Design and simulation of component-based manufacturing machine systems

This paper presents the modular machine design environment (MMDE), a software environment that enables the 'virtual design/engineering' of component-based manufacturing machine systems. It consists of a suite of highly integrated tools supporting the visualisation, design, programming, verification and evaluation of machine systems built from mechanical, electronic and software components/modules in a virtual environment. Using three-dimensional (3-D) graphical simulation with a number of add-on tools, MMDE supports visualisation, design, simulation and verification of both the physical model and control logic for design and/or re-configuring machine systems to satisfy new or changed application/customer requirements before any real implementation is made. System design, implementation techniques, and evaluation of MMDE in a real industrial test case are covered in detail. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.