Intelligent machine tools in a distributed network manufacturing mode environment

Manufacturing enterprises are facing serious challenges and pressures from the growing globalisation of the economy and the market as well as from the rapid developments of science and technology. Small and medium-sized enter prises (SMEs), especially have to reform their traditional manufacturing me thods by using advanced technologies, particularly by applying information technology (IT) to succeed in the increasingly intense competition for mark ets. Thus, it is of great importance for them to accept the concept of agil e manufacturing. For this purpose. the concept of distributed network manuf acturing mode (DNMM) is outlined in this paper. In DNMM, research is concen trated on enhancing the intelligence of conventional numerical control (NC) machine tools and their ability to communicate and coordinate with the out side world. The experimental results of the distributed network manufacturi ng prototype system (DNMPS) show that the concept of the DNMM is correct an d feasible. Moreover, the intelligent CNC system developed enhances the abi lity of the conventional NC milling machine to improve machining efficiency and quality and protect the cutting tool. The capability for communicating and collaborating are improved for system integration. resource-sharing an d cooperation.