Integrating the numerical controller and the FMS

The current industrial emphasis on computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) and the advent of tools such as the manufacturing automation protocol (MAP) has led the authors to reconsider the traditional view of the numerical controller of machine-tools (CNC) in light of these developments. In recent years, the authors' laboratory has been involved in the study, design, and implementation of a CNC architecture. In the present work, the authors describe the motivation behind this work, namely, an architecture which incorporates the results of research on the problem of harmonious integration of CNCs in different environments and factory hierarchies. They also compare their work to the proposed manufacturing messaging specification (MMS) standard and its companion standard for the CNC.<>