System and method for transferring part being machined

Abstract

A system and method for transferring a part being machined from a first fixture to a second fixture such that an unmachined side of the part can be exposed for machining, wherein the first fixture is secured to a first actuator and the second fixture is secured to a second actuator. The method includes securing the part to a first jig and machining a plurality of sides of the part other than the side to which the part is coupled to the first jig. The method includes sliding the first actuator away from the second actuator; operating the first actuator and the second actuator such that the part fixed to the first clamp is aligned with the second clamp; sliding back the first actuator towards the second actuator; fixing the part to the second clamp and releasing the part from the first clamp; and again sliding the first actuator away from the second actuator.

Description

[0001] Cross-citation to related applications

[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of application No. 18 / 459,648, entitled “In-Process Part Processing Orientation Variation / Index,” filed on September 1, 2023, and claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 374,837, filed on September 7, 2022, entitled “In-Process Part Processing Orientation Variation / Index.” Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to a system and method for transferring a part being machined from one fixture to another, and more particularly to a system and method for transferring a part being machined from one fixture to another using aligned rotary actuators so that an unmachined side of a part secured to one fixture can be exposed for machining, wherein the one fixture is mounted to a slide. Background Art

[0004] When machining a part for a specific application (e.g., removing metal from a part blank to form it, drilling a hole in it, etc.), the part is placed in a fixture in a machine (such as a CNC machine, lathe, etc.) either manually or by a robot that picks the part or part blank from, for example, a bin. The part is held on one side by the fixture, for example, using a mechanical chuck or pneumatics, which allows the machine to access all other sides of the part, for example, all five sides if the part is a cube. While the part is held in the fixture, one or more machine tools that can move in the X, Y, and Z directions are used to machine the part. The fixture may be attached to an actuator that rotates the part clockwise and counterclockwise, for example, in the Y direction, providing another axis of freedom for machining. An additional fixture coupled to a rotary actuator may also be provided that rotates the part in the X direction. Computer-controlled operation controls the tool and actuator to machine the part in the desired manner from all angles.

[0005] When machining of a part is complete, it is often necessary to machine the part on the side held by the fixture. To do this, the part is removed from the fixture manually or robotically, flipped, and then repositioned in the fixture so that it is held on its machined side, with the tool now close to the unmachined side. Alternatively, the partially machined part can be placed in another fixture in the same machine, with the tool close to the unmachined side, or in a fixture on a different machine. To improve efficiency, reduce machining time, minimize costs, etc., it may be desirable to simplify the steps of changing a part from one fixture to another to machine the side of the part held by the one fixture. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The following discussion discloses and describes a system and method for transferring a part being machined from a first fixture to a second fixture so that an unmachined side of the part can be exposed for machining, wherein the first fixture is secured to a first actuator and the second fixture is secured to a second actuator. The method includes securing the part to the first fixture and machining multiple sides of the part other than the side on which the part is coupled to the first fixture. The method includes: sliding the first actuator away from the second actuator; operating the first actuator and the second actuator so that the part secured to the first fixture is aligned with the second fixture; sliding the first actuator back toward the second actuator; securing the part to the second fixture and releasing the part from the first fixture; and again sliding the first actuator away from the second actuator. The method then includes machining the side of the part that could not be machined when the part was coupled to the first fixture.

[0007] Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a cutaway isometric view of a machine for machining parts, wherein the machine includes two fixtures that are rotatable and configured relative to each other to transfer a part from one fixture to the other fixture such that an unmachined side of a part secured to one fixture is exposed for machining when the part is secured to the other fixture;

[0009] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 a cutaway isometric view of the machine in FIG, showing the orientation of the fixtures relative to each other for transferring a part from one fixture to another;

[0010] Figure 3 After the part has been transferred from one fixture to another Figure 1 a cutaway isometric view of the machine in;

[0011] Figure 4 is a cutaway isometric view of an embodiment of a part after the part has been machined;

[0012] Figure 5 is a cutaway isometric view of a machine for machining a part, wherein the machine includes two fixtures that are rotatable and configured relative to each other to transfer a part from one fixture to the other fixture so that an unmachined side of the part secured to the one fixture can be exposed for machining when the part is secured to the other fixture, and wherein one of the fixtures is mounted to a slide;

[0013] Figure 6 yes Figure 5a cutaway isometric view of the machine in , showing one clamp sliding away from the other clamp and the clamps being in an upright position and the one clamp holding the part;

[0014] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 a cutaway isometric view of the machine in , showing one clamp sliding away from the other clamp and the clamps rotating to face each other with the one clamp holding the part;

[0015] Figure 8 yes Figure 5 a cutaway isometric view of the machine in FIG, showing one fixture sliding toward another and the fixtures facing each other to exchange a part from one fixture to the other;

[0016] Figure 9 yes Figure 5 a cutaway isometric view of the machine in , showing one clamp sliding away from the other and the clamps rotating to face each other with the other clamp holding the part; and

[0017] Figure 10 yes Figure 5 A cutaway isometric view of the machine in FIG. 1 shows the clamp in an upright position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The following discussion of embodiments of the present disclosure, which relates to a system and method for transferring a part being machined from one fixture to another using aligned actuators so that the unmachined side of the part can be exposed for machining, wherein the one fixture is mounted to a slide, is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present disclosure or its applications or uses.

