEXT

6. Translate the following word combinations:

a. To utilize a robot; to complete the assembly; rotating spindle; to weld the seam; to move work parts; to serve as a tool; manual labour; to produce multiple product styles; one-armed robot; screw and nut; application area; automobile body; to grasp

parts; spot welding; to accomplish the work.

b.Оснащать захватывающим приспособлением; метод крепления; предоставлять замену; погрузка и разгрузка машины; гибкий сборочный участок; длительная дуговая сварка; защёлкивающийся разъём; с одного места на другое; манипулировать инструментом; передача изделия на следующую операцию; погружать и разгружать комплектующие.

7. Pair work. Discuss the text using the following questions:

1. What are application areas of most robots?

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2.What do material handling applications include?

3.What do machine loading and unloading operations utilize a robot to do?

4.What is one of the most common applications of industrial robots in the United States?

5.What is arc welding?

6.What do robotic processing operations include?

7.What is the third application area of industrial robots?

8.How does the robot do inspection?

9.What does the robot provide in all industrial robotic applications?

8.Translate the following sentences paying attention to passive constructions:

1.Today most robots are used in manufacturing operations.

2.The gripper must be designed specifically for the particular part geometry.

3.For this purpose the robot must be equipped with a gripper that can grasp parts.

4.The applications of robots can be divided into three categories: 1) material handling, 2) processing operations, 3) assembly and inspection.

5.Arc welding is a continuous process in which the robot moves the welding rod along the seam to be welded.

9.Guess which of these sentences contain the information from the text?

1.Industrial design is design of products made by large scale industry for mass distribution.

2.Industrial design is supplied to manufacturers by three kinds of designers: staff designers, designers under contract and free lancers.

3.Material handling applications include material transfer and machine loading and machine unloading.

4.Spray painting involves the manipulation of a spray-painting gun over the surface of the object to be coated.

10.Tell your partner about the application of robots. Get ready to answer your partner’s questions.

11.Write a short essay entitled “Robots in manufac turing”.

12.Read an article about the application of robots in manufacturing and abstract the article.

13.Prepare a report and a computer presentation of the article.

14.Present your report to the class. Get ready to discuss it answering questions and persisting in your opinion.

Text 2

Flexible Manufacturing Systems

1. Read the following terms and phrases, mind their pronunciation:

Vocabulary Focus

2. Match the words and phrases to their translation and make sentences:

3. Make nouns of the following verbs:

To maintain; to produce; to operate; to manage; to equip; to utilize; to load; to identify; to consume; to develop; to apply.

4. Translate the following pairs of words:

Flexible – flexibility; to produce – production; re sponsible – responsibility; to equip – equipment; to manage – management; to manufacture – manufacturing; comfortable

– uncomfortable; to load – unload; to fasten – fast ening.

Text 2

5. Read the text and answer the following questions:

1.What is a flexible manufacturing system?

2.How is it distinguished from an automated production line?

3.What can an FMS cope with?

4.What are the components of an FMS?

Flexible Manufacturing Systems

A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is a form of flexible automation in which several machine tools are linked together by a material-handling system, and all aspects of the system are controlled by a central computer. An FMS is distinguished from an automated production line by its ability to process more than one product style simultaneously. At any moment, each machine in the system may be processing in a different part type. An FMS can also cope with changes in product mix and production schedule as demand patterns for the different products made on the system change over time. New product styles can be introduced into production with an FMS, so long as they fall within the range of products that the system is designed to process. This kind of system is therefore ideal when demand for the products is low to medium and there are likely to be changes in demand.

The components of an FMS are 1) processing machines, which are usually CNC machine tools that perform machining operations, although other types of automated workstations such as inspection stations are also possible; 2) a material-handling system, such as a conveyor system, which is capable of delivering work parts to any machine in the FMS, and 3) central computer system that is responsible for communicating NC part programs to each machine and for coordinating the activities of the machines and the material-handling system. In addition, a fourth component of an FMS is human labour. Although the flexible manufacturing system represents a high level of production automation, people are still needed to manage the system, load and unload parts, change tools, and maintain and repair the equipment.

6. Tell your partner about the flexible manufacturing systems. Get ready to answer your partner’s questions.

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Vocabulary Focus

2. Match the words and phrases to their translation and make sentences: a.

5. Make nouns of the following verbs:

To distribute; to produce; to propel; to apply; to operate; to pollute; to consume; to manage; to maintain; to develop; to identify; to equip; to select; to resist; to exploit; to appear.

Text

5. Read the text and answer the following questions:

1.What is called a motorcar?

2.What is the modern automobile?

3.How have passenger cars emerged?

4.Who was employed to improve the car?

5.What does vehicle design depend on?

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