US 4,088,417 A · Method and apparatus for high speed, high precision drilling and machining

Abstract

A drill may be fed into a workpiece at a rate where the angle descent is less than the primary relief angle of the drill and wherein the extruding action takes place in 1/3 or less of the drill diameter. Unachieved rates of drill feed speed with high precision may be achieved without punching or crushing the material of the workpiece. In order to accomplish such drilling rates an improved feed mechanism, utilizing a positively driven lead screw is employed. In addition, in order to utilize the high drilling rate, a multiple bank of spindles is devised having an X-Y adjustable configuration used in combination with a worktable translated by a lead screw and nut combination. The lead screw of the worktable is disposed within the worktable in the proximity of the axis of symmetry to the worktable in order to minimize twisting moments to the worktable. An automated collet is utilized in each of the spindles together with tool holders to provide for automatic changing of the drill bits without operator intervention.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An apparatus for use in high speed, precision drilling and machining comprising:

a movable worktable for holding and positioning a plurality of workpieces;
a movable spindle gantry disposed in a spaced apart relationship with respect to said worktable;
a plurality of spindles rotatably supported on said spindle gantry, each of said spindles holding a drilling tool and being disposed on said spindle gantry in a functionally operable relationship with respect to each of said workpieces each tool having a primary relief angle;
and
means coupled to each of said spindles for feeding said spindles perpendicularly with respect to a corresponding one of said workpieces, said means including a member having a plurality of engaging surfaces to permit said member to execute bidirectional motion perpendicular to said workpieces at a feedrate wherein the angle of descent of each tool is less than the primary relief angle of the tool by a preselected increment;
whereby said spindles may be directly driven at high rates of feed with a high degree of precision and stability.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for high speed, high precision drilling and machining

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for high speed, high precision drilling and machining

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23