A Petri net approach to load and control a flexible machine

One problem that often arises in flexible manufacturing environments is load and control of the number of tool changes. Many existing approaches require solving complex mathematical problems and can only locally minimize the number of tool changes. The fundamental constructs of the Petri net model are introduced to describe sequence control specifications for a flexible manufacturing machine. Presented as an example is a flexible manufacturing cell (FMC) with two automated guided vehicles, a milling machine and an automatic tool changer. To enhance the usefulness and applicability of the tool loading approach a Petri net model is built as the interpretation schema and implementation model with respect to the local optimal job sequence, the tool changing procedure, and the machining of jobs.