# US 9,753,448 B2 · Machine tools which compensate for thermal deformation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,753,448 B2 - Document ID: US9753448B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/001,175 - Filed: 2011-12-22 - Published: 2013-12-05 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-25 - Assignees: Innse-Berardi S.P.A. - Applicants: Natale Valsecchi; Stefano Zucchini; Roberto Goffrini - Inventors: Natale Valsecchi; Stefano Zucchini; Roberto Goffrini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753448B2 ## CPC - G05B 19/182: {characterised by the machine tool function, e.g. thread cutting, cam making, tool direction control (G05B19/21 - G05B19/40 take precedence)} - B23Q 11/0007: {by compensating occurring thermal dilations (B23Q15/18 takes precedence)} - B23Q 17/22: for indicating or measuring existing or desired position of tool or work {(B23Q16/005 takes precedence)} - G01D 5/34746: {Linear encoders} - G05B 19/404: characterised by control arrangements for compensation, e.g. for backlash, overshoot, tool offset, tool wear, temperature, machine construction errors, load, inertia (G05B19/19, G05B19/41 take precedence) - G05B 2219/49206: Compensation temperature, thermal displacement, use measured temperature - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Machine tools are provided, including machines tools of large dimension, which include a bench, an upright base, control elements for the translation of the upright base, an upright base position sensor comprising an optical line or linear encoder fixed to the bench, detection elements for detecting the temperature of the optical line and management elements for processing the temperature signals coming from the optical line temperature detection elements and the signals of the upright base translation control elements to determine a correction signal for the upright base translation control elements according to at least one temperature detected along the optical line. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine tool comprising: a bench having a main extension along a main axis; an upright base, which surmounts the bench and is supported by it, translatable in a controllable manner along the main axis; control elements of the translation of the upright base suitable for controlling the commanded translation of the upright base; a position sensor of the upright base, suitable for measuring the position of the upright base along the main axis, comprising an optical line or linear encoder, fixed to the bench, wherein a reference point on the optical line provides the origin of a main reference system; temperature detection elements of the optical line suitable for detecting the temperature of the optical line in at least one position along the main axis and for generating respective temperature signals; detection elements for detecting the movement of the reference point of the optical line, suitable for generating a reference point movement signal; management elements operatively connected to the temperature detection elements of the optical line, to the translation control elements of the upright base and to the detection elements for the point of reference movement, suitable for processing the temperature signals, the reference point movement signal and the signals of said translation control elements of the upright base to determine a correction signal for the translation control elements of the upright base, wherein the reference point movement detection means comprise a bar made of a substantially heat-indeformable material, fixed on one side to the optical line in correspondence to the reference point. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the reference point is the fastening point of the optical line to the bench. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the substantially heat-indeformable material comprises INVAR. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the reference point movement detection elements comprise a feeler, supported by a fixed locator thermally separated from the bench. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The machine of claim 4, wherein the reference point movement detection elements comprise a feeler, supported by a fixed locator thermally separated from the bench. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the detection elements for detecting the temperature of the optical line comprise a plurality of sensors distributed spaced out along the main axis, in contact with the optical line. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the management elements comprise electronic components. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The machine of claim 7, wherein the electronic management elements comprise a PLC, and power board or a microprocessor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the optical line is attached to the bench at one extremity of the bench along the main axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the optical line is attached to the bench in an intermediate position along the main axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the optical line is supported by the upper side of the bench. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the optical line is supported on a front side of the bench. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, comprising: an upright, fixed to the upright base and supported by it, extending mainly along a vertical axis; a carriage supported by the upright, translatable in a controllable manner along the vertical axis; a mandrel-holder, supported by the carriage, and a mandrel supported by the mandrel-holder, rotatable around a work axis, at right angles to the vertical axis and the main axis, to carry out the processing, wherein the mandrel-holder is translatable in the direction of said work axis, in a controllable manner. