Christiani Industry Model Processing Line
Stand Alone Model

The model Process Line simulates a process cell with an integrated conveyance, as used for example in industrial metal cutting processes. The process line consists of a turret drilling machine, three conveyor belts, a slewing table with conveyor chains and an automated lay-in-unit. The simulated process shows a work piece being provided at the lay-in-unit, then being brought onto the conveyance by a pusher, getting transported to the process cell, getting “machined” in several steps and finally being brought out to a discharge station by using the slewing table:

After putting the part onto the lay-in-unit, the pusher brings it to the first conveyor belt. A one way light barrier controls the correctness of the transfer of the part to the conveyance. Following this, the part is transferred to the second conveyor belt and brought to the turret drilling machine. The upright housing moves in –Ydirection towards the part. The spindle starts rotating and gets moved in –Z-direction to imitate a machining sequence.

To carry out a change of the working spindle the turret is moved in +Z-direction and a 120-degree turn of the turret in –B-direction is executed. After the change of the spindle the “machining” of the part is continued. The third spindle is put into action in the same way. When the whole machining sequence is done, the finished part is brought onto the slewing table by the second conveyor belt. The slewing table executes a 90-degree-turn to orient the part in the demanded way. The part is brought to the third conveyor belt by operating the conveyor chains of the slewing table. The third conveyor belt transports the part to the discharge station. The positions of the part on the conveyances and the machine tool are each indicated by inductive proximity switches. The process line is fit to be combined with the model 3-axis-portal in order to automate the handling of the part in the periphery of the process line.