Machine and process for shaping a ball stud and a ball stud produced by same
AssigneeFederal Screw Works
InventorsAaron J. ZurSchmiede, David A. Bartell, Christian Shane Bersano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine assembly for shaping a ball stud. The machine includes a shaping workstation that has at least one shaping tool for removing material from and shaping a preform. A finish workstation includes a finish spindle configured to couple to and rotate the preform about a finish axis of rotation relative to a finish cutting module and a burnishing module. The finish cutting module includes a finish cutting tool and an actuator configured to move an edge of the finish cutting tool into engagement with a ball of the preform. The burnishing module includes a hydrostatic quill configured to contact and burnish an exterior surface of the ball.
Claims20
A machine assembly for shaping a ball stud, comprising:
- a shaping workstation including at least one shaping tool for removing material from and shaping a preform;
- and
- a finish workstation comprising;
- a finish spindle configured to couple to and rotate the preform about a finish axis of rotation;
- a finish cutting module including a finish cutting tool and an actuator configured to move an edge of the finish cutting tool into engagement with a ball of the preform;
- and
- a burnishing module including a hydrostatic quill configured to contact and burnish an exterior surface of the ball.
A machine assembly that forms a ball stud, the machine assembly comprising:
- a finish spindle configured to couple and rotate a preform about a finish axis of rotation;
- a finish cutting module including a first rotational drive that rotates a finish cutting tool in a first rotational direction with respect to a ball of a preform;
- and
- a burnishing module including a second rotational drive that rotates a low plasticity burnishing quill in a second rotational direction with respect to the ball that is opposite the first rotational direction.
A machine assembly for shaping a ball stud, comprising:
- at least one arm configured to load a preform into a workstation;
- and
- the workstation including a shaping workstation having at least two shaping tools selectively movable for simultaneous engagement with and removal of material from the preform, and a finish workstation having a finish cutting tool and a hydrostatic quill that is configured to follow surfaces of a ball of the preform that have already been engaged by the finish cutting tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.