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US 5,459,915 AGranted
High accuracy machining station for a multiple spindle rotary indexing machine tool
AssigneeDeVlieg-Bullard, Inc.
InventorJesse W. Mendenhall
Life of this patent
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AssigneeDeVlieg-Bullard, Inc.
InventorJesse W. Mendenhall
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to improvements in the multiple spindle rotary indexing machine tool systems of the prior art. Traditionally, such machine tool systems include a base and an upstanding vertical column which houses a plurality of machining stations each equipped with two-axis tool slides. In addition, the base supports a rotatable worktable, which carries a number of work-holding spindles. As the worktable rotates, these spindles are indexed through successive machining stations where a variety of operations are performed. In accordance with the invention, a spindle position measurement unit is provided to dynamically measure the exact location of each spindle indexed to position at a modified machining station. A computerized numerical control system calculates spindle position errors based on the position information provided by the measurement unit and offsets tool slide position commands to compensate for those errors. As a result, the control unit compensates for both fixed and variable spindle position variations, thus improving the machining tolerances of the machine tool apparatus. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a high accuracy finishing station is provided which includes spindle position variation measurement and compensation in combination with an independent X and Y axis tool slide positioning system. The tool slide positioning system is responsive to CNC commands for speed control and position offset due to spindle errors.
A multiple station, rotary indexing machine tool comprising a base, a vertical column extending upwards from the base, said machine tool having a plurality of machining stations each with a tool slide, a rotatable worktable mounted to said base, a plurality of workpiece carrying spindles spaced around said worktable and means for indexing said worktable to advance said spindles to successive machining stations, one or more of said machining stations comprising:
A multiple station, rotary indexing machine tool comprising a base, a vertical column extending upwards from the base, said machine tool having a plurality of machining stations each with a tool slide, a rotatable worktable mounted to said base, a plurality of workpiece carrying spindles spaced around said worktable and means for indexing said worktable to advance said spindles to successive machining stations, said machine tool having at least one finishing station comprising:
A method of compensating for positional variations of a workpiece carrying spindle in a multiple workstation machine tool having a rotatable worktable for carrying said spindles, a plurality of machining stations each with a tool slide including one or more finishing stations comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.