Smart Devices and Machines for Advanced Manufacturing (Hardcover, 2008 ed.)

With increasingly complex manufacturing systems and processes, more intelligent and unique devices and machines are needed to support manufacturing operations. Smart Devices and Machines for Advanced Manufacturing presents a focused collection of quality chapters on the state of the art of research efforts in the area of smart devices and novel machine design, as well as their practical applications to enable advanced manufacturing. The book can be viewed as consisting of two major sections, with the first section presenting a broad-based review of several key areas of research in smart devices and machines, whereas the second section is focused on presenting an in-depth treatment of a particular device or machine, from parallel kinematic mechanism to conventional robotic attachment. Smart Devices and Machines for Advanced Manufacturing will be of interest to a broad readership, from manufacturing and industrial engineers to researchers and postgraduates in computer-integrated manufacturing and computer-aided design and manufacturing.