Hybrid computer numerical control machining center and machining method thereof

• US 10,067,494 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2015
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tongtai Machine & Tool Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tongtai Machine & Tool Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Hsinpao, Kao, Huaien, Liu, Zongshin, Tsai, Tsunghsien, Chen, Tingchang, Yen, Juihsiung
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US15/514,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20170293284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0093 combined with mechanical machining or metal-working covered by other subclasses than B23K combined welding or cutting procedures or apparatus B23K28/02
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/032 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/034 Observing the temperature of the workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/34 Laser welding for purposes other than joining
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 23/04 for both machining and other metal-working operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/182 characterised by the machine tool function, e.g. thread cutting, cam making, tool direction control G05B19/21 - G05B19/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4062 Monitoring servoloop, e.g. overload of servomotor, loss of feedback or reference
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4187 by tool management
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45165 Laser machining
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50171 Machine, machining centre, center

Abstract

A hybrid computer numerical control (CNC) machining center and a machining method thereof are provided. The hybrid CNC machining center has at least a cutting tool head, a laser cladding tool head, a laser surface heat treatment tool head, and a computer numerical control unit. The cutting tool head, the laser cladding tool head, and the laser surface heat treatment tool head are alternately installed in a tool holder of the hybrid CNC machining center. Users can accomplish cutting, laser cladding, and laser surface heat treatment operations for a work-piece just in one single machine, so that the work-piece is unnecessary to be moved between different machines. Therefore, the steps and the process time of the machining operations are substantially simplified.

Claims

1. A machining method of a hybrid computer numerical control (CNC) machining center, comprising steps of:

providing a hybrid CNC machining center including at least a cutting tool head, a laser cladding tool head, a laser surface heat treatment tool head, and a computer numerical control unit, wherein the cutting tool head, the laser cladding tool head and the laser surface heat treatment tool head are alternately installed in a tool holder of the hybrid CNC machining center, wherein the laser cladding tool head further includes a temperature sensor and a camera;

processing a first cutting operation, wherein the cutting tool head is configured to cut at least a machined surface of a work-piece;

processing a cladding operation, wherein the laser cladding tool head is configured to clad the machined surface, and at the same time, firstly detecting a temperature of a molten pool of the machined surface by the temperature sensor, and providing the detected temperature of the molten pool to the computer numerical control unit, wherein if the temperature of the molten pool is under a default temperature, a power of the laser cladding tool head is increased; and

if the temperature of the molten pool is over the default temperature, the power of the laser cladding tool head is decreased; and

then detecting a lightness and profile of the molten pool of the machined surface by the camera, and providing the detected lightness and profile of the molten pool to the computer numerical control unit, wherein if the lightness and profile of the molten pool is under a default condition, the power of the laser cladding tool head is increased; and

if the lightness and profile of the molten pool is over the default condition, the power of the laser cladding tool head is decreased;

processing a second cutting operation, wherein the cutting tool head is configured to cut the cladded machined surface; and

processing a surface heat treatment operation, wherein the laser surface heat treatment tool head is configured to heat treat the machined surface.

2. The machining method according to claim 1, wherein the hybrid CNC machining center further comprises a contact or non-contact type detecting tool head, which is configured to detect a completeness of the cladded machined surface, wherein if the completeness of the cladded machined surface is achieved, a following step is processed;

and if the completeness of the cladded machined surface is not achieved, the cladding operation is processed again.

3. A machining method of a hybrid CNC machining center, comprising steps of:

providing a hybrid CNC machining center including at least a cutting tool head, a laser cladding tool head, and a computer numerical control unit, wherein the cutting tool head and the laser cladding tool head are alternately installed in a tool holder of the hybrid CNC machining center, wherein the laser cladding tool head further includes a temperature sensor and a camera;

processing a cutting operation, wherein the cutting tool head is configured to cut at least a machined surface of a work-piece; and

processing a cladding operation, wherein the laser cladding tool head is configured to clad the machined surface, and at the same time, firstly detecting a temperature of a molten pool of the machined surface by the temperature sensor, and providing the detected temperature of the molten pool to the computer numerical control unit, wherein if the temperature of the molten pool is under a default temperature, a power of the laser cladding tool head is increased; and

if the temperature of the molten pool is over the default temperature, the power of the laser cladding tool head is decreased; and

then detecting a lightness and profile of the molten pool of the machined surface by the camera, and providing the detected lightness and profile of the molten pool to the computer numerical control unit, wherein if the lightness and profile of the molten pool is under a default condition, the power of the laser cladding tool head is increased; and

if the lightness and profile of the molten pool is over the default condition, the power of the laser cladding tool head is decreased.

4. The machining method according to claim 3, wherein the hybrid CNC machining center further comprises a contact or non-contact type detecting tool head, which is configured to detect a completeness of the cladded machined surface, wherein if the completeness of the cladded machined surface is achieved, the following step is processed;

and if the completeness of the cladded machined surface is not achieved, the cladding operation is processed again.

5. The machining method according to claim 3, wherein the hybrid CNC machining center further comprises a laser surface heat treatment tool head, which is configured to process a surface heat treatment operation to the cladded machined surface after the cladding operation.

6. A hybrid CNC machining center, comprising:

at least a cutting tool head, a laser cladding tool head, a laser surface heat treatment tool head, and a computer numerical control unit, wherein the cutting tool head, the laser cladding tool head and the laser surface heat treatment tool head are alternately installed in a tool holder of the hybrid CNC machining center; and

wherein the cutting tool head is configured to cut at least a machined surface of a work-piece;

the laser cladding tool head is configured to clad the machined surface; and

the laser surface heat treatment tool head is configured to heat treat the machined surface;

wherein the laser cladding tool head further includes a temperature sensor and a camera; and

during processing a cladding operation, the temperature sensor firstly detects a temperature of a molten pool of the machined surface, and the camera detects a lightness and profile of the molten pool of the machined surface, and the detected temperature, the detected lightness and profile of the molten pool are provided to the computer numerical control unit, so as to adjust the power of the laser cladding tool head.

7. The hybrid CNC machining center according to claim 6, wherein during processing a cladding operation,

the temperature sensor firstly detects a temperature of a molten pool of the machined surface, and if the temperature of the molten pool is under a default temperature, a power of the laser cladding tool head is increased;

and if the temperature of the molten pool is over the default temperature, the power of the laser cladding tool head is decreased; and

the camera then detects a lightness and profile of the molten pool of the machined surface, and if the lightness and profile of the molten pool is under a default condition, a power of the laser cladding tool head is increased; and

if the lightness and profile of the molten pool is over the default condition, the power of the laser cladding tool head is decreased.

8. The hybrid CNC machining center according to claim 6, wherein the hybrid CNC machining center further comprises a contact or non-contact type detecting tool head, which is configured to detect a completeness of the cladded machined surface, wherein if the completeness of the cladded machined surface is achieved, a following step is processed;

and if the completeness of the cladded machined surface is not achieved, a cladding operation is processed again.