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US 4,709,455 AGranted
Milling and drilling head for a machine tool
AssigneeD'Andrea S.p.A.
InventorsErmanno D'Andrea, Nicola D'Andrea
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A milling and drilling head for a machine tool has an input shaft housed in a stationary case also incorporating a control means drivingly connected to a ring gear which is fast with a moving case portion accommodating at least one tool holding spindle driven off the master spindle of the machine tool and being set at an angle to the X-axis thereof.
Claims8
A milling and drilling head, in combination with a machine tool that has a master spindle, a control spindle and a numerical-control unit;
- said head comprising:
- a stationary case portion;
- an input shaft rotatably mounted to the stationary case portion and adapted for coupling with the master spindle of the machine tool to receive mechanical rotation therefrom;
- a movable case portion mounted to the stationary case portion for substatially continuous rotation;
- at least one bit-holding spindle rotatably mounted to the movable case portion for rotation at an angle to the rotation of the input shaft so that the bit-holding spindle is substantially continuously adjustable in disposition relative to the input shaft;
- first rotation-transmitting means interconnecting the input shaft and the at least one bit-holding spindle, to transmit rotation from the input shaft through said angle to the bit-holding spindle;
- a control shaft rotatably mounted to the stationary case portion, and adapted for coupling to the control spindle of the machine tool to receive substantially continuous adjustment rotationally therefrom;
- second rotation-transmitting means interconnecting the control shaft and the movable case portion, to transmit substantially continuous adjustment from the control shaft to the movable case portion rotationally, to substantially continuously adjust the disposition of the bit-holding spindle relative to the input shaft;
- the numerical-control unit of the machine tool, in use, controlling the master-spindle rotation to supply cutting rotation to the bit-holding spindle and simultaneously controlling the control-spindle rotation to substantially continuously adjust the disposition of the bit-holding spindle during cutting;
- whereby the machining tool and said head in combination provide machine at angles which vary continuously, including formation of compound shapes in curved surfaces.
7 more elements
A method of performing machining operations, comprising:
- providing a machine tool that has a master spindle, a control spindle and a numerical control unit;
- providing a milling and drilling head, for use with the machine tool, that comprises:
- a stationary case portion;
- an input shaft rotatably mounted to the statitonary case portion and adapted for coupling with the master spindle of the machine tool to receive mechanical rotation therefrom;
- a movable case portion mounted to the stationary case portion for substantially continuous rotation;
- at least one bit-holding spindle rotatably mounted to the movable case portion for rotation of the bit-holding spindle at an angle to the rotation of the input shaft so that the bit-holding spindle is substantially continuously adjustable in disposition relative to the input shaft;
- first rotation-transmitting means interconnecting the input shaft and the at least one bit-holding spindle, to transmit rotation from the input shaft through said angle to the bit-holding spindle;
- a control shaft rotatably mounted to the stationary case portion, and adapted for coupling to the control spindle of the machine tool to receive substantially continuous adjustment rotationally therefrom;
- second rotation-transmitting means interconnecting the control shaft and the movable case portion, to transmit substantially continuous adjustment from the control shaft to the movable case portion rotationally, to substantially continuously adjust the disposition of the bit-holding spindle relative to the input shaft;
- then automatically, through the numerical-control unit of the machine tool, controlling the master-spindle rotation to supply cutting rotation to the bit-holding spindle;
- and
- simultaneously with the last-mentioned step, controlling the control-spindle rotation to substantially continuously adjust the disposition of the bit-holding spindle during cutting;
- thereby providing machining at angles which vary continuously, including formation of compound shapes in curved surfaces.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.