Double worktable compound machine tool with non-standard tool magazine

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of machine tool technology and discloses a dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine. The machine tool base has a vertical support at each end, movable along the X and Y directions. Each vertical support has a spindle box that can be raised and lowered along the Z direction. A Y-directed sliding saddle is located between the two vertical supports on the machine tool base. The sliding saddle has two sets of independently sliding slides along the Y direction, designated as a first slide and a second slide. A first worktable is located on the first slide, and a second worktable is located on the second slide. Both the first and second slides have non-standard tool magazines, which are positioned facing each other and located at the closest end of the first and second slides. This invention offers the advantages of high processing efficiency and convenient and quick tool changing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of machine tool equipment technology, and in particular to a dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of machining, machine tools are one of the core pieces of equipment. To improve machining efficiency, existing machine tools typically employ multi-spindle structures, but their accompanying worktable systems are often quite simple, typically a single-worktable design. This design has a significant drawback: while a part is being machined, the operator cannot prepare to clamp the next part; they must wait for the current machining task to complete and the machine tool to stop before loading and unloading can be performed. This results in a significant amount of non-productive time and severely impacts the overall machining efficiency of the machine tool.

[0003] Furthermore, with the increasing complexity of machining processes, especially in industries such as aerospace and mold manufacturing, there is a growing demand for ultra-long cutting tools (e.g., those exceeding 800mm in length). However, conventional machine tools, for the sake of compact structure and safe tool changing, typically integrate their tool magazines near the column or spindle box, resulting in limited internal space that cannot accommodate such long tools. This severely restricts the machine tool's ability to machine complex features such as deep cavities and deep holes.

[0004] To address the storage issue of extra-long tools, some manufacturers have attempted to install non-standard tool magazines on the machine tool base. This requires increasing the size of the machine tool base to provide sufficient space for the installation of independent non-standard tool magazines. On the other hand, these tool magazines are usually independently fixed and located far from the worktable. When the spindle needs to be replaced with an extra-long tool, it must be moved a long distance, traversing the entire machining area and even the machine tool base. This not only increases tool change time and reduces the continuity of machining cycles, but also places higher demands on the positioning accuracy and dynamic performance of the machine tool due to the long-distance, high-speed movement, increasing the complexity of control and equipment costs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve at least some of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine that has high processing efficiency and convenient and quick tool changing.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine includes a machine tool base. Each end of the machine tool base is provided with a movable support along the X and Y directions. Each support is equipped with a spindle box that can be raised and lowered along the Z direction. A Y-direction distributed slide saddle is located between the two supports on the machine tool base. The slide saddle has two sets of independently sliding slides along the Y direction, namely a first slide and a second slide. A first worktable is provided on the first slide, and a second worktable is provided on the second slide. Non-standard tool magazines are provided on both the first and second slides, and the two non-standard tool magazines are distributed facing each other and located at the closer ends of the first and second slides.

[0007] By adopting the above technical solution: the dual worktables enable simultaneous loading and unloading of materials on one worktable while machining, achieving overlap between machining and auxiliary time, significantly improving machine tool utilization. Furthermore, the two worktables move independently via two slides, making them more maneuverable and flexible, and the shortened travel of a single worktable improves movement accuracy. On the other hand, the non-standard tool magazine is directly mounted on the slide, allowing it to move with the worktables. This means that during tool changes, the spindle only needs to move a small distance or even not at all to approach the tool magazine. Combined with the micro-motion of the stand, this significantly shortens the tool change path, reduces ineffective stand movement, and makes tool changes faster. Especially for extra-long and heavy tools, the reduced displacement and time during tool changes also improves safety.

[0008] Preferably, the non-standard tool magazine includes a tool holder plate and several tool holders located on the inner edge of the tool holder plate. Each tool holder is equipped with a tool clamp for tool positioning. The middle part of the tool holder plate has a tool support corresponding to the tool holder, and the top surface of the tool support has a positioning groove. When a tool enters the non-standard tool magazine and is positioned by the tool clamp and the corresponding tool support, the tool is in a horizontal state. The cooperation between the tool holder and the tool support ensures that extra-long tools are precisely clamped in the tool holder and are in a horizontal state. The tool support not only provides reliable support for the middle part of the extra-long tool, preventing the tool from sagging or wobbling due to gravity, but the positioning groove also ensures the precise placement of the tool, avoiding the risk of collision caused by tool displacement during tool changes.

