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US 12,093,013 B2Granted
Multi-axis computer numerical control machine tool with integrally-controlled saw and method
AssigneeC. R. Onsrud, Inc.
InventorTom Onsrud
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A CNC machining center that includes a machine base and a machine tool positioned on the base for carrying out a machining operation on a workpiece. A work table is positioned on the base and is adapted for supporting the workpiece and moving the workpiece relative to the machine tool during a machining operation. A saw is positioned above the work table in a longitudinally-offset direction from the machine tool for carrying out a sawing operation on the workpiece. The saw may be a band saw.
Claims30
A CNC machining center, comprising:
- a machine base;
- a multi-axis machine tool positioned on the machine base for carrying out a machining operation on a workpiece, wherein the multi-axis machine tool is capable of moving in at least X, Y, and Z axis directions;
- a work table positioned on a linearly-positioned drive supported by the machine base and adapted for supporting the workpiece as the workpiece moves relative to the multi-axis machine tool;
- a saw positioned on the machine base and positioned above the work table in a linearly offset position relative to the multi-axis machine tool for carrying out a sawing operation on the workpiece after the machining operation;
- and
- a programmable digital computer and computer interface for controlling the operation of the multi-axis machine tool, work table, and saw of the machining center;
- wherein the CNC machining center is configured to:
- a. move the workpiece and the multi-axis machine tool relative to each other to perform a machining step on the workpiece under the control of the programmable digital computer, the machining step comprising moving the workpiece to route one or more channels into a topmost layer of the workpiece by:
- i. moving the linearly-positioned drive to position the work table supporting the workpiece below the multi-axis machine tool;
- ii. moving the multi-axis machine tool laterally along a horizontal rail that is elevated above the work table to laterally position the multi-axis machine tool as needed during the machining step;
- and
- iii. moving the multi-axis machine tool vertically along a vertical rail to vertically position the multi-axis machine tool as needed during the machining step, wherein the horizontal rail and vertical rail are supported by the machine base;
- b. move the workpiece and the saw relative to each other to perform a sawing step on the workpiece under the control of the programmable digital computer to sever the topmost layer of the workpiece from a remainder of the workpiece, the sawing step performing a horizontal cut across the workpiece to sever the topmost layer as the work table passes under the saw that is suspended above the work table by one or more legs that are supported by the machine base;
- c. move the workpiece to an outfeed table positioned linearly downstream to facilitate removal of the severed topmost layer of the workpiece from the remainder of the workpiece;
- and
- d. move, after removal of the severed topmost layer, the remainder of the workpiece and the multi-axis machine tool relative to each other to perform another machining step on the remainder of the workpiece under the control of the programmable digital computer.
13 more elements
A method of machining a workpiece, comprising the steps of providing:
- a. providing a CNC machining center comprising a machine base;
- a multi-axis machine tool positioned on the machine base for carrying out a machining operation on the workpiece, wherein the multi-axis machine tool is capable of moving in at least X, Y, and Z axis directions;
- a work table positioned on a linearly-positioned drive supported by the machine base and adapted for supporting the workpiece as the workpiece moves relative to the multi-axis machine tool;
- a saw positioned above the work table in a linearly offset position relative to the multi-axis machine tool for carrying out a sawing operation on the workpiece after the machining operation;
- and a programmable digital computer and computer interface for controlling the operation of the multi-axis machine tool, the work table, and the saw of the machining center;
- b. positioning a workpiece in a stationary condition on the work table;
- c. moving the workpiece and the multi-axis machine tool relative to each other to perform a machining step on the workpiece under a control of the computer, the machining step comprising moving the workpiece to route one or more channels into a topmost layer of the workpiece by:
- i. moving the linearly-positioned drive to position the work table supporting the workpiece below the multi-axis machine tool;
- ii. moving the multi-axis machine tool laterally along a horizontal rail that is elevated above the work table to laterally position the multi-axis machine tool as needed during the machining step;
- and
- iii. moving the multi-axis machine tool vertically along a vertical rail to vertically position the multi-axis machine tool as needed during the machining step, wherein the horizontal rail and vertical rail are supported by the machine base;
- d. moving the workpiece and the saw relative to each other to perform a sawing step on the workpiece under the control of the computer to sever the topmost layer of the workpiece from a remainder of the workpiece, the sawing step performing a horizontal cut across the workpiece to sever the topmost layer as the work table passes under the saw that is suspended above the work table by one or more legs that are supported by the machine base;
- e. moving the workpiece to an outfeed table positioned linearly downstream to facilitate removal of the severed topmost layer of the workpiece from the remainder of the workpiece;
- and
- f. moving, after removal of the severed topmost layer, the remainder of the workpiece and the multi-axis machine tool relative to each other to perform another machining step on the remainder of the workpiece under the control of the computer.
12 more elements
A method of machining a workpiece, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a CNC machining center comprising a multi-axis machine tool positioned on a base, a saw positioned on the base, and a programmable digital computer in communication with the multi-axis machine tool and the saw, wherein the multi-axis machine tool is capable of carrying out a machining operation on a workpiece and moving in at least X, Y, and Z axis directions, and wherein the saw is in a linearly offset position relative to the multi-axis machine tool and capable of carrying out a sawing operation on the workpiece after the machining operation;
- b. positioning a workpiece in a stationary condition on a work table positioned on the base, the work table supporting the workpiece as the workpiece moves relative to the multi-axis machine tool;
- c. moving the workpiece and the multi-axis machine tool relative to each other to perform a machining step on the workpiece under a control of the programmable digital computer, the machining step moving a linearly-positioned drive to position the work table supporting the workpiece below the multi-axis machine tool, moving the multi-axis machine tool along a horizontal rail for lateral movement to laterally position the multi-axis machine tool as needed during the machining step, and moving the multi-axis machine tool vertically along a vertical rail for vertical movement to vertically position the multi-axis machine tool as needed during the machining step;
- d. moving the workpiece and the saw relative to each other to perform a sawing step on the workpiece under the control of the programmable digital computer to sever a topmost layer of the workpiece from a remainder of the workpiece;
- e. removing the severed topmost layer of the workpiece from the remainder of the workpiece;
- f. moving, after removal of the severed topmost layer, the remainder of the workpiece and the multi-axis machine tool relative to each other to perform another machining step on the remainder of the workpiece under the control of the programmable digital computer;
- and
- g. repeating steps d, e, and f sequentially until the machining of an entirety of the workpiece is complete.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.