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, selected from the group consisting of: a horizontal milling-boring machine, a vertical mobile gantry milling machine, a vertical milling machine with moving table, a turning and milling centre, a rotary slot milling machine, a roto-translating table, a horizontal machining centre, a vertical machining centre, a vertical boring machine, a boring machine for deep holes, and a transfer machine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The machine tool of claim 1, selected from the group consisting of: horizontal milling-boring machines, a vertical mobile gantry milling machine, a vertical milling machine with moving table, a turning and milling centre, a rotary slot milling machine, a roto-translating table, a horizontal machining centre, a vertical machining centre, a vertical boring machine, a boring machine for deep holes, and a transfer machine. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A system for a machine tool comprising: foundations made in the ground which define a horizontal plane; and the machine tool of claim 1, wherein the machine tool is supported by the foundations. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, comprising: a piece-holder table positioned opposite the machine tool; a piece to be processed supported by the piece-holder table, wherein for the piece or the table a piece/table axis may be defined incident to the main axis of the machine tool; wherein the optical line is attached to the bench in an intermediate position along the main axis and a point of reference may be defined for it as the origin of the reference system, said point of reference corresponding to the intersection between the main axis and the piece/table axis. ### Claim 18 A method for positioning an upright base of a machine tool along a bench extending along a main axis, comprising the steps of: acquiring at least one temperature value of an optical line or linear encoder arranged along the bench, wherein for the optical line a point of reference can be identified as origin of the reference system; detection of the movement of the reference point of the optical line; processing the temperature value to determine the shift value due at least to the temperature incurred by an ideal position of the optical line and to determine a correct position along the optical line depending on the ideal position and the shift value, on the basis of the linear heat expansion coefficient of the optical line and according to the shift of the reference point; and translating the upright base along the bench to the correct position. ### Claim 19 A machine tool comprising: a bench extending along a main axis; an upright base, which surmounts the bench and is supported by it, translatable in a controllable manner along the main axis; an upright, fixed to the upright base and supported by it, extending mainly along a vertical axis; a carriage supported by the upright, translatable in a controllable manner along the vertical axis; carriage translation command devices suitable for controlling the imposed translation of the carriage; a carriage position sensor, suitable for detecting the position of the carriage along the vertical axis, comprising an optical line or linear encoder, fixed to the upright, for which a point of reference is identifiable as the origin of a reference system; temperature detection elements of the optical line suitable for measuring the temperature of the optical line in at least one position along the vertical axis and to generate respective temperature signals; detection elements for detecting the shift of the reference point of the optical line suitable for generating a point of reference shift signal; and management elements operatively connected to the temperature detection elements of the optical line and to the translation control elements of the carriage and to the point of reference shift detection elements suitable for processing the temperature signals, the point of reference shift signal and the signals of said carriage translation control elements to determine a correction signal for the carriage translation control elements. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The machine tool of claim 19, chosen from the group comprising horizontal milling-boring machines, a vertical mobile gantry milling machine, a vertical milling machine with moving table, a turning and milling centre, a rotary slot milling machine, a roto-translating table, a horizontal machining centre, a vertical machining centre, a vertical boring machine, a boring machine for deep holes, a transfer machine, for example of a large dimension. ### Claim 21 A machine tool comprising: a bench extending along a main axis; an upright base, which surmounts the bench and is supported by it, translatable in a controllable manner along the main axis; an upright, fixed to the upright base and supported by it, extending mainly along a vertical axis; a carriage supported by the upright, translatable in a controllable manner along the vertical axis; a mandrel-holder, supported by the carriage, and a mandrel supported by the mandrel-holder, rotatable around a work axis, at right angles to the vertical axis and the main axis, to carry out the processing, wherein the mandrel-holder is translatable in a controlled manner in the direction of said work axis; a position sensor of the mandrel-holder, suitable to detect the position of the mandrel-holder along the work axis, comprising an optical line or linear encoder, fixed to the upright, for which a point of reference is identifiable as the origin of the reference system; temperature detection elements of the optical line suitable for detecting the temperature of the optical line in at least one position along the work axis and to generate respective temperature signals; detection elements for detecting the shift of the point of reference of the optical line, suitable for generating a point of reference shift signal; management elements operatively connected to the temperature detection elements of the optical line and to the translation control elements of the mandrel-holder, and to detection elements for detecting the shift of the point of reference, suitable for processing the temperature signals, the reference point shift signal and the signals of said control elements of the translation of the mandrel-holder to determine a correction signal for the control elements of mandrel-holder translation.