[0009] Preferably, the tool holders are alternately distributed at both ends of the inner side of the tool holder plate, and the tool holders and the tool holder plate are an integral structure. The alternating distribution of the tool holders allows non-standard tool magazines to accommodate more tools in a limited space, increasing tool magazine capacity, reducing interference during tool changing, and making them more compatible with dual spindle box structures; the integral structure ensures the installation accuracy and overall rigidity of the tool holders, avoiding the impact on tool changing positioning accuracy caused by tool holder loosening due to long-term use.

[0010] Preferably, the tool holder includes a connecting seat and a tool holder body. The connecting seat has two mutually perpendicular connecting surfaces: a first connecting surface and a second connecting surface. The first connecting surface has a vertical slot, and the second connecting surface has a horizontal slot. The vertical slot is bolted to the tool holder plate, and the horizontal slot is bolted to the tool holder body. Through the vertical and horizontal slots, the tool holder body can achieve minute adjustments in both horizontal and vertical directions. This adjustable structure can precisely compensate for accumulated errors caused by tool holder machining and assembly, ensuring that the positioning groove of the tool holder is accurately aligned with the centerline of the tool holder. This guarantees that extra-long tools are always clamped and supported under controlled conditions, further improving the smoothness and safety of tool changing.

[0011] Preferably, both spindle boxes are configured as horizontal spindle boxes, with their spindles distributed in parallel. The axis of the tool in the non-standard tool magazine is also parallel to the axis of the horizontal spindle box. Since the horizontal spindle is parallel to the tool axis, the spindle only needs to perform two-dimensional movement in the Y and Z directions during tool changing, simplifying the tool changing logic and actions. Furthermore, this structure allows extra-long tools to be directly grasped in a horizontal position, eliminating the need for tool rotation and improving tool changing efficiency.

[0012] Preferably, a tool setter is provided on the side of the tool holder. The tool setter is directly integrated near the tool magazine, allowing for convenient detection and calibration of the tool's length and diameter after tool change, eliminating the need to move the tool to other locations, reducing unnecessary movement, and effectively shortening the tool setting time.

[0013] Preferably, both the first and second worktables are rotary worktables. The top surface of the rotary worktable is configured as a rectangle with a length and width of 'a'. The minimum distance between the tool holder plate and the rotary worktable is configured as 'b', where the value of b / a is configured to be 0.35-0.45. By setting the size of the rotary worktable and the distance to the tool magazine within a specific ratio range, a compact layout of the tool magazine is ensured, avoiding excessive occupation of workspace. It also ensures that the rotary worktable does not interfere with non-standard tool magazines during rotation and effectively reduces the movement distance of the spindle head during tool changes.

[0014] Preferably, both ends of the slide saddle extend beyond the machine tool base along the Y direction, and the distance by which both ends of the slide saddle extend beyond the machine tool base along the Y direction is configured as c, where the value of c / (a+b) is configured as 1.1-1.5. The design of the slide saddle extending beyond the base allows the slide table to be moved outside the machining area, providing ample space for loading and unloading operations. The set ratio range ensures that in the non-machining area (the suspended portion of the slide saddle), the slide table has sufficient travel to completely move the worktable and tool magazine out, providing a safe and convenient working space for the operator, while preventing the overall machine tool structure from becoming excessively large, thus balancing practicality and compactness.

[0015] Preferably, the machine tool base is provided with chip removal grooves on both sides of the slide saddle, and a chip removal screw is installed in each chip removal groove. One end of the chip removal groove is open to the outside, and the other end of the chip removal groove is provided with a motor to drive the chip removal screw to rotate. Because the Y-axis dimension of the machine tool base is large, manual chip removal is very troublesome. Through the action of the chip removal grooves and chip removal screws, the chips generated during machining can be discharged from the machine tool in a timely and efficient manner. This is particularly suitable for the large amount of chips generated during the machining of ultra-long tools, avoiding the impact of chip accumulation on slide movement, workpiece positioning, and tool retraction, ensuring continuous operation of the machine tool and a clean machining area.

[0016] Preferably, the bottom of both ends of the slide saddle is provided with several support members. The support members provide additional rigid support for the suspended part of the slide saddle that extends beyond the base, effectively eliminating cantilever sagging or deformation caused by slide table movement and processing vibration, and ensuring that the slide table still has high-precision movement stability and positioning accuracy in the suspended state.

