Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field of engineering that takes account of a blend of systems engineering: mechanical engineering, Electronic/Electrical Engineering, automation engineering, and computer engineering. Most recent products – automobiles, domestic appliances, printers, hard-disk drives, surgical tools, to name a little – represent numerous ‘intelligent’ or ‘smart’ features enabled by mechatronics. Mechatronic design strives to produce higher performance at lower costs, a critical goal in the tech segment in today’s market. As a design viewpoint, mechatronics values systems thinking and an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving. Mechatronics has originated the new transformation in engineering. In numerous industries today, engineers have to effort in cross-discipline; mutual teams in order to make sure that the composite, highly integrated systems they are designing will run smoothly. In order to successfully function, analyze and maintain electromechanical, automated equipment, it’s become essential for support technicians to re-skill formally and informally on a regular basis.

In IIRC, MGM University, a dedicated Mechatronics and industry 4.0 is developed. In this lab a tabletop factory is available to introduce Industry 4.0 training to students. It includes photoelectric, inductive sensor, pressure sensor, I/O link master, ProfiNet with interlinked PLCs, ABB Robot, assembly unit, automatic storage & retrieval system and belt conveyor to cover programming and operation, and storage.

It also, includes manufacturing execution software that can control multiple sensors to cover order entry, scheduling, schedule status, production statistics, and alarms, visual communications software for use in a mobile app to cover cloud-based data acquisition, SCADA operation, maintenance management operation, and how to configure cloud-based SCADA and maintenance management. The Mechatronics Automation Station aims at working without human efforts in which different operations are performed on the workpieces with its quality checking or inspection. In this station, parts move from magazine to conveyor, and then assembled in press unit for further storage by using the concept of ASRS. By the complete training of this table top factory students will be able to do the commissioning and operation of Mechatronics systems, troubleshooting and servicing of Mechatronics systems, programming automated industrial systems, and PLC programming.

(Author is a Associate Professor - Department of Mechanical Engineering of Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College (JNEC) which is constituent college of MGM University, Aurangabad)