US 4,159,660 AGranted

Biaxial turning machine with means for bidirectional independent tool compensation

AssigneeEx-Cell-O Corporation

InventorsJames E. Buckley, Thomas E. McKendrick, Lee E. North, Nathan Mendelsohn

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Abstract

A multi-spindle, biaxial turning machine having means for independent tool offset in either of the axes of tool movement. The turning machine includes a slide assembly comprising a compound slide movable in a first direction with respect to the spindle axes of rotation, a cross slide mounted in sliding relation on the compound slide and movable in a direction transverse to the spindle axes of rotation, and first and second auxiliary slides, each of the auxiliary slides mounted in sliding relation to the cross slide and carrying respective first and second tool holders movable in mutually transverse directions. The compound slide, cross slide, and auxiliary slides each have associated with them drive means, which in the preferred form include a servo-drive motor and associated ball screw drive. A motion sensor is associated with each of the drive means. A control circuit is responsive to an operator command, and includes a plurality of independent control channels, each of the plurality of control channels being associated with and controlling a slide.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A biaxial turning machine comprising:

support means,
first and second spindle means, mounted on the support means, for rotating respective first and second workpieces, the first and second spindle means having parallel axes of rotation;
compound slide member means, mounted on the support means in sliding relation thereto, for motion in a first direction with respect to the spindle means axes;
cross slide member means mounted on the compound slide member means in sliding relation thereto, for motion in a second direction transverse to the first direction;
first tool holder member means mounted on the cross slide member means in sliding relation thereto, for holding a workpiece machining tool and for motion parallel to the first direction;
second tool holder member means, mounted on the cross slide member means in sliding relation thereto, for holding another workpiece machining tool, and for motion parallel to the second direction;
a plurality of axis drive means, one each of the axis drive means associated with each of the member means, for moving each of the associated member means;
a plurality of sensor means, one each of the sensor means associated with each of the axis drive means, for sensing motion of each of the member means and outputting a signal representative thereof;
and
control means, responsive to a position command signal for a specific member means and to the output signal of the sensor means associated with the specific member means, for controlling the axis drive means to position the specific member means in accordance with the command signal.

7 more elements

In an automated turning machine of the type having support means, first and second spindles having parallel axes of rotation, each spindle being adapted to rotate a workpiece as it is subjected to a machining operation by a tool movable with respect to the axes of rotation, the subcombination comprising:

a compound slide mounted in sliding relation on the support means for motion in a first direction with respect to the axes of rotation;
a cross slide mounted in sliding relation on the compound slide for motion in a second direction transverse to the first direction;
a first auxiliary slide, carrying a first tool holder, mounted in sliding relation on the cross slide for motion in the first direction;
a second auxiliary slide, carrying a second tool holder, mounted in sliding relation on the cross slide for motion in the second direction;
a plurality of axis drive means, one each associated with each of the slides, for moving its associated slide;
a plurality of sensor means, one each associated with each of the axis drive means, for sensing motion of an associated slide and outputting a signal representative thereof;
and
control means, responsive to a position command signal for a specific slide and to the output signal of the sensor means associated with the specific slide, for controlling the associated axis drive means to position the specific slide in accordance with the command signal.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.