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US 12,667,922 B1Granted
Machine tool system with tool base and repositionable and relocatable workpiece frame
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsRusty Garner, Monica Munoz, Damon Ward
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A machine tool system includes a workpiece, a machine, and a workpiece frame. The workpiece frame is repositionable and relocatable on the machine in at least two different orientations to support the workpiece in the at least two different orientations during modification of the workpiece so that different sides of the workpiece are modified without requiring removal of the workpiece from the workpiece frame.
Claims20
A machine tool system comprising:
- a three-dimensional workpiece,
- a machine configured to modify the three-dimensional workpiece,
- the machine including a tool base configured to support the three-dimensional workpiece and a shaft spaced apart from the tool base along a first axis and configured to move along the first axis relative to the tool base to modify the three-dimensional workpiece, and
- a workpiece frame that is repositionable and relocatable on the tool base in at least two different orientations to support the three-dimensional workpiece in the at least two different orientations relative to the first axis during modification of the three-dimensional workpiece so that different sides of the three-dimensional workpiece are modified without requiring removal of the three-dimensional workpiece from the workpiece frame,
- wherein the workpiece frame includes a C-shaped body configured to be coupled to the tool base and defining a workpiece-receiving space therein, a workpiece locator that extends from the C-shaped body into the workpiece-receiving space and into contact with the three-dimensional workpiece to support and position the three-dimensional workpiece relative to the C-shaped body, and a frame locator arranged outside of the workpiece-receiving space and extending away from the C-shaped body and into contact with the tool base to position the C-shaped body relative to the tool base so that the three-dimensional workpiece is properly aligned with the shaft in the at least two different orientations,
- wherein the C-shaped body of the workpiece frame includes a first arm, a second arm spaced apart from the first arm, and a third arm extending between and interconnecting terminal ends of the first arm and the second arm, and wherein the workpiece locator includes a first clamp member coupled to the first arm of the C-shaped body, the first clamp member having a first clamp plate that extends inwardly from the first arm toward the second arm and a second clamp plate spaced apart from the first clamp plate and extending inwardly from the first arm toward the second arm, the first and second clamp plates being spaced apart from the third arm along the first arm.
3 more elements
A machine tool system comprising:
- a workpiece,
- a machine configured to modify the workpiece, and
- a workpiece frame that is repositionable and relocatable on the machine in at least two different orientations to support the workpiece in the at least two different orientations during modification of the workpiece so that different sides of the workpiece are modified without requiring removal of the workpiece from the workpiece frame,
- wherein the workpiece frame includes a body configured to be coupled to the machine and defining a workpiece-receiving space therein, a workpiece locator that extends from the body into the workpiece-receiving space and into contact with the workpiece to support and position the workpiece relative to the body, and a frame locator arranged outside of the workpiece-receiving space and extending away from the body to position the body relative to the machine, wherein the body of the workpiece frame includes a first arm, a second arm spaced apart from the first arm, and a third arm extending between and interconnecting terminal ends of the first arm and the second arm,
- wherein the workpiece locator includes a first protrusion extending from the third arm of the body into the workpiece-receiving space, a second protrusion extending from the third arm of the body into the workpiece-receiving space and spaced apart from the first protrusion along the third arm, and a third protrusion extending from the second arm of the body toward the first arm, the first, second, and third protrusions being integrally formed with the body.
2 more elements
A method of modifying a three-dimensional workpiece, the method comprising:
- supporting the three-dimensional workpiece on a C-shaped body of a workpiece frame such that a first side of the three-dimensional workpiece, a second side of the three-dimensional workpiece directly opposing the first side, and an edge of the three-dimensional workpiece that interconnects the first and second sides are accessible by a machine and not covered by the C-shaped body,
- positioning the workpiece frame on the machine in a first position,
- while the workpiece frame is in the first position, modifying the first side of the three-dimensional workpiece via a shaft of the machine that moves along a first axis,
- removing the workpiece frame from the machine,
- repositioning the workpiece frame on the machine in a second position different than the first position, and
- while the workpiece frame is in the second position, modifying the second side of the three-dimensional workpiece opposite the first side via the shaft of the machine that moves along the first axis.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.