[0019] Figure 1is a cutaway isometric view of a machine 10 for machining a part, such as part 12. Machine 1 is intended to represent any CNC machine, lathe, drilling machine, etc., suitable for machining part 12 in a desired manner consistent with the discussion herein. Machine 10 includes a rotary tool holder assembly 14 that holds various tools (not shown) (e.g., cutting tools, drilling tools, etc.) in tool holders 16 around its periphery for machining part 12. Tool holder assembly 14 is controllable for operation in the X, Y, and Z directions. Machine 10 also includes side-by-side rotary actuators 20 and 22 mounted to a common block 24 located on a table 26. The rotary actuators add two additional control axes to machine 10. Actuator 20 rotates a circular member 28 in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and actuator 22 rotates a circular member 30 in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, here along the Y axis. Table 26 is also movable along the X and Y axes. The machine 10 also includes a fixture 34 having a fixture holder 36 mounted to the component 28 and a fixture 38 having a fixture holder 40 mounted to the component 30. The fixture 34 also includes a vise 42 having vise jaws 44 mounted to the fixture holder 36, and the fixture 38 also includes a vise 46 having vise jaws 48 mounted to the fixture holder 40, wherein the jaws 44 and 48 are operable to hold and release the part 12 while it is being machined. In this non-limiting embodiment, the vises 42 and 46 are oriented at 90 degrees relative to each other. The part 12 is Figure 1 1 is shown in an upright position fixed to the fixture 34 to prepare for processing by the tool. The parts 12 are loaded into the fixture 34 as part blanks 50 manually or by a robot (not shown) from a magazine 52 of blanks 50, which is also on the work table 26.

[0020] After the part 12 has been machined on all sides except the side held by the clamp 34, the actuator 20 rotates the clamp 34 90° counterclockwise and the actuator 22 rotates the clamp 38 90° clockwise, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown. Actuators 20 and 22 are positioned and configured on table 24 so that when rotated in this manner, part 12 is aligned and contacted with vise jaws 48 on fixture 38 at the machined side of part 12. Vise jaws 48 are then engaged to hold part 12, and vise jaws 44 are disengaged to release part 12. Actuator 20 then rotates fixture 34 90° clockwise and actuator 22 rotates fixture 38 90° counterclockwise so that part 12 is now upright in fixture 38 (as shown in FIG. Figure 3 ), so that the unmachined side of the part 12 is accessible and can be machined by the tool. Figure 4 is an isometric view of a representative embodiment of part 12 after part 12 has been machined.

[0021] As described above, machine 10 is merely an illustrative illustration of a machine suitable for the purposes described herein. Other machines with other fixture orientations (e.g., stacked fixtures, fixtures that can rotate in the X or Z axis, etc.) may also be used within the scope of the present disclosure. Other machines may be configured and oriented to transfer a part from one fixture to another to machine the unmachined side of the part as described above. For example, actuators 20 and 22 may be stacked and oriented along the Z axis to provide a five-axis machine, and still be configured to transfer parts in this manner.

[0022] For the above embodiment, when the clamps 34 and 38 are rotated to face each other to exchange the part 12 from the clamp 34 to the clamp 38 as described, the clamps 34 and 38 need to be aligned very precisely along the Y axis. If this precision is not maintained, the exchange of the part 12 may be compromised. According to another embodiment, one clamp can slide relative to the other to provide a reduced alignment accuracy requirement.

[0023] Figure 5 FIG2 is a cutaway isometric view of a machine 60 for machining parts 62 and 64 illustrating this embodiment, wherein like elements are identified by like reference numerals. In this design, fixture 34 includes another vise 68 having a vise jaw 70 secured to fixture holder 36 adjacent to vise 42, and fixture 38 includes another vise 72 having a vise jaw 74 secured to fixture holder 40 adjacent to vise 46, wherein vises 42 and 46 hold part 62, and vises 68 and 72 hold part 64. In this non-limiting embodiment, vises 42, 46, 68, and 72 are oriented in the same direction. Additionally, block 24 is replaced by a fixed block 80, upon which only rotary actuator 22 is located. Rotary actuator 20 is located on a sliding block 82 mounted to table 26, wherein sliding block 82 includes a slide 84 that operates to move rotary actuator 20 along the Y-axis using servo motor 86.

