Machine tool

Abstract

A machine tool (1) comprising a base (5) comprising a base wall (9) comprising longitudinal guide members (12), a slide (4) slidable along the longitudinal guide members (12) and comprising a first internal transverse sliding wall (18) and a second internal transverse sliding wall (21). Each internal transverse sliding wall (18, 21) comprises at least one transverse guide member (22). The machine tool (1) further comprises a carriage (3) slidable along the transverse guide members (22) of the slide (4) and a machining head support (2) configured to slide parallel to a vertical axis (Z) by means of a vertical sliding member (24) of the carriage (3). The base wall (9) is arranged obliquely with respect to a longitudinal vertical plane and the first internal transverse sliding wall (18) and the second internal transverse sliding wall (21) are arranged obliquely with respect to a transverse vertical plane.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model generally relates to a CNC machine tool having three or more axes. More specifically, this utility model relates to a milling machine comprising: a base including a longitudinal base wall; a slider configured to move along the base wall; a bracket configured to move along the slider parallel to a transverse axis; and a machining head support, i.e., a ram, which is vertically movable along the bracket and carries a machining head assembly at its lower end. Background Technology

[0002] Three-axis machine tools, such as CNC milling machines, are designed to machine materials by controlled movement along three main axes (X (longitudinal), Y (lateral), and Z (vertical)). Such known machine tools typically include a machining head supported at the lower end of a machining head support, driven by a motor (usually via a rack and pinion mechanism or a ball screw mechanism), which can move parallel to the vertical axis along a so-called carriage. The carriage can in turn move parallel to the lateral axis along a slide member, which, in some configurations of such machine tools, comprises a parallelepiped body with lateral and vertical walls equipped with lateral guide members that are coupled to corresponding lateral sliding members carried by the lateral and vertical walls of the carriage. Thus, the machining head can move in two directions: lateral and vertical. For longitudinal movement, the machine tool may include a base comprising vertical walls extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and having spaced-apart longitudinal guide members extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. The longitudinal vertical wall of the parallelepiped body of the slider faces the longitudinal vertical wall of the base, and includes a longitudinal sliding member associated with the guide member of the base.

[0003] This characteristic, found in conventional machine tool structures with vertical connecting surfaces between the base-slider and the slide-bracket, exhibits significant criticality related to uneven load distribution. These geometries do indeed generate concentrated stress transfer along the transverse and longitudinal axes, having a crucial impact on mechanical stability and resistance.

[0004] Specifically, the vertical arrangement of the contact surfaces causes localized vertical loads, increasing surface pressure on the linear guide. This amplifies the gravitational load impact from the mass of the machining head and moving parts, concentrating it on the reduced sliding surface area. The resulting mechanical stresses, combined with the dynamic forces of operation, generate asymmetrical loads that cause uneven force distribution, leading to high bending stresses on the guide, premature wear of the sliding parts due to fatigue and microplastic deformation, and a gradual loss of movement accuracy, thus reducing position repeatability. Furthermore, vibrations caused by dynamic instability resulting from the uneven load distribution degrade machining quality over time.

[0005] To mitigate these problems, oversized structural components must be used, which significantly increases production and maintenance costs while reducing the efficiency of the entire system.

[0006] Furthermore, the vertical wall arrangement results in lower efficiency in lateral force absorption because the pressure is concentrated at a few key points rather than distributed over a wider surface. This generates high stress in the vertical walls themselves, as well as in the vertical components of the slides and base, leading to deformation and bending, which can reduce the stability of the entire structure over time. Such load concentration in machine tools can be particularly problematic, especially under high machining loads or rapid movements, thus requiring frequent maintenance interventions to restore operational accuracy.

[0007] In this context, the desired solution is to distribute forces more evenly along the wall of the sliding device that carries the moving element, thereby reducing component wear and improving overall system stability while using the same materials to construct the machine tool. Utility Model Content

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and provide a machine tool that achieves a more balanced force distribution among moving components, requiring less component material compared to conventional solutions while maintaining equal or better performance. This is achieved through optimized force distribution and a structure designed to minimize resource waste while maintaining overall strength and durability. In other words, the purpose of this invention is to provide a machine tool that is lighter and equally stable compared to conventional machine tools, thereby saving production costs and using materials more efficiently.

[0009] According to this utility model, the main feature of the machine tool is that the sliding member includes a first inner transverse sliding wall and a second inner transverse sliding wall that are spaced apart from each other and extend parallel to the transverse axis, each inner transverse sliding wall including at least one transverse guide member; the bracket includes a first outer transverse bracket wall and a second outer transverse bracket wall that are spaced apart from each other and extend parallel to the transverse axis, wherein the first outer transverse bracket wall faces the first inner transverse sliding wall and includes at least one transverse sliding member slidably associated with at least one transverse guide member of the first inner transverse sliding wall, the second outer transverse bracket wall faces the second inner transverse sliding wall and includes at least one transverse sliding member slidably associated with at least one transverse guide member of the second inner transverse sliding wall, and the bracket also includes a front longitudinal bracket wall that includes a vertical guide member; the base includes a base wall that includes a longitudinal guide member, the sliding member moving along the longitudinal guide member, wherein the base wall is arranged obliquely relative to a longitudinal vertical plane, and the first inner transverse sliding wall and the second inner transverse sliding wall are arranged obliquely relative to the transverse vertical plane. In other words, the longitudinal wall of the base and the internal transverse wall of the sliding element are arranged at an angle relative to the vertical axis, i.e., they are inclined.