[0017] Therefore, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: (1) The two worktables work together, which significantly reduces the waiting time for loading and unloading the machine tool and improves the processing efficiency; (2) The non-standard tool magazine (which stores extra-long tools) is directly installed on the slide and moves with the worktable, which will not occupy the space of the machine tool base, and the tool changing distance is closer, the spindle box moves a shorter distance, and the tool changing efficiency is significantly improved. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of one structure of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The left view.

[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The front view.

[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Top view.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a non-standard tool magazine.

[0023] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Another perspective view.

[0024] In the diagram: machine tool base 1, stand 11, spindle box 12, slide saddle 2, slide table 21, first slide table 211, second slide table 212, first worktable 213, second worktable 214, non-standard tool magazine 3, tool holder plate 31, tool holder 32, tool clip 321, tool support 33, connecting seat 331, tool support body 332, positioning groove 333, first connecting surface 334, second connecting surface 335, vertical slot hole 336, horizontal slot hole 337, tool setter 322, horizontal spindle box 121, chip removal groove 4, chip removal screw 41, motor 42, support component 5, cutting tool 6. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the technical problems to be solved, the technical solutions, and the beneficial technical effects of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and several exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention.

[0026] It should be understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., used herein are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, nor should they be construed as implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Features specified as "first" or "second" may expressly or implicitly indicate that at least one of those features is included.

[0027] like Figures 1-6 The illustrated dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine includes a machine base 1. At each end of the machine base 1 is a movable support 11 along the X and Y directions. Each support 11 is equipped with a spindle box 12 that can be raised and lowered along the Z direction. A Y-direction distributed slide saddle 2 is located on the machine base 1 between the two supports 11. The slide saddle 2 has two sets of independently sliding slides 21 along the Y direction, namely a first slide 211 and a second slide 212. A first worktable 213 is mounted on the first slide 211, and a second worktable 214 is mounted on the second slide 212. Non-standard tool magazines 3 are mounted on both the first slide 211 and the second slide 212, facing each other and located at the closest end of the first slide 211 and the second slide 212. (Reference) Figure 1One non-standard tool magazine is installed at the rear end of the first slide, and the other non-standard tool magazine is installed at the front end of the second slide. The dual worktables enable the machine tool to operate in a parallel mode of "processing while loading and unloading." When the first worktable 213 is processing in the machining area, the second worktable 214 can move to the end of the slide saddle for loading and unloading, and vice versa, greatly reducing processing waiting time and improving equipment utilization. The non-standard tool magazine 3 is directly fixed to the slide 21 and moves synchronously with its respective worktable. When the spindle head 12 changes tools, it only needs to move a very short distance (the distance between the non-standard tool magazine and the corresponding worktable) to perform the tool change, greatly shortening the tool change path between the spindle head 12 and the non-standard tool magazine 3. For example, when the spindle needs to change tools, simply control the stand 11 to move slightly in the X and Y directions, and at the same time, make the corresponding slide 21 move the non-standard tool magazine 3 to the vicinity of the spindle. The tool changing process can be completed near the machining area, avoiding the spindle having to travel long distances to and from the fixed tool magazine, making the storage and replacement of extra-long tools faster, and also improving the safety of the tool changing process to a certain extent.

[0028] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, the non-standard tool magazine 3 includes a tool holder plate 31 and several tool holders 32 located on the inner edge of the tool holder plate 31. Each tool holder 32 is equipped with a tool clamp 321 for tool positioning. The middle part of the tool holder plate 31 is equipped with a tool support 33 corresponding to the tool holder 32, and the top surface of the tool support 33 is equipped with a positioning groove 333. When a tool enters the non-standard tool magazine 3 and is positioned by the tool clamp 321 and the corresponding tool support 33, the tool is in a horizontal state. The tool support 33 includes a connecting seat 331 and a tool support body 332. The connecting seat 331 is equipped with two mutually perpendicular first connecting surfaces 334 and second connecting surfaces 335. The first connecting surface 334 is equipped with a vertical slot 336, and the second connecting surface 335 is equipped with a horizontal slot 337. The vertical slot 336 is bolted to the tool holder plate 31, and the horizontal slot 337 is bolted to the tool support body 332.

