Back to results
US 5,735,029 AGranted
Flexible arbor mill machine
AssigneeWestern Atlas, Inc.
InventorMichael D. Panetta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeWestern Atlas, Inc.
InventorMichael D. Panetta
Estimating the term…
An arbor mill machine which performs multiple machining operations on a workpiece in one work station. A rotatable tool turret carries a plurality of arbor cutting tools each of which can be indexed into the work station for performing a machining operation on a workpiece carried by a slide which advances the workpiece into the arbor tool and retracts the workpiece from it. A single drive spindle carried by a slide is advanced to releasably engage and drive the arbor tool in the work station to machine the workpiece and is retracted to release and disengage the arbor tool so that it can be removed from the work station when the turret is indexed to advance another arbor tool into the work station to perform another machining operation on the workpiece. The turret is releasably locked to prevent it from rotating while an arbor tool is machining a workpiece and is released between machining operations to permit indexing of the turret to position another arbor tool in the work station. Preferably the machine is cycled and controlled by a programmable controller or a digital computer which may be programmed for machining a wide variety of different workpieces.
An arbor mill machine for performing at least two machining operations at one work station on a workpiece comprising, a base, a tool turret carried by said base for releasably carrying, supporting and journalling at least two separate arbor cutting tools, said arbor tools comprising multiple cutters on a common arbor, the tool turret being rotatable on its axis so that any one of the arbor tools thereon can be positioned in a work station for engagement with a workpiece to perform a machining operation on the workpiece while all of the other arbor tools carried by the turret are spaced from the workpiece, a first drive operably connected with the turret for rotating the turret to position any one of the arbor tools carried thereby in the work station for performing a machining operation on a workpiece, a second drive carried by the base and having a releasable coupling for operably connecting the drive with the arbor tool positioned in the work station by the turret for driving such arbor tool for performing a machining operation on a workpiece, a slide carried by the base for releasably carrying a workpiece thereon, and a third drive operably connected with the slide for advancing and retracting the slide relative to the arbor tool in the work station for moving the workpiece carried by the slide into and out of engagement with the arbor tool in the work station for machining the workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.