METHOD FOR CONTROLLING COMBINED LATHE APPARATUS, COMBINED LATHE APPARATUS, TURNING TOOL HOLDER, BLADE POSITION REGISTERING APPARATUS, AND BLADE POSITION DETECTING APPARATUS

• US 20080282854A1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
• Inventors: OKUDA, Toshihito, MOMOI, Shoji, YAMAMOTO, Hiromasa
• Granted Patent: US 8,720,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 82/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 1/00 Methods for turning or working essentially requiring the use of turning-machines; Use of auxiliary equipment in connection with such methods
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 29/26 Tool holders in fixed position
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 3/06 Turning-machines or devices characterised only by the special arrangement of constructional units B23Q37/00 takes precedence; such features of general applicability B23Q
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 3/065 Arrangements for performing other machining operations, e.g. milling, drilling
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 3/161 lathe with one toolslide carrying one turret head
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/001 Arrangements compensating weight or flexion on parts of the machine adjustment of the fluid layer in fluid bearings or cushions depending upon the position of a weight B23Q1/385
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/15513 the tool being taken from a storage device and transferred to a tool holder by means of transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/15713 a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle B23Q3/15793 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/1572 the storage device comprising rotating or circulating storing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/1578 for tool transfer in a machine tool with a horizontal and a vertical spindle; for tool transfer in a machine tool with a spindle having variable orientation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5109 Lathe
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5114 Lathe and tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/309352 Cutter spindle or spindle support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1705 Tool support comprises rotary spindle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/10 Process of turning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2506 And tool turret
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2508 with tool turret
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2524 Multiple
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2561 Spindle or work angler
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2585 Tool rest
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2587 : Turret type holder [e.g., multiple tools, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/088 : Responsive to tool detector or work-feed-means detector

Abstract

A carriage is moved in a direction including a Y axis component in order to move a turning process tool that is attached to a tool spindle along a horizontal line that is perpendicular to a Z axis, and thus, a turning process is carried out on a workpiece which is attached to a workpiece spindle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a combined lathe apparatus, wherein the combined lathe apparatus comprises:

a workpiece spindle on which a workpiece is mounted;

a tool spindle to which a turning process tool for carrying out a turning process on the workpiece is removably attached;

automatic tool replacing means for taking out a specific turning process tool from among a plurality of turning process tools and replacing the turning process tool attached to the tool spindle with the specific turning process tool;

a movable body which is movable along a second axis which is perpendicular to a first axis that is the axis of the workpiece spindle and forms a predetermined angle θ

(0<

θ

≦

90°

) with a horizontal plane; and

a tool headstock supported by the movable body, the tool headstock having the tool spindle,

wherein the movable body is movable in a direction including a third axis component which is perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis,

wherein the tool spindle can be controlled to be rotated or held without being rotated, and

wherein, a turning process is carried out on the workpiece attached to the workpiece spindle by moving the movable body in a direction including the third axis component in order to move a cutting point of the turning process tool attached to the tool spindle along a horizontal line which is perpendicular to the first axis, or by moving the movable body in a direction including the third axis component, and at the same time, moving the tool headstock along the second axis.

2. A combined lathe apparatus, comprising:

a workpiece spindle on which a workpiece is mounted;

a tool spindle to which a turning process tool for carrying out a turning process on the workpiece is removably attached;

automatic tool replacing means for taking out a specific turning process tool from among a plurality of turning process tools and replacing the turning process tool attached to the tool spindle with the specific turning process tool;

a movable body which is movable along a second axis which is perpendicular to a first axis that is the axis of the workpiece spindle and forms a predetermined angle θ

(0<

θ

≦

90°

) with a horizontal plane;

a tool headstock supported by the movable body, the tool headstock having the tool spindle; and

control means for controlling movement of the movable body,

wherein the movable body is movable in a direction including a third axis component which is perpendicular to the first axis and second axis,

wherein the tool spindle can be controlled to be rotated or held without being rotated, and

wherein the control means carries out a turning process on the workpiece attached to the workpiece spindle by moving the movable body in a direction including the third axis component in order to move the cutting point of the turning process tool attached to the tool spindle along a horizontal line which is perpendicular to the first axis, or by moving the movable body in a direction including the third axis component, and at the same time, moving the tool headstock along the second axis.

4. A blade position registering apparatus for registering the position of the blade of the turning process tool which is provided in the combined lathe apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a reference point is provided on the axis of the tool spindle, the blade position registering apparatus comprising:

blade position inputting means for inputting a first tool length which is an amount of offset by which the blade of the turning process tool is offset from the reference point along the first axis, a second tool length which is an amount of offset by which the blade of the turning process tool is offset from the reference point along a horizontal line which is perpendicular to the first axis, and a third tool length which is an amount of offset by which the blade of the turning process tool is offset from the reference point along a vertical line; and

storage means for storing the inputted first tool length, the second tool length, and the third tool length.

5. The blade position registering apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the blade position inputting means includes input means for inputting a fourth tool length which is an amount of offset by which the blade of a tool for turning in a second axis-first axis plane is offset from the reference point along the first axis, and a fifth tool length which is an amount of offset by which the blade of the tool for turning in a second axis-first axis plane is offset from the reference point along the second axis, and

wherein the storage means stores the fourth tool length and the fifth tool length.

6. A blade position detecting apparatus which is provided in the combined lathe apparatus according to claim 2, has a plurality of detection surfaces which can make contact with the blade of the turning process tool, and outputs a detection signal when the blade makes contact with one of the detection surfaces,

the blade position detecting apparatus comprising:

a first detection surface for detecting the blade of the turning process tool which moves along the axis of the workpiece spindle;

a second detection surface for detecting the blade of the turning process tool which moves along a horizontal line that is perpendicular to the axis of the workpiece spindle; and

a third detection surface for detecting the blade of the turning process tool which moves along a vertical line.

7. The blade position detecting apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a fourth detection surface for detecting contact with the blade of the turning process tool which moves along the second axis.

3. A turning tool holder that is removably and coaxially attached to a tool spindle that forms a predetermined angle θ

with a horizontal plane,

wherein the turning tool holder is provided with a holder main body on which a turning tool having a turning tip is mounted,

wherein the holder main body has a turning tool attachment surface on which the turning tool is attached, and

wherein the angle formed between the turning tool attachment surface and the axis of the holder main boy is equal to the predetermined angle θ

formed between the axis of the tool spindle and a horizontal plane.