Gear cutting – milling – or planing – Milling – Machine frame
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-28
2001-12-11
Briggs, William (Department: 3722)
Gear cutting, milling, or planing
Milling
Machine frame
C409S204000, C074S490100, C074S490120, C074S4710XY, C033S0010MP
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328510
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a machine tool for triaxial machining of work pieces with a machine rack, wherein couplers run on slewable bearings and are adjustable in an X-Y plane, these couplers being joined with a hinge, the machine tool being equipped with a tool carrier arranged at one coupler, the tool carrier provided with a skid independently movable in X-Y-plane and said machine tool being equipped with independent drives for adjustment of couplers. The term coupler is defined hereunder as representing a lever or handlebar which is connected at both ends via single-axial and parallel-axial hinges to other components.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A machine tool of the species described hereinabove is known (brochure “Dyna-M” of the machine tool laboratory of RWTH Aachen, September 1997). In the construction style known each of the two couplers is connected via another coupler to the machine rack so that four couplers form a W and/or M in a projection. The drives are designed as feedforward units run on slewable bearings at the machine rack, these feedforward units being run on slewable bearings at the tool carrier. By adjustment of one feedforward unit or both units the tool carrier can be adjusted within a work area lying in the X-Y plane. A work space is created by adjustment of the skid arranged on the tool carrier in Z-direction. This machine tool is built of a relatively complicated structure. And it also takes relatively much space. Another disadvantage is seen in the way of how the couplers are arranged, meaning that they are constantly subjected to torsional stresses in case of loads attacking at the cantilevered Z-skid and acting in the X-Y-plane. It represents a very unfavorable load case for the couplers which can be counteracted only by increasing the torsional stiffness.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary object of this invention to specify a machine tool of the species described hereinabove which distinguishes itself by a simple and compact structure as well as by high stiffness of the coupler system.
According to the invention at least two couplers are run on bearings at two skids which are adjustable in rack-proof guides by the aid of one drive each, with the guides being mainly arranged in parallel to each other and with the couplers—if viewed in the projection on a X-Y plane—lying between the guides. The couplers and the two skids with their guides can be accommodated in a relatively small space without this leading to a confinement of the work area attainable by the tool carrier in the X-Y plane. Its constructive build-up is simpler and well organized. Add to this that the stiffness of the coupler system is also improved substantially if only two couplers are implemented.
In a preferred construction style the couplers are connected to each other through hinges in the area of their ends averted from the skids. Thus it is possible to arrange the tool carrier at any point of the coupler allocated to it. Preferably, however, the tool carrier should be arranged in the area of the free end of a coupler because the work area in the X-Y plane will thus be maximized.
Besides the couplers may have different lengths. In particular the different lengths of the couplers can be so arranged that the couplers form an angle in a range of 90° in all operational positions, thus making a substantial contribution to the stiffening of the coupler system. But a smaller angle of e.g. 60° is also feasible.
If the tool carrier is directly fastened to a coupler it will twist on adjustment of couplers together with its coupler around its own axis. This can be avoided by implementing a construction style in which two couplers of the same length are mounted on bearings at one of the two skids with a reciprocal distance which are slewably connected like a parallelogram to one connecting coupler at their end averted from the skid, with the tool carrier being fastened to the connecting coupler.
Some examples for the construction styles of this invention as shown on the relevant drawings are explained in the following.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
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Weck, Sep. 1997, Dyna-M—compact, stiff, highly dynamic,Laboratory for Machine Tools. . .
Hanrath Georg
Stengele Gerald
Briggs William
Ergenbright Erica D.
Huller Hille GmbH
McGlew and Tuttle , P.C.
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