Mechatronics and robotics

5. Ответьте на вопросы: 

What are the main types of manufacturing automation? 

What do you understand by 
hardware
when talking about 
manufacturing automation? 

Does fixed automation require changing over hardware from one 
product style to another? 

What form of automation is characterized by high initial investment and 
high production rates? 

What products is fixed automation suitable for? 

Can you give some examples of fixed automation? 
 
6. Прочитайте и переведите текст.
NUMERICAL CONTROL 
Numerical control
 
is a form of programmable automation in which a 
machine is controlled by numbers (and other symbols) that have been 
coded on punched paper tape or an alternative storage medium. The initial 
application of numerical control was in the machine tool industry, to 
control the position of a cutting tool relative to the work part
 
being 
machined. Today a small computer is used as the controller in an NC 
machine tool, and the program is actuated from computer memory rather 
than punched paper tape.
Many applications of numerical control have been developed since 
its initial use to control machine tools. Other machines using numerical 
control include component-insertion machines used in 
electronics
 
assembly, drafting machines that prepare engineering drawings, coordinate 
measuring machines that perform accurate inspections of parts. In these 
applications, the term 
numerical control
is not always used explicitly, but 
the operating principle is the same: coded numerical data are employed to 
control the position of a tool relative to some object. 

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The component-insertion machine is used to position electronic 
components (e.g. semiconductor chip modules) onto a 
printed circuit
 board 
(PCB). A typical printed circuit board has dozens of individual 
components that must be placed on its surface; in many cases, the lead 
wires
 
of the components must be inserted into small holes in the board, 
requiring great precision by the insertion machine. The program that 
controls the machine indicates which components are to be placed on the 
board and their locations. This information is contained in the product-
design database and is typically communicated directly from the computer 
to the insertion machine.