Tool exchange method and tool exchange device
AssigneeMakino Milling Machine Co., Ltd.
InventorTadashi Kasahara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This tool exchange device for a machine tool uses an exchange arm to exchange tools between a processing area and a tool accommodation area. In the tool exchange device, an imaging device is used to capture an image of a tool in the tool accommodation area, operation parameters for the exchange arm when the exchange arm is used to exchange the tools are determined from the captured image of the tool, and the exchange arm is operated on the basis of the operation parameters to exchange the tool.
Claims8
A tool changing method for a machine tool configured to change a tool, via a changing arm, between a machining space and a tool storage space, the tool changing method comprising:
- an image capturing step of capturing an image of the tool with an image capturing device;
- an operation parameter determining step of determining an operation parameter for the changing arm for the time of tool change by the changing arm, based on mass of the tool and position of the center of gravity of the tool relative to a tool holder which holds the tool, the mass and the position of the center of gravity being calculated from the image of the tool captured by the image capturing device;
- and
- a tool changing step of changing the tool via the changing arm operated based on the operation parameter.
A machine tool configured to change a tool, via a changing arm of a tool changer, between a machining space and a tool storage space, the machine tool comprising:
- an image capturing device disposed in the tool storage space, and configured to capture an image of a tool with an image capturing device;
- and
- a control device configured to determine an operation parameter for the changing arm for the time of tool change by the changing arm, based on the mass of the tool and position of the center of gravity of the tool relative to a tool holder which holds the tool, the mass and the position of the center of gravity being calculated from the image of the tool captured by the image capturing device, and to operate the changing arm based on the operation parameter in order to change the tool via the changing arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.