[0029] In some embodiments, both spindle boxes 12 are configured as horizontal spindle boxes 121, with the spindles of the two horizontal spindle boxes 121 distributed in parallel. The axis of the tool in the non-standard tool magazine 3 is distributed in parallel with the spindle of the horizontal spindle box 121, and a tool setter 322 is provided on the side of the tool holder 32.

[0030] The tool holder 321 (such as a spring collet) clamps the main shank of the tool, while the tool rest 33 supports the middle or front of the extra-long tool through the positioning groove 333 on its top surface, forming a double support structure with one in front and one behind. The positioning groove 333 is usually a V-shaped groove. For extra-long tools with a length exceeding 800mm, gravity will cause the tool tip to droop and wobble, but the tool rest 33 effectively counteracts this adverse effect, ensuring the stability of the tool in the magazine. The tool holders 32 are alternately distributed along the inner edge of the tool holder plate 31, making full use of the longitudinal space of the tool holder plate 31. More tool positions can be arranged in the limited Z-axis space, and the distance between each tool position is optimized to avoid the tool tips of adjacent extra-long tools colliding with each other. Through the design of the horizontal and vertical slots on the connecting seat 331, the tool rest body 332 can be finely adjusted in height and horizontal position to meet the stable support of different types of tools, ensuring that each extra-long tool can be simultaneously and accurately supported by the tool holder 32 and the tool rest 33, forming a stable and accurate tool storage unit. Furthermore, the horizontal spindle is designed to be parallel to the tool axis, eliminating the need to adjust the tool's posture during tool changes and further improving the convenience of tool changes.

[0031] like Figure 4 As shown, both the first worktable 213 and the second worktable 214 are configured as rotary worktables. The top surface of the rotary worktable is configured as a rectangle with a length and width of 'a'. The minimum distance between the tool holder plate 31 and the rotary worktable is configured as 'b', where the value of b / a is configured as 0.35-0.45. Both ends of the sliding saddle 2 extend beyond the machine tool base 1 along the Y direction. The distance between the two ends of the sliding saddle 2 and the machine tool base 1 along the Y direction is configured as 'c', where the value of c / (a+b) is configured as 1.1-1.5. By optimizing the ratio of the rotary worktable dimension 'a' to the tool magazine distance 'b', it is ensured that the rotating body of the rotary worktable will not spatially interfere with the non-standard tool magazine 3 when performing multi-face machining. Meanwhile, the design of the slide saddle 2 extending beyond the base 1 creates an independent space for loading and unloading. The setting of the ratio c / (a+b) precisely ensures that when the slide 21 moves to the outermost end, the worktable and its entire tool system (including extra-long tools) can be moved out of the machine tool frame, making it convenient for operators to safely and without obstacles to hoist large workpieces, while not affecting the Y-axis movement of the worktable in the processing area.

[0032] like Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, chip removal grooves 4 are provided on both sides of the slide saddle 2 on the machine tool base 1. Chip removal screws 41 are installed in the chip removal grooves 4. One end of the chip removal groove 4 is connected to the outside, and the other end of the chip removal groove 4 is equipped with a motor 42 that drives the chip removal screws 41 to rotate. The chips generated during machining fall into the chip removal grooves 4 on both sides under the action of gravity. The motor 42 drives the chip removal screws 41 to rotate, continuously pushing the chips to the external outlet, realizing automatic chip removal. For the large amount of long strip chips generated during the machining of ultra-long tools, the screw-type chip removal has excellent handling capacity. like Figure 2 As shown, several support members 5 are provided at the bottom of both ends of the slide saddle 2. These support members 5 can be reinforcing ribs or metal columns connecting the machine tool base 1 and the suspended end of the slide saddle 2. By adding support members 5, the overall rigidity of the slide saddle 2 is significantly enhanced, greatly reducing the deformation of the slide saddle 2 caused by the movement of the slide table 21 or cutting force, ensuring its motion accuracy and support stability in the suspended part, thereby ensuring the workpiece machining accuracy.

