Tool changing – Including machine tool or component – Rotating work machine tool
Patent
1997-08-05
1999-03-23
Briggs, William R.
Tool changing
Including machine tool or component
Rotating work machine tool
29 27C, 29 39, 82159, 483 18, 483 31, 483 66, B23Q 3155, B23B 2924
Patent
active
058851992
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a metal cutting machine tool, particularly, a multifunction machining center able to complete most or all machining processes on one complex workpiece during loading and unloading.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
British patent application GB2212753 suggested adding a power transmission train in the tool turret of an NC lathe to drive driven tools of the turret so as to complete turning , drilling, and milling once a workpiece is clamped.
In fact, limited by the diameter of the turret and the workpiece, except for turning tools, very few driven tools can be held on the turret. So only a few and simple drilling and milling operations can be performed after turning.
Second, the tool exchange accuracy of a turret depends on high precision of the turret and the tools. This means higher manufacturing cost, and consuming more time in tool adjustment.
Moreover, all driven tools are located in a center plane through the workpiece axis, so it is impossible to drill holes or mill faces offset from the center plane of the workpiece, like milling a gear using a disc cutter.
German patent application DE3702424A suggested adding a Y axis guide pair and servo driver to make the turret movable in a direction perpendicular to both the Z axis and the X axis, so that the driven tools held on the turret can machine holes or faces offset from the center plane of the workpiece, including a spline shaft or small spur gear.
The disadvantages of this suggestion are: A) due to an additional moving freedom in the Y axis direction, the position accuracy and cutting rigidity between the cutting tool and the workpiece will be lower and the manufacturing cost will higher than with an ordinary turret lathe; B) inability to machine oblique hole, face or mill helical gears or hob gears; and C) limited by turret size, very few driven tools can be employed to perform few and simple drilling or milling.
Japan patent application JP406226510A disclosed a variable angle driven tool attachment which can attach to the turret of a NC lathe, and comprises a body attached to a turret, a driven tool head supporting a driven arbor rotatably mounted on the body, and a transmitting chain transmitting power from a power supply shaft in the turret to the driven arbor. By changing the angle of the driven tool head, the driven tool can drill or mill the workpiece in arbitrary angles in the center plane of the workpiece. This enables an ordinary turning center to machine oblique holes, faces and spherical surfaces.
The disadvantages of this invention are: A) The narrow space in the variable angle driven tool attachment limits the transmitting power, and the size of the driven arbor, so that only small holes or faces can be machined at low efficiency; B) it is not reasonable to attach several such attachments to a turret, so it is difficult to machine an oblique step screw hole; C) not able to machine holes or faces offset from the center plane of the workpiece, not able to mill or hob gears; and D) limited by turret size, very few driven tools can be employed to perform few and simple drilling or milling.
UK patent application GB2215251A published a two work spindle machine tool for machining both ends of a rotationally symmetrical workpiece. This machine tool comprise a first headstock supporting a first work spindle and movable in the Z axis direction, a second headstock supporting a second work spindle and movable in the X axis direction transversely to the Z axis, a drum turret serving the first work spindle indexably supported on a slide movable in the X axis direction; and a star turret serving the second work spindle indexably supported on a slide movable in both the Z axis and the Y axis directions; 5 guide pairs and servo drivers moving and locating the two headstocks and two turrets, 3 index servo drivers to index the two turrets and the second work spindle. In this machine tool, one end of a workpiece clamped on the first work spindle can be turned by turning tools carried on the drum turret,
REFERENCES:
patent: 3710466 (1973-01-01), Williamson et al.
patent: 4601094 (1986-07-01), Myers
patent: 4704773 (1987-11-01), Quinar et al.
patent: 4949443 (1990-08-01), Saruwatari et al.
patent: 5222283 (1993-06-01), Lashet
patent: 5282300 (1994-02-01), Giray et al.
patent: 5439431 (1995-08-01), Hessbruggen et al.
patent: 5490307 (1996-02-01), Link
LandOfFree
Compact machining center for multifunction does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Compact machining center for multifunction, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Compact machining center for multifunction will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2120644