Abstract
Modern manufacturing industries are facing continuous changes in product design, demand variation and shorter product life cycles. Traditional machine tools are usually designed for specific tasks and they do not easily adapt to these changes. Because of this limitation, manufacturers are looking for more flexible solutions in production systems. Reconfigurable Machine Tools (RMTs) are one of the important technologies developed to support flexible manufacturing lines. These machines can be rapidly adjusted in structure, functionality and capacity according to the production requirements. The concept of reconfigurable machine tools focuses on modular design, scalability and convertibility which allow machines to change their configuration for different machining operations. This approach reduces production cost, increases productivity and improves manufacturing efficiency. RMTs are widely used in industries where product variety and demand fluctuations are common, such as automotive, aerospace and electronics manufacturing. This paper reviews the concept, design principles and architecture of reconfigurable machine tools used in flexible manufacturing lines. It also discusses important components such as modular structures, control systems, tooling arrangements and machine configurations. Advantages, challenges and industrial applications of RMTs are also presented. The study shows that reconfigurable machine tools can significantly improve manufacturing flexibility and help industries respond quickly to changing market demands.
Keywords: Reconfigurable Machine Tools, Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Modular Design, Manufacturing Flexibility, Smart Manufacturing
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