Metal lathe and tooling calibration

• US 10,675,689 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2017
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Allyn
• Original Assignee: MacKay Manufacturing, Inc.
• Inventors: Allyn, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Addisu, Sara
• Application Number:
  US15/799,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20190126357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2260/128 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2270/48 Measuring or detecting
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 29/32 Turrets adjustable by power drive, i.e. turret heads indexing devices B23Q16/00
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 7/04 Turret machines
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 15/24 of linear position
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/401 characterised by control arrangements for measuring, e.g. calibration and initialisation, measuring workpiece for machining purposes G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50139 Calibration, setting tool after measurement on tool

Abstract

Systems and methods for lathe and tooling calibration are disclosed. A sensor is utilized to measure dimensions and operational parameters of one or more components of a lathe, such as a turret, tool stations, and/or a spindle. Tool measurements are received and analyzed along with the measurements from the sensor. The dimensions and operational parameters may be utilized to calibrate movement parameters of one or more components of the lathe. Once calibrated, the lathe may be utilized to tool one or more objects.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a sensor disposed adjacent to a turret of a metalworking lathe;

first dimensions of one or more tool stations of the turret, the first dimensions including at least one of a z-axis distance of the one or more tool stations to a carriage configured to hold an object or an x-axis distance of the one or more tool stations to the carriage; and

operational parameters of the one or more tool stations;

storing, in a database local to the metalworking lathe, the first dimensions and the operational parameters;

receiving second dimensions of at least one tool configured to be removably coupled to the one or more tool stations;

calibrating first movement parameters of the turret and second movement parameters of the at least one tool based on the first dimensions, the operational parameters, and the second dimensions, wherein;

the first movement parameters include at least one of a rotational position of the turret on the metalworking lathe, a location of the turret relative to the carriage, or a location of the turret relative to the object, and

the second movement parameters include at least one of a position of the at least one tool within the turret or a location of the at least one tool relative to the object; and

causing the at least one tool to cut the object composed of metal based on the first movement parameters and the second movement parameters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor utilizes a tooling ball to generate the first dimensions and the operational parameters.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operational parameters comprise first operational parameters, and the operations further comprising:

periodically receiving, from the sensor, third dimensions of the one or more tool stations and second operational parameters of the one or more tool stations; and

recalibrating the first movement parameters and the second movement parameters based on the third dimensions and the second operational parameters.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more tool stations is configured to hold multiple tools.

5. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a sensor disposed adjacent to a tool station of a lathe, first data indicating at least one of;

a first dimension of the tool station, wherein the first dimension includes at least one of a z-axis distance of the tool station to a carriage configured to hold the object or an x-axis distance of the tool station to the carriage;

or

an operational parameter of the tool station;

receiving second data indicating a second dimension of a tool configured to be removably coupled to the tool station;

calibrating movement parameters of a component of the lathe based on the first data and the second data, the movement parameters including at least one of a location of the tool station relative to the object or a location of the tool relative to the object; and

causing the tool to machine the object based on the movement parameters of the component.

6. The computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the sensor utilizes a tooling ball to generate the first data.

7. The computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the tool station comprises a first tool station, the operational parameter comprises a first operational parameter, and calibrating the movement parameters of the component comprises:

assigning a second tool station of the lathe as a reference station;

receiving third data indicating a third dimension of the second tool station and a second operational parameter of the second tool station;

designating the third data as reference data; and

calibrating the movement parameters associated with the first tool station based on the reference data.

8. The computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the operational parameter comprises a first operational parameter, the operations further comprising:

periodically receiving, from the sensor, third data corresponding to a third dimension of the tool station and a second operational parameter of the tool station; and

recalibrating the movement parameters based on the third data.

9. The computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the operational parameter includes a first rotational distance of a spindle of the tool station about a center line of the spindle.

10. The computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the second data is received via a wired or wireless network connection from a remote system.

11. The computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the tool comprises a first tool, the object comprises a first object, and the operations further comprising:

receiving third data indicating a third dimension of a second tool configured to be removably coupled to the tool station;

recalibrating the movement parameters of the component of the lathe based on the first data and the third data; and

causing the second tool to machine a second object based on the movement parameters, as recalibrated, of the component.