US 5,392,663 A · Octahedral machine tool frame

Abstract

A machine element support comprised of a plurality of axially extensible and contractible servostruts which are individually adjustable and collectively controllable. The struts comprise an outer tubular member and a slidably, interfitted, elongated, inner member. The powered servostruts are movably connected to an machine element such as a spindle head by one of the members on one end and to a rigid machine tool frame by the other of the members on the other end. Linear position sensors mounted on the servostruts serve to precisely measure strut extension and retraction for feedback control purposes. A preferred servostrut configuration is a hexapodal array, in which two servostruts are mounted side by side in each of the three well-known orthogonal axes of machine tool practice, providing six-axis movement and positioning of the tool head or workstation relative to the workpiece.

Claims5

Dependent claims

An axially extensible and contractible servostrut comprising:

an elongated, outer, tubular member and a slidably interfitted, elongated, inner member;
a first universal joint on one of said members for mounting said servostrut for swinging movement in any direction about said joint, and defining the base end of the strut;
a second universal joint on the other of said members at the distal end of the strut for connecting the same to a body for pivoting movement on any axis relative thereto;
a power driven linear actuator in one of said members engaged with the other end to extend and contract the strut;
and
a linear position sensor on one of said members directly responsive to the axial movement of said members relative to one another for generating a feedback signal to a power source representative of the degree of extension of the strut.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Octahedral machine tool frame

Life of this patent

Octahedral machine tool frame

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5