Glossary Terms
Terms that are used on the Manufacturing Automation website

Buffer

1) In software terms, a register or group of registers used for
temporary storage of data, to compensate for transmission rate
differences between the transmitter and receiving device. 2) In
hardware terms, an isolating circuit used to avoid the reaction of one
circuit with another.

Build

A programming process that takes a user keyboard command (source code)
and converts it into hexadecimal format to generate an object code for
program execution.

Bumpless -ability to change processors controlling a process (changeover) without affecting the process.

Bus

A high-speed pathway shared by signals from several components of a computer.

Bus Network

A network topology that uses a single communications link to connect three or more terminals. Also called a Multi-Drop Network.

Bus Topology

A link topology in which all stations are connected in parallel to a
medium. These stations are capable of concurrently receiving a signal
transmitted by any other station connected to the medium.

Byte

(1) A fixed number of bits, often corresponding to a single character
and processed as a unit.
(2) A collection of eight bits capable of
representing an alphanumeric or special character.

C, C+, C++

a high-level language that can be used in application software.

CAD

Computer-Aided Design is the use of high-resolution graphics in a wide
range of design activities, allowing quick evaluation and modification.

CAE

Computer-Aided Engineering is the analysis of a design for basic error-checking, or to optimize manufacturability.

Calibration

the process of determining the capacity or scale graduations of a measuring instrument.

CAM

Computer-Aided Manufacturing is the use of computer technology to
generate data to control part or all of a manufacturing process.

CAN

Controller area network

CAPP

Computer-Aided Process Planning is a management framework for data that
assists the functions of process planning in manufacturing.

CASE

Computer-Aided Software Engineering is the use of object-oriented
programming and other techniques to streamline generation of
programming code.

CD-ROM

Compact-Disc, Read-Only Memory systems use digitized multimedia signals
to recreate text, video, and graphics. A data-storage medium using the
same physical format as audio compact discs. CD-ROM is popular for
distribution of large databases, software, and especially multimedia
applications.

Cell control

a manufacturing unit consisting of two or more workstations or machines
and the materials, transport mechanisms and storage buffers that
interconnect them.
Changeover time The time required to modify a
system or workstation, usually including both tear-down time for the
existing condition and set-up time for the new condition. Typically
associated with a switch to new product.

CIM

Computer-Integrated Manufacturing is the increased integration of
business and manufacturing functions through application of information
technology; the use of computers in all aspects of manufacturing, with
integration of functions and control in a hierarchy of computer systems.

Circuit

a communications path between two points.

Circuit Switching

A method of establishing a dedicated communications path between two or
more locations through one or more switching nodes. Data is sent in a
continuous stream; the data rate is constant; the delay is constant and
limited to propagation times; and a dedicated end to end path remains
in effect until the communication is terminated.

Circular interpolation

Coordination of two independent motion axes to produce an apparent
circular motion. It’s done through a series of straight line
approximations via software algorithms.

Client

a user’s workstation in a client/server architecture. The client serves
as a user interface processing time-consuming tasks to distribute the
computing load from the server.

Client-Server Network

A network that uses a central computer (server) to store data that is accessed from other computers on the network (clients).

Client/server architecture

an approach to co-operative processing, where the functions of an
application are shared between multiple computers on a network.

Clipping

The term applied to the phenomenon which occurs when an output signal
is limited in some way by the full range of an amplifier, ADC or other
device. When this occurs, the signal is flattened at the peak values,
the signal approaches the shape of a square wave, and high frequency
components are introduced. Clipping may be hard, as is the case when
the signal is strictly limited at some level; or it may be soft, in
which case the clipping signal continues to follow the input at some
reduced gain.

Closed

loop control -any system in which part of the output is fed back to the
input to effect a regulatory action, and in which the controlled
quantity is measured and compared with a standard representing the
desired performance. Any deviation from the standard is fed back into
the control system in such a sense as to reduce the deviation.

Closeness of Control

Total temperature variation from a desired set point of system.
Expressed as "closeness of control" is ±2?C or a system
bandwidth with 4?C, also referred to as amplitude of deviation.

CNC

Computer Numerical Control allows the control of motion in an accurate
and programmable manner through use of a dedicated computer within a
numerical control unit, with a capability of local data input such that
machine tools are freed from the need for "hard-wired" controllers.

Coaxial cable

a physical network medium that offers large bandwidth and the ability
to support high data rates with immunity to electrical interference and
a low incidence of errors.

COBOL

Common Business Oriented Language is a programming language commonly used for data processing.

Colour Code

The ANSI established colour code for thermocouple wires in the negative
lead is always red. Colour Code for base metal thermocouples is yellow
for Type K, black for Type J, purple for Type E and blue for Type T.

COM

Component object model

Common Cause

Predictable normal random variation present in every process due to the combination of existing inputs.