[0033] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the working principle of this invention is as follows: Before starting the machine tool, the operator loads the required cutting tools 6 (non-standard extra-long cutting tools) into the non-standard tool magazines 3 on the first slide 211 and the second slide 212 according to the machining plan, and clamps them with tool holders 321 and supports them with tool supports 33. When the workpiece on one worktable is finished, the slide 21 immediately moves its worktable to the material changing area at one end of the slide saddle 2, and the operator immediately loads and unloads the workpiece; at the same time, another worktable is carrying another workpiece into the machining area to begin machining. When changing tools, the non-standard tool magazine 3 on the corresponding slide 21 moves with the slide 21 to the vicinity of the spindle box 12, and the spindle only needs to move a short distance to complete the tool exchange. The replaced tool is also stably supported by the tool support 33. Throughout the process, the parallel working mode of the two worktables completely eliminates the waiting time for loading and unloading, and at the same time, the use of the follow-up non-standard tool magazine greatly shortens the tool changing path, improving tool changing efficiency and safety.

[0034] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the directions or positional relationships indicated by up, down, left, right, inner end, outer end, one end, and the other end are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the purpose of more clearly describing the technical solutions of this invention, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0035] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, they are given for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various substitutions, alterations, and modifications can be conceived without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine, comprising a machine tool base (1), wherein each end of the machine tool base (1) is provided with a stand (11) movable along the X and Y directions, and each stand (11) is provided with a spindle box (12) movable along the Z direction, characterized in that, The machine tool base (1) is provided with a Y-direction distributed slide saddle (2) between two uprights (11). The slide saddle (2) is provided with two sets of independent slides (21) that slide along the Y direction, namely the first slide (211) and the second slide (212). The first slide (211) is provided with a first worktable (213), and the second slide (212) is provided with a second worktable (214). The first slide (211) and the second slide (212) are both provided with non-standard tool magazines (3). The two non-standard tool magazines (3) are distributed facing each other and located at the end of the first slide (211) and the second slide (212) that are close to each other.

2. The dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The non-standard tool magazine (3) includes a tool holder plate (31) and several tool holders (32) located on the inner edge of the tool holder plate (31). Each tool holder (32) is provided with a tool clip (321) for tool positioning. The middle part of the tool holder plate (31) is provided with a tool support (33) corresponding to the tool holder (32). The top surface of the tool support (33) is provided with a positioning groove (333). When the tool enters the non-standard tool magazine (3) and is positioned by the tool clip (321) and the corresponding tool support (33), the tool is in a horizontal state.

3. A dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The tool holders (32) are alternately distributed at both ends of the inner side of the tool holder plate (31), and the tool holders (32) and the tool holder plate (31) are an integral structure.

4. A dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The tool holder (33) includes a connecting seat (331) and a tool holder body (332). The connecting seat (331) has two mutually perpendicular first connecting surfaces (334) and second connecting surfaces (335). The first connecting surface (334) has a vertical slot (336), and the second connecting surface (335) has a horizontal slot (337). The vertical slot (336) is bolted to the tool holder plate (31), and the horizontal slot (337) is bolted to the tool holder body (332).

5. A dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine according to claim 4, characterized in that, Both spindle boxes (12) are configured as horizontal spindle boxes (121), and the spindles of the two horizontal spindle boxes (121) are distributed in parallel. The axis of the tool in the non-standard tool magazine (3) is distributed in parallel with the spindle of the horizontal spindle box (121).

6. A dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The tool holder (32) is provided with a tool setting device (322) on its side.

7. A dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first worktable (213) and the second worktable (214) are both configured as rotary worktables. The top surface of the rotary worktable is configured as a rectangle with a length and width of a. The minimum distance between the tool holder plate and the rotary worktable is configured as b, where the value of b / a is configured as 0.35-0.

45.

8. A dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine according to claim 7, characterized in that, Both ends of the slide saddle (2) extend beyond the machine tool base (1) along the Y direction. The distance between the two ends of the slide saddle (2) extending beyond the machine tool base (1) along the Y direction is configured as c, where the value of c / (a+b) is configured as 1.1-1.

5.

9. A dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The machine tool base (1) is provided with chip removal grooves (4) on both sides of the slide saddle (2). A chip removal screw (41) is provided in the chip removal groove (4). One end of the chip removal groove (4) is connected to the outside. The other end of the chip removal groove (4) is provided with a motor (42) that drives the chip removal screw (41) to rotate.

10. A dual-table composite machine tool with a non-standard tool magazine according to claim 8, characterized in that, The bottom of both ends of the sliding saddle (2) is provided with several supporting components (5).

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