Method and apparatus for a numerically controlled tapping machine
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use with a computer controlled machine comprising:
- a toolholder adapted for coupling with said computer controlled machine;
an independent drive mechanism for driving a working tool, said drive mechanism being resiliently coupled to said toolholder; and
a control circuit for controlling said drive mechanism, said control circuit being responsive to relative displacement of said drive mechanism with respect to said toolholder so that said working tool is driven as a function of said relative displacement between said toolholder and drive mechanism,whereby machining by said computer control machine is improved and effective lifetime of said working tool extended.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved numerically controlled machine tool is provided by resiliently coupling an independent drive mechanism to a toolholder which in turn is fitted to the numerically controlled machine. The drive mechanism in turn is coupled to a working tool used for drilling, tapping, milling or other machine functions. The drive mechanism and the toolholder are resiliently coupled together so that they may be relatively displaced one with respect to each other depending upon the amount of vertical force being through the working tool applied to the drive mechanism tending to urge the drive mechanism either toward or away from the toolholder. The torque, power and/or rate of rotation of the working tool is controlled as a function of the relative displacement of the working tool with respect to the toolholder along a predetermined axis of coupling between them. A longitudinal force exerted on the working tool is a function of a spring constant of the resilient coupling between the drive mechanism and toolholder and their relative displacement. The vertical thrust of the working tool is hence both proportional and limited.
23 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use with a computer controlled machine comprising:
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a toolholder adapted for coupling with said computer controlled machine; an independent drive mechanism for driving a working tool, said drive mechanism being resiliently coupled to said toolholder; and a control circuit for controlling said drive mechanism, said control circuit being responsive to relative displacement of said drive mechanism with respect to said toolholder so that said working tool is driven as a function of said relative displacement between said toolholder and drive mechanism, whereby machining by said computer control machine is improved and effective lifetime of said working tool extended. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for use with a computer controlled machine tool comprising:
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a toolholder, said toolholder being coupled to said machine tool; a working tool; an independent drive mechanism coupled to said working tool for driving said working tool, said drive mechanism also being coupled to said toolholder, so that said computer controlled machine tool selectively positions said drive mechanism and so that machining force is provided to said working tool solely through said drive mechanism, wherein said toolholder and working tool each have longitudinal axes and wherein said longitudinal axis of said working tool is arbitrarily oriented with respect to said longitudinal axis of said toolholder.
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15. A method for machining a workpiece comprising the steps of:
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selectively disposing a tool fixture by means of a computer controlled machine; driving a working tool coupled to said tool fixture independently from disposition of said tool fixture by means of said computer controlled machine, said working tool being driven as a function of sensed machining performed by said working tool on said workpiece, relatively displacing said working tool with respect to said tool fixture; and controlling said step of driving said working tool as a function of the degree of relative displacement of said working tool with respect to said toolholder, whereby tool life is extended. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification