Machine and machining method for a long profile
AssigneeAirbus France
InventorsJean-Christophe Hamann, Maël Provin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to machining of long profiles, that can be bent, held in place using two clamping arms (10) clamping the section to be machined. According to the invention, the profile (12) does not move during machining and the mobile arms are not used to move the profile in front of the tool; the arms move with the tool to the various locations to be machined. Auxiliary supports (25) are flexible in the plane of the profile and provide sufficient support while enabling the profile to deform as a result of stresses applied to it. Machining is more precise and remaining stresses are reduced.
Claims14
A machine for machining a flexible profile, comprising:
- a tool mounted on a tool holder, said tool being configured to machine the profile;
- a pair of mobile mandrels configured to releasably clamp the profile at free ends of respective arms and at either side of the tool along the profile;
- a support for the profile, said support comprising stationary mandrels configured to clamp the profile and a stationary structure, the stationary mandrels being mounted on the stationary structure through compliant connections;
- and
- a numerical control configured to control a position and displacement of a crosspiece, wherein the tool holder is mounted on the crosspiece;
- wherein during machining of said profile, said mobile mandrels are configured to move with said tool holder along said profile, wherein said mobile mandrels do not move the profile, said profile remaining stationary relative to the stationary mandrels;
- and
- wherein said compliant connections are configured to allow movement of the flexible profile during machining in response to deformations imposed on the flexible profile during machining.
A machine for machining a flexible profile, comprising:
- a tool mounted on a tool holder, said tool being configured to machine the profile;
- a pair of mobile mandrels each comprising relatively mobile, opposite jaws which are configured to releasably clamp the profile at free ends of respective arms and at either side of the tool along the profile;
- means for moving the arms and the tool individually during machining so that the mobile mandrels define windows therebetween along the profile, said windows having variable widths and the tool moving inside said windows;
- a support for the profile, said support comprising stationary mandrels configured to clamp the profile and a stationary structure, the stationary mandrels being mounted on the stationary structure through compliant connections;
- and
- a numerical control configured to control a position and displacement of a crosspiece, wherein the tool holder is mounted on the crosspiece;
- wherein during machining of said profile, said mobile mandrels are configured to move with said tool holder along said profile, wherein said mobile mandrels do not move the profile, said profile remaining stationary relative to the stationary mandrels;
- and
- wherein said compliant connections are configured to allow movement of the flexible profile during machining in response to deformations imposed on the flexible profile during machining.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.