Tool unit for ultrasonically assisted rotary machining

• US 20060128283A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fritz Studer AG (Körber-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Fritz Studer AG (Körber-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Fiebelkorn, Frank, Stadler, Paul, Frankhauser, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,175,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 451/165
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 29/125 Vibratory toolholders
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 37/00 Boring by making use of ultrasonic energy essentially using abrasive material B24B, e.g. B24B1/04

Abstract

The tool unit for the ultrasonically assisted rotary machining of a workpiece comprises a converter (23) including at least one electroacoustic transducer (22) for generating and transmitting ultrasonic oscillations, a tool (30) that is coupled to the converter, and a holder (21) in which the converter including the transducer is arranged and which is insertable at least partially in the retainer (11) of a tool spindle (10) and connectable thereto by means of a detachable connection (27).

Claims

1. A tool unit for the ultrasonically assisted rotary machining of a workpiece, comprising:

a converter for generating and transmitting ultrasonic oscillations, said converter comprising at least one electroacoustic transducer;

a tool that is coupled to said converter; and

a holder in which said converter with said transducer is arranged, said holder being insertable at least partially in the retainer of a tool spindle and connectable thereto by means of a detachable connection.

2. The tool unit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one clamping location or a thread or both for forming said detachable connection.

3. The tool unit according to claim 1, further comprising a conical external surface or a cylindrical external surface or both for forming said detachable connection.

4. The tool unit according to claim 1, wherein said tool unit is so designed that when inserted in said retainer of said tool spindle, it projects from the latter by a length that is smaller than 100 mm.

5. The tool unit according to claim 4, wherein said length of said tool unit projecting from said tool spindle is smaller than 50 mm.

6. The tool unit according to claim 1, wherein said tool comprises at least one lateral inlet opening and at least one outlet opening at the head of said tool, said two openings being connected by a channel.

7. The tool unit according to claim 1, wherein said tool is in the form of a sonotrode made of titanium, steel, or aluminum.

8. The tool unit according to claim 1, wherein said tool is a grinding or milling tool.

9. The tool unit according to claim 1, further comprising a tool body that serves for machining a workpiece and that is fastened to said tool by a detachable connection.

10. The tool unit according to claim 1, wherein said transducer is a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer.

11. The tool unit according to claim 1, wherein said transducer is operable at a frequency of at least 50 kHz.

12. The tool unit according to claim 1, wherein said converter is retained in said holder at at least two supporting locations that define nodes of the generated ultrasonic oscillations.

13. The tool unit according to claim 12, wherein said holder comprises annular shoulders for forming said supporting locations.

14. The tool unit according to claim 1, wherein said holder is designed as a sleeve.

15. The tool unit according to claim 1, further comprising a bell for supplying said tool with a coolant.

16. An assembly comprising a tool unit according to claim 1 and a tool spindle provided with a predetermined interface for holding said tool unit and at least one other tool.

17. The assembly according to claim 16, further comprising slip rings that are connectable to a generator for the power supply of said transducer.

18. The assembly according to claim 16, further comprising at least one excitation coil for the power supply of said transducer.

19. The assembly according to claim 16, wherein said assembly is designed for rotational speeds of said tool spindle of over 60,000 revolutions per minute.

20. A tool unit for the ultrasonically assisted rotary machining of a workpiece, comprising:

a converter for generating and transmitting ultrasonic oscillations, said converter comprising at least one electroacoustic transducer;

a tool that is coupled to said converter; and

a holder in which said converter with said transducer is retained at at least two supporting locations which define nodes of the generated ultrasonic oscillations,

said holder being insertable at least partially in the retainer of a tool spindle and connectable thereto by means of a detachable connection.

21. A tool unit for the ultrasonically assisted rotary machining of a workpiece, comprising:

a converter for generating and transmitting ultrasonic oscillations, said converter comprising at least one electroacoustic transducer;

a tool that is coupled to said converter; and

a holder in which said converter with said transducer is arranged and which is insertable at least partially in the retainer of a tool spindle so that it projects from said tool spindle by a length that is smaller than 100 mm,

said holder being connectable to said tool spindle by means of a detachable connection.