Measuring and testing – Instrument proving or calibrating – Displacement – motion – distance – or position
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-17
2003-08-05
Noland, Thomas P. (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Instrument proving or calibrating
Displacement, motion, distance, or position
C033S502000, C700S193000, C702S095000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06601434
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A multi-toolhead machine such as a turret machining system has eight toolheads with equal radial distance apart from each other. A tool can be mounted on each of the eight toolheads. The toolheads can be controllably rotated so as to select a desired tool. Whichever tool selected will be in a downward position perpendicular to an X-Y plane where a workpiece is secured. Because of differences in the machining of various components, each toolhead points to a slightly different X and Y-axes coordinate position when locked in the downward position. Consequently, the precision of cutting is adversely affected. This problem is shared by all multi-toolhead machinery systems.
Multi-toolhead machines are manually calibrated by a highly skilled technician spending about 30 minutes per toolhead. The skill level required of a technician performing manual calibration is so high that oftentimes only machine manufacturers' technicians are qualified to perform the task. Therefore, whenever an end-user crashes a machine due to careless operation such as accidentally allowing a toolhead run into the worktable or whenever a toolhead is replaced, the machine must be calibrated. In this type of situation, many end-users have no choice but to shut down all machine operations and fly in a manufacturer's technician to calibrate the machine. The present invention eliminates these problems by calibrating a machine using a computer numerical controller. Not only does the present invention permit an end-user to calibrate the machine whenever calibration is required, but the calibration time is shortened from 30 minutes per toolhead to 10 seconds per toolhead. This translates to a tremendous amount of time savings and increases productivity to the end-user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The first object is to calibrate a number one toolhead of a multi-toolhead machining system with respect to a predetermined position.
The second object is to calibrate each of the remaining toolheads of the multi-toolhead machining system with respect to the number one toolhead.
The third object is to effectively calibrate all toolheads in the multi-toolhead machining system once the number one toolhead is properly calibrated.
The fourth object is to automatically calibrate each toolhead of the multi-toolhead machining system with a computer numerical controller.
The fifth object is to provide a unique offset value to each of the toolheads.
The sixth object is to introduce a four-point calibration technique.
The seventh object is to introduce a three-point calibration technique.
The eighth object is to provide a calibration technique applicable to any multi-toolhead machinery system.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3789509 (1974-02-01), Harkness
patent: 4181958 (1980-01-01), Juengel et al.
patent: 4635055 (1987-01-01), Fernandes et al.
patent: 4639878 (1987-01-01), Day et al.
patent: 4693110 (1987-09-01), Juengel
patent: 4848137 (1989-07-01), Turner et al.
patent: 5168453 (1992-12-01), Nomaru et al.
patent: 5841668 (1998-11-01), Pahk et al.
patent: 6480757 (2002-11-01), Susnjara
patent: 3542225 (1987-06-01), None
patent: 3640287 (1988-06-01), None
Derwent-ACC-No: 1975-E5305W abstract of SU 431988 A Nov. 1974 assignee: Minsk Auto Lines Constr [MIAUN] “Automated machining of steel girders—using clamping head and tool heads mounted on parallel conveyors carrying workpieces”.*
Derwent-ACC-No: 1976-G8725X abstract of SU 483225 A Dec. 1975 Assignee: Drozdov V I [DROZI] “AXE machining device—output increased by means of spring-loaded component guide elements”.*
Derwent-ACC-No: 1986-270554 abstract of SU 1212759 A Feb. 1986 Inventor Mukhamedzy, M I “Double sided metal cutter—has calibrated with stop fixed to one clamp and operated by it limit switch”.*
Derwent-ACC-No: 1990-208302 abstract of SU 1511587 A Sep. 1989 Inventor Gudzehzhi et al “Device measuring displacements—incorporates dielectric plate with annular calibrated scales on either side, high-frequency generator and high-voltage transformer”.
Noland Thomas P.
Stevens Davis Miller & Mosher LLP
Thermwood Corporation
LandOfFree
System and method of calibrating a multi-toolhead machine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method of calibrating a multi-toolhead machine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method of calibrating a multi-toolhead machine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3111649