Method and apparatus for the working of cavity walls of continuous casting molds

#The invention relates to a method for the working of cavity walls of continuous casting molds.

#For the production of continuous casting molds, in particular for the production of the geometry of the mold cavity in the case of tubular billet, bloom and profile formats, various production methods such as cold forming onto a mandrel or machining etc. are known.

#The known production methods by means of cold or explosive forming onto a mandrel are expensive, because for each strand cross-section or each conicity shape a mandrel has to be manufactured, which particularly in the case of explosive forming has a short service life. A production by means of machining has its limitations, on the other hand, because the shapes of the mold cavities have become more and more complicated on continuous casting grounds. An additional difficulty is also caused with tubular molds, however, by the small ratio of the clear width to the length of the mold cavity, because the design of the working apparatus is thereby severely limited. In addition to molds with a straight mold cavity and with a casting cone uniform on all sides for a square or circular billet cross-section, molds with curved mold cavities for bow type continuous casting machines are mostly used today, which places an additional limitation on the dimensioning of the working apparatus.

#Embodiments of the invention and further advantages of the latter are explained in detail below by means of figures, where

#FIG. 1 shows a side view of the apparatus according to the invention,

#FIG. 2 an overhead view of the apparatus according to FIG. 1,

#FIGS. 1 and 2 show a machine with an apparatus for the inner working of tubes by means of machining and/or polishing tools, in particular for an inner working in mold cavities of continuous casting molds. A milling or a grinding tool is possible, for example, as a machining tool. The machine consists of a machine tool table 1, which is supported on guides 2 and may be moved in a z-axis by means of a drive. On the machine tool table 1 is arranged a machine head 3, which is raisable and lowerable in a y-axis. The machine head 3 is in addition provided with a device for generating a rotational movement about a horizontal axis 4, as indicated by arrow A. There is couplable to the machine head 3 an arm 6, which is equipped with machining or polishing tools. The arm 6 is, together with the machine head 3, rotatable or swivellable about its longitudinal axis 4, which is arranged horizontally in this example. The arm 6 is easily exchangeable, in order that a tool change between a machining and a polishing tool may be carried out with short shut-off times. A machining or polishing tool 12 fixed to the arm 6 is rotatable about an axis 13. To this end the arm 6 is provided with an axially arranged drive shaft 27 and with a toothed gearing 28 (FIG. 3).

#A tubular work-piece, in particular a mold tube 7, is clamped horizontally on a table 8. The table 8 is supported with its stand 9 on guides 10 and is moveable in an x-axis. In addition, the table 8 is swivellable about a vertical axis 11 and may execute a rotational movement B through any angle.

#The machine is constructed in such a way that by means of a numerical control system the arm 6 may be moved in the y- and z-axes and simultaneously the table 8 be moved in the x-axis. Likewise simultaneously, the arm 6 may be swivelled about the axis 4 and the tool 12 rotate about an axis 13.