Machine tool with a feature for preventing a thermal deformation
AssigneeMakino Milling Machine Co., Ltd.
InventorAi Muto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A machine tool 1 comprises a spindle head 11 for supporting a spindle 9 to which a tool 7 is fitted, a column 5 for supporting the spindle head 11 and a table 13 for mounting a workpiece 15, and machines the workpiece 15 by relatively moving the tool and the workpiece. A cavity 5a is defined in the column so that a liquid can be circulated. A liquid pump 19 is provided for circulating the liquid into the cavity 5a. A circulating pump controller 27 is provided for controlling the circulation of the liquid by activating and deactivating the liquid pump 19. By circulating the liquid into the cavity 5a of the column 5, the temperature of each part of the column 5 is evenly maintained to prevent the thermal deformation of the column 5.
Claims14
A machine tool with a feature preventing a thermal deformation, comprising a spindle head for supporting a spindle to which a tool is fitted, a column for supporting the spindle head and a table for mounting a workpiece, and machining a workpiece through a relative movement between the tool and the workpiece, characterized in that the machine tool comprises a column having an interior space which is filled with a liquid;
- an inlet port, disposed at a lower portion of the column, for introducing the liquid into the interior space;
- an outlet port, disposed at an upper portion of the column for removing the liquid from the interior spaces;
- a liquid circulating means including an exterior conduit, free of a means to separately cool the liquid, extending between the outlet and inlet ports, and comprising means for circulating the liquid in the interior space through the outlet port, the exterior conduit and the inlet port to flow the liquid upwardly in the interior space;
- and
- a liquid circulation controlling means for controlling the circulation of the liquid by activating and deactivating the liquid circulating means.
A machine tool with a feature for evenly maintaining temperature of, and preventing variations in temperature of, different portions of a machine tool column and thereby preventing a thermal deformation, comprising a spindle head for supporting a spindle to which a tool is fitted, a column for supporting the spindle head and a table for mounting a workpiece, and machining a workpiece through a relative movement between the tool and the workpiece, characterized in that the machine tool comprises a column having an interior space which is filled with a liquid;
- an inlet port, disposed at a lower portion of the column, for introducing the liquid into the interior space;
- an outlet port, disposed at an upper portion of the column for removing the liquid from the interior space;
- an exterior conduit between the outlet port and inlet port, extending directly between the outlet port and inlet port, to return liquid from the outlet port to the inlet port, with the exterior conduit being free of a means for separately cooling the liquid;
- a liquid circulating means between the outlet and inlet ports, and comprising means for circulating the liquid in the interior space through the outlet port, the exterior conduit and the inlet port to flow the liquid upwardly in the interior space;
- and
- a liquid circulation controlling means for controlling the circulation of the liquid by activating and deactivating the liquid circulating means;
- said exterior conduit, said liquid circulating means and said liquid circulation controlling means together comprising means whereby the temperature is evenly maintained throughout the column without separately needing to cool the liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.