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AssigneeLitton Industrial Automation Systems, Inc.
InventorDouglas J. Henderson
Estimating the term…
A multiple spindle machine includes a plurality of spindles mounted in a spindle assembly which sequentially indexes workpieces through a plurality of spindle stations by rotating the spindle assembly around its axis. The control and drive system for the multiple spindle machine includes a first variable speed motor for driving the spindles and a second variable speed motor for driving a camshaft. The camshaft drives the indexing mechanism and a main cam which reciprocates a tool slide and a first set of tools mounted on the tool slide relative to the spindle assembly. A second set of tools is mounted around the spindle assembly and independent NC motors drive the second set of tools. A microprocessor independently controls the speed of the first and second variable speed motors and the NC motors to provide flexible control of the multiple spindle machine.
A control and drive system for a multiple spindle machine having a plurality of spindles mounted in a spindle assembly which sequentially indexes workpieces which are mounted in and driven by the spindles through a plurality of spindle stations by rotating the spindle assembly around its axis, the control and drive system comprising:
A method of machining a workpiece which is mounted in and driven by a spindle in the spindle assembly of a multiple spindle machine having a mechanism for indexing the spindle assembly, a spindle shaft for workpiece rotation, and a camshaft for tool feed and for driving the indexing mechanism, comprising the steps of:
A method of machining bar stock workpieces on a multiple spindle bar machine having a spindle assembly, a plurality of spindles for receiving and driving the bar stock, an index mechanism for rotating the spindle assembly, a plurality of tools, a camshaft for feeding the tools into the workpieces and driving the index mechanism, a spindle motor, and a variable speed camshaft motor, comprising the steps of:
A method of machining a plurality of workpieces which are mounted in and driven by the spindles of a multiple spindle machine having a spindle assembly, a spindle motor for spindle and workpiece rotation, a camshaft motor for tool feed of a first set of tools, and a plurality of NC motors for tool feed of a second set of tools, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.