Machining fixture force balancing
AssigneeRtx Corporation
InventorsRaja Krishnan Kountanya, Alexander R. Angyal, Jean-Philippe A. Thomas, James M. Levandowski, Jose A. Lopes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for configuring a fixture for use in machining of sequential parts via a machine tool, for a planned machining movement of the machining element, uses a model of the part and fixture. Respective reaction forces at the plurality of part contact references are computed. Responsive to computation of a negative reaction force at a said part contact reference, a modification is made to a machining parameter.
Claims22
A method for configuring a fixture for use in machining of sequential parts via a machine tool wherein a manipulator moves the machining element relative to the part being machined, the fixture comprising:
- a body;
- a plurality of part contact references for registering a part being machined;
- and
- at least one clamp for holding the part against the plurality of part contact references, the machine tool comprising:
- a machining element;
- and
- a driver coupled to drive the machining element about a rotation axis, the method comprising:
- for a planned machining movement of the machining element and using a model of the part and fixture:
- computing respective reaction forces at the plurality of part contact references;
- and
- responsive to computation of a negative reaction force at a said part contact reference, a modification comprising at least one of:
- modifying in the model clamping force of the at least one clamp;
- modifying in the model one or more positions of the at least one clamp;
- modifying in the model one or more positions of the plurality of part contact references;
- and
- modifying the planned machining movement.
A method for configuring a fixture for use in machining of sequential parts via a machine tool wherein a manipulator moves the machining element relative to the part being machined, the fixture comprising:
- a body;
- a plurality of part contact references for registering a part being machined;
- and
- at least one clamp for holding the part against the plurality of part contact references, the machine tool comprising:
- a machining element;
- and
- a driver coupled to drive the machining element about a rotation axis, the method comprising:
- for a planned machining movement of the machining element and using a model of the part and fixture:
- a step for calculating machining forces associated with the machining movement;
- and
- a step for calculating respective reaction forces at the plurality of part contact references.
An apparatus configured modify a process for machining of sequential parts via a machine tool, wherein a manipulator moves the machining element relative to a fixture holding the part being machined, the fixture comprising:
- a body;
- a plurality of part contact references for registering a part being machined;
- and
- at least one clamp for holding the part against the plurality of part contact references, the machine tool comprising:
- a machining element;
- and
- a driver coupled to drive the machining element about a rotation axis, the apparatus comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- storage containing programming for execution by the one or more processors, said programming configured to:
- receive the model of the part and fixture;
- and
- compute respective reaction forces at the plurality of part contact references.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having data stored therein representing software executable by a computer, the software including instructions for executing a method for configuring a fixture for use in machining of sequential parts via a machine tool wherein a manipulator moves the machining element relative to the part being machined, the fixture comprising:
- a body;
- a plurality of part contact references for registering a part being machined;
- and
- at least one clamp for holding the part against the plurality of part contact references, the machine tool comprising:
- a machining element;
- and
- a driver coupled to drive the machining element about a rotation axis, the method comprising:
- for a planned machining movement of the machining element and using a model of the part and fixture:
- computing respective reaction forces at the plurality of part contact references;
- and
- responsive to computation of a negative reaction force at a said part contact reference, a modification comprising at least one of:
- modifying in the model clamping force of the at least one clamp;
- modifying in the model one or more positions of the at least one clamp;
- modifying in the model one or more positions of the plurality of part contact references;
- and
- modifying the planned machining movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.