The application of a flexible tooling system in a flexible manufacturing system.

SUMMARYThe introduction of Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Cell Technology, and Automated Machining Techniques with the related reduction in manning levels has resulted in the development of tooling systems, tool management systems, and, independent tool magazines to service TURNING MACHINES where a high number of tools are required to cover one shift or unmanned operation.Actual cutting time (production time) represents a value between 5% and 20% of average machine utilisation time, and developments in cutting materials and geometries have largely exhausted rationalisation possibilities in this area.