WORKPIECE PROCESSING METHOD

• US 20180065181A1
• Filed: 03/07/2016
• Published: 03/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dmg Mori Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Dmg Mori Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: MORI, Masahiko, MEZAWA, Yuhei, TAKASHIMA, Shigeyuki, SAKAI, Shigetsugu, FUJISHIMA, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 11,235,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/25 Direct deposition of metal particles, e.g. direct metal deposition [DMD] or laser engineered net shaping [LENS]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/28 Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/66 by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/22 Driving means
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/224 for motion along a direction within the plane of a layer
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/82 Combination of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/88 Handling of additively manufactured products, e.g. by robots
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2003/247 Removing material: carving, cleaning, grinding, hobbing, honing, lapping, polishing, milling, shaving, skiving, turning the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/105 by using electric current other than for infrared radiant energy, laser radiation or plasma B22F3/11 takes precedence; by ultrasonic bonding B22F3/115 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/16 in successive or repeated steps
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/162 Machining, working after consolidation
• 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 11/00 Automatic or semi-automatic turning-machines incorporating equipment for performing other working procedures, e.g. slotting, milling, rolling B23B3/065 and B23B3/16 take precedence; machines incorporating a plurality of sub- assemblies, each capable of performing a metal-working operation, the sub-assemblies being arranged to operate simultaneously at different stations B23Q39/04
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 3/30 Turning-machines with two or more working-spindles, e.g. in fixed arrangement
• 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 26/144 the fluid stream containing particles, e.g. powder
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/342 Build-up welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/00 Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 23/04 for both machining and other metal-working operations
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 23/06 Metal-working plant comprising a number of associated machines or apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 1/32 : by projecting, e.g. spraying spraying in general B05B, B05D
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/106 : using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/30 : Auxiliary operations or equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 : Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/00 : Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 : Process efficiency

Abstract

A workpiece processing method is a method for successively processing a plurality of workpieces including a first workpiece and a second workpiece in a single machining area. The workpiece processing method includes: performing additive manufacturing on the second workpiece in the machining area; and performing subtractive manufacturing on the first workpiece in the machining area while keeping on standby the second workpiece on which additive manufacturing is performed. In this way, the workpiece processing method with improved productivity is provided.

Claims

1. A workpiece processing method for successively processing a plurality of workpieces including a first workpiece and a second workpiece in a single machining area, the workpiece processing method comprising:

performing additive manufacturing on the second workpiece in the machining area; and

performing subtractive manufacturing on the first workpiece in the machining area while keeping on standby the second workpiece on which additive manufacturing is performed.

2. The workpiece processing method according to claim 1, wherein

the performing of additive manufacturing on the second workpiece includes performing additive manufacturing on the second workpiece while keeping on standby the first workpiece on which additive manufacturing is performed.

3. The workpiece processing method according to claim 2, further comprising:

performing additive manufacturing on a third workpiece in the machining area while keeping the second workpiece on standby, after the performing of subtractive manufacturing on the first workpiece; and

performing subtractive manufacturing on the second workpiece in the machining area while keeping on standby the third workpiece on which additive manufacturing is performed.

4. The workpiece processing method according to claim 2, further comprising:

performing additive manufacturing on the first workpiece in the machining area before the performing of additive manufacturing on the second workpiece; and

performing subtractive manufacturing on the second workpiece in the machining area after the performing of subtractive manufacturing on the first workpiece.

5. The workpiece processing method according to claim 2, wherein

a manufacturing machine forming the machining area includes a first workpiece holder and a second workpiece holder capable of holding a workpiece, and

during the performing of additive manufacturing on the second workpiece and during the performing of subtractive manufacturing on the first workpiece, the first workpiece holder holds the first workpiece and the second workpiece holder holds the second workpiece.

6. The workpiece processing method according to claim 5, wherein

the first workpiece holder and the second workpiece holder are mounted on respective spindles configured to hold and rotate a workpiece.

7. The workpiece processing method according to claim 2, wherein

a manufacturing machine forming the machining area includes:

a workpiece holder disposed in the machining area and configured to hold a workpiece; and

a workpiece transporter including a plurality of grippers capable of gripping a workpiece and configured to transport a workpiece held by the workpiece holder,

during the performing of additive manufacturing on the second workpiece, the workpiece holder holds the second workpiece and one of the grippers grips the first workpiece,

the workpiece processing method further comprises replacing, by the workpiece transporter, the second workpiece held by the workpiece holder with the first workpiece gripped by the one of the grippers, subsequent to the performing of additive manufacturing on the second workpiece and prior to the performing of subtractive manufacturing on the first workpiece, and

during the performing of subtractive manufacturing on the first workpiece, the workpiece holder holds the first workpiece and another one of the grippers grips the second workpiece.

8. The workpiece processing method according to claim 7, wherein

the workpiece holder is mounted on a spindle configured to hold and rotate a workpiece.

9. The workpiece processing method according to claim 2, wherein

a manufacturing machine forming the machining area includes:

a first workpiece holder and a second workpiece holder disposed in the machining area and capable of holding a workpiece; and

a workpiece transporter configured to transport a workpiece held by the first workpiece holder and a workpiece held by the second workpiece holder,

during the performing of additive manufacturing on the second workpiece, the first workpiece holder holds the second workpiece and the second workpiece holder holds the first workpiece,

the workpiece processing method further comprises replacing, by the workpiece transporter, the second workpiece held by the first workpiece holder with the first workpiece held by the second workpiece holder, subsequent to the performing of additive manufacturing on the second workpiece and prior to the performing of subtractive manufacturing on the first workpiece, and

during the performing of subtractive manufacturing on the first workpiece, the first workpiece holder holds the first workpiece and the second workpiece holder holds the second workpiece.

10. The workpiece processing method according to claim 9, wherein

the first workpiece holder is mounted on a spindle configured to hold and rotate a workpiece, and

the second workpiece holder is mounted on a tool rest configured to hold a tool.

11. The workpiece processing method according to claim 2, wherein

a manufacturing machine forming the machining area includes:

a first workpiece holder disposed in the machining area and capable of holding a workpiece; and

a second workpiece holder and a third workpiece holder mounted on a tool rest configured to hold a tool and capable of holding a workpiece,

the workpiece processing method further comprises;

performing additive manufacturing on the first workpiece in the machining area prior to the performing of additive manufacturing on the second workpiece; and

performing subtractive manufacturing on the second workpiece in the machining area subsequent to the performing of subtractive manufacturing on the first workpiece,

during the performing of additive manufacturing on the first workpiece and during the performing of additive manufacturing on the second workpiece, the second workpiece holder holds the first workpiece and the third workpiece holder holds the second workpiece,

during the performing of subtractive manufacturing on the first workpiece, the first workpiece holder holds the first workpiece,

during the performing of subtractive manufacturing on the second workpiece, the first workpiece holder holds the second workpiece, and

the workpiece processing method further comprises holding a third workpiece and a fourth workpiece by the second workpiece holder and the third workpiece holder, respectively, until the performing of subtractive manufacturing on the second workpiece is completed.

12. The workpiece processing method according to claim 1, wherein

the performing of additive manufacturing on the second workpiece includes discharging material powder and simultaneously applying energy to the discharged material powder to melt the material powder and form the second workpiece.