Machine tool and operation method therefor
AssigneeDoosan Machine Tools Co., Ltd.
InventorSeonghoon JEONG
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a machine tool, such as a moving column-type machining center, and a method of operating the same, which are capable of shortening tool change time, improving productivity, minimizing a collision or mechanical interference, and increasing stability and reliability in a medium-sized or large-sized machine tool having a long length in a width direction by means of a magazine installed on a saddle, a tool changing unit movably installed on the saddle, and a tool changing unit transfer part configured to move the tool changing unit independently of a column.
Claims18
A machine tool comprising:
- a bed;
- a table installed on the bed and configured to allow a workpiece to be seated thereon;
- a saddle movably installed on the bed;
- a column movably installed on the saddle;
- a spindle movably installed on the column and configured to machine the workpiece;
- a magazine having a plurality of grippers that accommodates tools to supply the tool to the spindle and configured to store the tools in the grippers, respectively;
- and
- a transfer part configured to move the saddle, the column, and the spindle,
- wherein the magazine is installed on the saddle and moves together with the saddle when the saddle moves.
A method of operating a machine tool, the method comprising:
- storing a workpiece machining program for replacing a processing tool mounted on a spindle with a standby tool accommodated in a gripper of a magazine and storing an initial position, a standby position, and a change position of a tool changing unit and a gripping position of a spindle;
- machining a workpiece based on the machining program;
- placing the tool changing unit on standby at the initial position between an upper portion of the saddle and a column and positioning the gripper of the magazine, which accommodates the tool to be used for a subsequent process based on the machining program, at the standby position while the workpiece is machined based on the machining program;
- transmitting a tool change command to the magazine, a transfer part, and a tool changing unit transfer part in the sequence in which the workpiece is machined based on the machining program;
- rectilinearly moving the tool changing unit from the initial position to the standby position based on the tool change command, gripping, by a first gripping part of a change arm, the standby tool, and rectilinearly moving, by the tool changing unit transfer part, the tool changing unit to the change position;
- moving the spindle downward to the gripping position to allow a second gripping part of the change arm to grip the processing tool clamped by the spindle;
- moving the spindle upward after unclamping the processing tool to clamp the standby tool accommodated in the first gripping part of the change arm;
- rotating the change arm to transfer the standby tool, which is accommodated in the first gripping part of the change arm, to the spindle;
- moving the spindle downward again to the gripping position to clamp the standby tool accommodated in the first gripping part of the change arm;
- rectilinearly moving the tool changing unit to the standby position to return the processing tool, which is gripped by the second gripping part of the change arm, to the gripper of the magazine;
- moving the spindle upward again in a state in which the spindle clamps the standby tool;
- rectilinearly moving the tool changing unit to the initial position after returning the processing tool, which is gripped by the second gripping part of the change arm, to the magazine;
- and
- performing, by the spindle, the subsequent process with the standby tool clamped by the spindle in the sequence the machining program.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.