[0024] Figure 5 The machine 60 is shown in its initial position after parts 62 and 64 have been loaded into the vises 42 and 68, respectively. In this position, the slide 84 is located on the side of the slide block 84 closest to the actuator 22. As described above, the parts 62 and 64 are machined on all sides except the side held by the vises 42 and 68. The slide 84 is then operated by the servo motor 86 to slide the actuator 20 away from the actuator 22 along the Y axis, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 As also described above, the actuator 20 rotates the clamp 34 90° counterclockwise, and the actuator 22 rotates the clamp 38 90° clockwise, as shown in FIG. Figure 7Because the actuator 20 is slid away from the actuator 22, the parts 62 and 64 do not contact the vise jaws 48 and 70 in this position. The slide 84 is then operated to slide the actuator 20 back toward the actuator 22, as shown. Figure 8 As shown. Actuators 20 and 22 are positioned and configured so that when slide 84 slides back toward actuator 22, part 62 is aligned with and in contact with vise jaws 48 on fixture 38 on the side that has been machined of part 62, and part 64 is aligned with and in contact with vise jaws 74 on fixture 38 on the side that has been machined of part 64. Then, vise jaws 48 are engaged to hold part 62 and vise jaws 44 are disengaged to release part 62, and vise jaws 74 are engaged to hold part 64 and vise jaws 70 are disengaged to release part 64. As shown Figure 9 As shown, slide 84 is again operated by servo motor 86 to slide actuator 20 away from actuator 22. Actuator 20 then rotates clamp 34 90° clockwise, and actuator 22 rotates clamp 38 90° counterclockwise, so that parts 62 and 64 are now upright in clamp 38 (as shown in FIG. Figure 10 ), so that the unmachined sides of parts 62 and 64 are accessible and can be machined.

[0025] The foregoing discussion discloses and describes only exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize from this discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for transferring a part being machined from a first fixture to a second fixture, the first fixture being mounted to a first actuator and the second fixture being mounted to a second actuator, the method comprising: securing the part to the first fixture; machining the part while the part is secured to the first fixture; sliding the first actuator away from the second actuator; operating the first actuator and the second actuator so that the part fixed to the first fixture is aligned with the second fixture; sliding the first actuator toward the second actuator; securing the part to the second fixture and releasing the part from the first fixture; sliding the first actuator away from the second actuator again; as well as A side of the part that cannot be machined when the part is coupled to the first fixture is machined.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first actuator and the second actuator are rotary actuators.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: The first actuator and the second actuator are positioned side by side.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: Operating the first actuator and the second actuator so that the part fixed to the first fixture is aligned with the second fixture includes: rotating the first actuator 90° clockwise or counterclockwise from an upright position and rotating the second actuator 90° clockwise or counterclockwise from an upright position.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein Machining a side of the part that cannot be machined when the part is coupled to the first fixture includes rotating the second actuator to an upright position.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein: Machining the part includes using a tool that is movable in XYZ directions, and wherein the first actuator and the second actuator rotate in the Y direction and the first actuator slides in the Y direction.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein: Machining the part includes using a tool that is movable in XYZ directions, and wherein the first actuator and the second actuator rotate in the Z direction.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first fixture and the second fixture include a vise for holding the part.

9. A method for machining a part by a machine, the machine comprising: a first rotary actuator; a first clamp coupled to the first rotary actuator; a second rotary actuator; and a second fixture coupled to the second rotary actuator, the first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator being positioned side by side, the method comprising: securing the part to the first fixture; machining the part while the part is secured to the first fixture; sliding the first rotary actuator away from the second rotary actuator; Operating the first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator so that the part fixed to the first fixture is aligned with the second fixture includes: rotating the first rotary actuator 90° clockwise or counterclockwise from an upright position, and rotating the second rotary actuator 90° clockwise or counterclockwise from an upright position; sliding the first rotary actuator toward the second rotary actuator; securing the part to the second fixture and releasing the part from the first fixture; sliding the first rotary actuator away from the second rotary actuator again; rotating the second rotary actuator to an upright position; and A side of the part that cannot be machined when the part is coupled to the first fixture is machined.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: Machining the part includes using a tool that is movable in XYZ directions, and wherein the first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator rotate in the Y direction.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein Machining the part includes using a tool that is movable in XYZ directions, and wherein the first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator rotate in the Z direction.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein The first fixture and the second fixture include a vise for holding the part.

13. A machine for machining parts, the machine comprising: First actuator; a first clamp coupled to the first actuator and operable to hold the part; a second actuator located on the slide; as well as a second fixture coupled to the second actuator and operable to hold the part, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are configured and positioned relative to each other so that the part can be transferred from the first fixture to the second fixture so that when the part is coupled to the second fixture, an unmachined side of the part previously coupled to the first fixture is exposed for machining.

14. The machine according to claim 13, wherein The first actuator and the second actuator are rotary actuators.

15. The machine according to claim 14, wherein The first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator are positioned side by side.

16. The machine according to claim 15, wherein The first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator are configured and positioned so that the first rotary actuator rotates 90° clockwise or counterclockwise from an upright position, and the second rotary actuator rotates 90° oppositely clockwise or counterclockwise from an upright position, to transfer the part from the first fixture to the second fixture.

17. The machine of claim 14, wherein: The second rotary actuator is rotated back to an upright position to machine the unmachined side of the part.

18. The machine of claim 14, wherein: The machine uses a tool movable in XYZ directions to machine the part, and wherein the first actuator and the second actuator rotate in the Y direction.

19. The machine of claim 14, wherein: The machine uses a tool movable in XYZ directions to machine the part, and wherein the first actuator and the second actuator rotate in the Z direction.

20. The machine of claim 13, wherein: The first fixture and the second fixture include a vise for holding the part.

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