NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, JAN 22
A Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) has been dedicated to the Engine Factory Avadi in Chennai on Tuesday.
Ordnance Factory Board Chairman Hari Mohan dedicated the FMS. Engine Factory Avadi has state-of-the-art-technology machines, including the first FMS in the country.
To meet the Army’s demand for more Tanks and Engine spares, the Ministry of Defence approved the Augmentation of Production capacity of engines from 350 p.a to 750 p.a. Commissioning of the FMS has enabled Engine Factory Avadi to meet the enhanced requirements of Engines and Spares, said R.Shyam Sunder, General Manager.
The machine has four large CNC Machining centres connected by a common Rail Guided Vehicle for handling 40 pallets and 450 tools magazine.
Any of the 20 types of V46, V92 and UTD Engine parts can be machined flexibly in any of the 4 machines by as decided by an advanced host computer in unmanned mode.
In-process gauging for critical dimensions, Laser enabled Tool breakage detection system, Tool pre-setter, compressor, advanced CNC controller, Coolant chiller, Temperature control and compensation, Hydraulically-operated fixture mechanisms are some of the salient features of the machine.
The machine has an Interactive Dashboard facility for Planning, Scheduling and Monitoring the work progress on a real-time basis. The FMS project has been ordered at the cost of Rs. 148.4 crores saving about Rs. 50 crore from the sanctioned cost.
It was originally sanctioned at the cost of Rs.197.6 crore. Engine Factory Avadi is the only organization in the country dedicated to manufacturing fully indigenized engines for the Indian Army’s Main Battle Tanks, said a PIB release.
