Turning – Lathe – With tool turret
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-12
2003-11-25
Wellington, A. L. (Department: 3722)
Turning
Lathe
With tool turret
C082S122000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06651535
ABSTRACT:
The present disclosure relates to the subject matter disclosed in application No. 199 59 960.0 of Dec. 13, 1999, the entire specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a lathe comprising a machine frame, a first workpiece spindle with an approximately vertically aligned first spindle axis and a first workpiece holder, a first carriage system for moving the first workpiece spindle relative to the machine frame transversely to its spindle axis and in the direction of the spindle axis, a first tool carrier for machining a workpiece received in the first workpiece spindle, a second workpiece spindle with an approximately vertically aligned second spindle axis and a second workpiece holder arranged facing the first workpiece holder, a second carriage system for moving the second workpiece spindle relative to the machine frame transversely to its spindle axis, a second tool carrier for machining the workpiece received in the second workpiece spindle, the first workpiece spindle and the second workpiece spindle being adapted to be brought into a transfer position by driving the carriage systems transversely to the respective spindle axes and the workpiece being adapted to be transferred directly from one of the workpiece spindles to the other one of the workpiece spindles in the transfer position.
Such a lathe is known, for example, from DE-A-197 53 898.
However, in such lathes the machine frame is of complicated design.
The object underlying the invention is, therefore, to so improve a lathe of the generic kind that the machine frame can be manufactured in as simple and cost-efficient a way as possible.
This object is accomplished in a lathe of the kind described at the outset, in accordance with the invention, in that the machine frame comprises a first machine bed and a second machine bed constituting an assembly separate from the first machine bed, and in that the first carriage system is guided solely on the first machine bed, and the second carriage system is guided solely on the second machine bed.
The advantage of the solution according to the invention is to be seen in that the lathe according to the invention can be manufactured in the form of two modules, namely, on the one hand, a module comprising the first machine bed with the first carriage system, and, on the other hand, a module comprising the second machine bed with the second carriage system, and, therefore, there is no need, for example, to move a carriage from one module to the other.
This enables considerable rationalization of the manufacture of the lathe according to the invention.
So far, details have not been given of the connection between the first machine bed and the second machine bed. In principle, it is conceivable to set up the first machine bed and the second machine bed alongside each other in the desired alignment and to fix these relative to each other.
It is, for example, conceivable to connect the first machine bed and the second machine bed directly to each other, and this connection can also be a vibration-absorbing connection.
However, in order to make consistent use of the inventive division of the lathe into two modules, and, in particular, also for the question of uncoupling the workpiece spindles during the machining, it is particularly advantageous for the first machine bed and the second machine bed to be arranged in a non-contacting way and free from any direct connection with each other, so that, for example, vibrations and thermal influences between the machine beds are not directly transferred.
A particularly suitable way of setting up the first and second machine beds relative to each other provides for the first and second machine beds to be seated on a common underframe.
Such a common underframe can be used to position the machine beds relative to each other, and it is conceivable to also connect the machine beds to each other or to arrange these so that they are not in contact with each other.
It is, however, particularly advantageous for the first and second machine beds to be positioned relative to each other solely via the underframe.
Details of the design of the machine beds themselves were not given in the above explanation of the individual claims. An advantageous embodiment provides for the first machine bed to comprise a first carriage bed extending transversely to the first spindle axis, with the first carriage system being drivable along the first carriage bed.
Moreover, it is in the same way advantageous for the second machine bed to comprise a second carriage bed extending transversely to the second spindle axis, with the second carriage system being drivable along the second carriage bed.
Many different solutions are conceivable for the alignment of the first machine bed and the second machine bed relative to each other.
For example, it is conceivable to arrange the machine beds relative to each other such that the first carriage guiding direction and the second carriage guiding direction extend parallel to each other.
Alternatively, it is conceivable to arrange the first carriage guiding direction and the second carriage guiding direction such that the carriage guiding directions projected onto a horizontal plane include an angle with each other in this horizontal plane.
This angle may be smaller than 180° and go up to an angle of approximately 90°.
In principle, with such a conception of the machine beds, it would be adequate to arrange these such that the carriage beds come so close to each other that the workpiece spindles arranged on the respective carriage systems can be brought into the transfer position.
It has, however, proven particularly advantageous for the stability and precision of the lathe for the first carriage bed and the second carriage bed to be arranged overlapping each other so that the workpiece spindles do not have to be arranged on the carriage systems such that in the transfer position they are arranged in the direction transverse to the respective spindle axis at the side of the respective carriage bed.
In principle, it is conceivable to arrange the carriage beds so that they overlap each other over considerable partial areas thereof.
A solution which is advantageous as regards sufficiently compact design and uncoupling of the machining operations provides for the carriage beds to be arranged so as to overlap each other with end areas thereof that face each other.
So far, details have not been given of the arrangement of the tool carriers relative to the machine beds. An advantageous embodiment provides for the first machine bed to comprise a tool carrier bed.
This tool carrier bed can be optionally arranged relative to the carriage bed of the first machine bed. An advantageous solution provides for the tool carrier bed to be arranged on a side of the first carriage bed facing a stand area of the machine bed.
It is particularly suitable for the tool carrier bed to form a foot of the first machine bed, and for the foot to carry the first carriage bed.
In the same way, it is expedient for the second machine bed to comprise a tool carrier bed.
It is preferably provided for the tool carrier bed to be arranged on a side of the second carriage bed facing away from a stand area of the second machine bed.
A particularly suitable solution provides for the second carriage bed to carry the tool carrier bed.
Further details of the arrangement of the tool carriers were not given in the above explanation of the individual embodiments. An advantageous embodiment provides for the tool carrier bed to carry a tool carrier arranged stationarily relative to the tool carrier bed, and a tool turret is also to be understood as such a stationary tool carrier.
A further alternative solution for such a stationary tool carrier provides for it to comprise a tool spindle for driven tools.
However, a prerequisite for such a stationary tool carrier is that the workpiece spindle cooperating with it be movable not only transversely to the spindle axis, but also in the direction of the spindle axis so as to be able to expediently c
Gaertner Michael
Haberkern Anton
Hafla Dietmar
Index-Werke GmbH & Co. & KG Hahn & Tessky
Lipsitz Barry R.
McAllister Douglas M.
Walsh Brian D.
Wellington A. L.
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