Method for controlling combined lathe apparatus

• US 8,720,025 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
• Inventors: Momoi, Shoji, Okuda, Toshihito, Yamamoto, Hiromasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vaughan, Jason L
• Application Number:
  US12/121,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20080282854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,189 Days
• Field of Search: 483/18, 29/27.R, 29/27.C
• US Class Current: 29/27.C
• 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, the workpiece spindle having a first axis;

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

an automatic tool replacing device to take out a specific turning process tool from among a plurality of turning process tools and to replace the turning process tool attached to the tool spindle with the specific turning process tool;

a tool headstock which is movable along a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis of the workpiece spindle and forms a predetermined angle with a horizontal plane, wherein the predetermined angle is greater than zero degrees and less than or equal to ninety degrees, wherein the tool spindle forms a portion of the tool headstock; and

a movable body which supports the tool headstock;

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 is controlled to be rotated or held without being rotated; and

wherein a cutting point of the specific turning process tool attached to the tool spindle is moved along a horizontal line which is perpendicular to the first axis by moving the movable body in the direction including the third axis component.

3. The method for controlling a combined lathe apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the combined lathe apparatus further comprises a tool holder configured to be attached to the tool spindle and configured to hold the turning process tool, the tool holder being provided with a holder main body on which the turning process tool is mounted, the holder main body has a tool attachment surface on which the turning process tool is attached, and

wherein, during the moving of the cutting point along the horizontal line, the tool attachment surface is positioned to extend parallel to the horizontal plane.

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

a workpiece spindle on which a workpiece is mounted, the workpiece spindle having a first axis;

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

an automatic tool replacing device to take out a specific turning process tool from among a plurality of turning process tools and to replace the turning process tool attached to the tool spindle with the specific turning process tool;

a tool headstock which is movable along a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis of the workpiece spindle and forms a predetermined angle with a horizontal plane, the tool headstock having the tool spindle; and

a movable body which supports the tool headstock;

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 is controlled to be rotated or held without being rotated, and

wherein the method comprises;

moving a cutting point of the turning process tool attached to the tool spindle along a horizontal line which is perpendicular to the first axis by moving the movable body in the direction including the third axis component and by moving the tool headstock along the second axis.

4. A method comprising:

providing a lathe apparatus comprising;

a workpiece spindle on which a workpiece is mounted, the workpiece spindle having a first axis;

a tool having an elongated shape with a longitudinal axis;

a tool headstock movable along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis and that forms a predetermined angle with a horizontal plane, the tool headstock including a tool spindle to which a tool is removably attached;

an automatic tool replacing apparatus provided adjacent to the tool headstock and configured to replace the tool attached to the tool spindle; and

a movable body which supports the tool headstock, the movable body being movable along a direction including a third axis component that is perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis; and

moving a cutting point of the tool attached to the tool spindle along a horizontal line towards the workpiece by moving the movable body along the direction including the third axis component to perform work on the workpiece using the tool.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

rotating the workpiece about the first axis using the workpiece spindle during the moving of the tool attached to the tool spindle along the horizontal line.

6. The method according to claim 4,

wherein the tool includes a tip provided at a distal end thereof, the tip having a blade, and

wherein the positioning of the tool in the horizontal arrangement includes positioning the tool with the blade extending towards the workpiece mounted on the workpiece spindle.

7. A method for controlling a combined lathe apparatus, the method comprising:

providing the combined lathe apparatus comprising;

a workpiece spindle on which a workpiece is mounted, the workpiece spindle having a first axis;

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

an automatic tool replacing device to take out a specific turning process tool from among a plurality of turning process tools and to replace the turning process tool attached to the tool spindle with the specific turning process tool;

a tool headstock which is movable along a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis of the workpiece spindle and forms a predetermined angle with a horizontal plane, the tool headstock having the tool spindle; and

a movable body which supports the tool headstock and which is movable in a direction including a third axis component which is perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis;

attaching the turning process tool to the tool spindle;

controlling the tool spindle to be rotated; and

moving the tool headstock along the second axis and moving the movable body in the direction including the third axis component 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.