[0010] Compared to a vertical wall arrangement, arranging the guide and sliding members of the moving element on an inclined wall achieves a more balanced force distribution. This is because the force generated by the weight and stress of the moving element is decomposed into two components: one perpendicular to the wall (normal component) and one following the inclination of the wall (parallel component). Compared to a vertical wall, this decomposition reduces guide rail stress and increases the stability of the entire system. The parallel force component is absorbed along the inclination of the inclined wall, reducing oscillations and vibrations that could impair movement accuracy and lead to premature wear of the guides. This arrangement also helps reduce structural deformation because stress is distributed over a wider surface, rather than concentrated in a single direction as in a vertical wall.

[0011] In another embodiment, the base wall forms an angle between 40° and 80° with the longitudinal vertical plane, and the first inner transverse sliding wall and the second inner transverse sliding wall form an angle between 40° and 80° with the transverse vertical plane.

[0012] In another embodiment, the base has a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.

[0013] In another embodiment, the longitudinal wall of the slider is parallel to the base wall.

[0014] In another embodiment, the first outer transverse bracket wall is parallel to the first inner transverse sliding wall, and the second outer transverse bracket wall is parallel to the second inner transverse sliding wall.

[0015] In another embodiment, the slider includes a first lateral sliding body and a second lateral sliding body that are spaced apart from each other, extend parallel to the transverse axis, and are connected at one end by a longitudinal sliding wall. The first lateral sliding body includes an inner upper portion and a vertical lower portion that include a first inner transverse sliding wall, and the second lateral sliding body includes an inner upper portion and a vertical lower portion that include a second inner transverse sliding wall.

[0016] In another embodiment, the base is supported by a base structure comprising a pair of spaced-apart base bodies extending parallel to a transverse axis and having respective front portions extending beyond the base wall, wherein a respective spindle is fixed to the upper surface of each front portion of the base body.

[0017] In another embodiment, the bracket, slider, and machining head support are driven by a linear motor, rack and pinion mechanism, or ball screw.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the machine tool according to the present invention is a milling machine. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided by way of non-limiting example, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the three-axis machine tool according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Side view,

[0022] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A schematic exploded 3D diagram,

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the sliding component of a machine tool according to the present invention, and

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a machine tool bracket according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] First see Figure 1 and Figure 2 Reference numeral 1 in the attached figure generally indicates a first embodiment of a machine tool according to the present invention that operates on three axes, namely a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, and a vertical axis, respectively denoted as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis.

[0026] Machine tool 1 includes a machining head support 2, also known as a ram, which carries the machining head T at its lower end and is configured to move along a bracket 3 parallel to the vertical Z-axis. The bracket 3 is configured to move along a slider 4 parallel to the transverse Y-axis. The slider 4 is configured to move along a base 5 parallel to the longitudinal X-axis.

[0027] The base 5 is formed of a body having a generally trapezoidal cross-section and is supported by a base structure 6, which includes a pair of spaced-apart base bodies 7 extending parallel to a transverse Y-axis. Each base body 7 includes a front portion 8 that extends beyond the base wall 9 (to be described) and has an upper surface 10 to which a corresponding main shaft 11 is fixed.

[0028] As in Figure 3 As can be better seen, the base wall 9 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis and includes, for example, a pair of longitudinal guide members 12 in the form of tracks, which are spaced apart and extend parallel to the longitudinal axis. Advantageously, according to the invention, the base wall 9 is arranged obliquely relative to the longitudinal vertical plane, such that the longitudinal guide members 12 are offset relative to the vertical plane, i.e., not aligned along the same straight line perpendicular to the horizontal plane. As described above, this offset is designed to distribute the load more evenly and increase the stability of the slider 4 during its sliding movement along the longitudinal guide members 12.

[0029] like Figure 4 As can be better seen, the slider 4 is formed of a hollow body with a triangular outer shape and includes a longitudinal sliding wall 13. This longitudinal sliding wall 13 is located at the rear, also inclined relative to the vertical axis Z, and faces and is parallel to the base wall 9. The longitudinal sliding wall 13 includes two longitudinal end recesses 14, on which a corresponding longitudinal sliding member 15 is fixed, such as... Figure 1 - Figure 3 As shown, each longitudinal sliding member 15 is slidably associated with a corresponding longitudinal guide member 12 of the base wall 9.

[0030] The slider 4 also includes a first lateral sliding body 16 and a second lateral sliding body 17 spaced apart from each other. The first lateral sliding body 16 and the second lateral sliding body 17 extend parallel to the transverse axis and are connected to each other at their respective rear end edges by a longitudinal sliding wall 13.

[0031] Reference Figure 4The first lateral sliding body 16 includes a vertical lower portion 19 and an inner upper portion containing a first inner transverse sliding wall 18. The second lateral sliding body 17 includes a vertical lower portion 20 and an inner upper portion containing a second inner transverse sliding wall 21. The first inner transverse sliding wall 18 and the second inner transverse sliding wall 21 extend parallel to the transverse axis and are spaced apart from each other. Each of the first inner transverse sliding walls 18 and the second inner transverse sliding wall 21 includes a transverse guide member 22. According to another unique feature of this invention, the first inner transverse sliding wall 18 and the second inner transverse sliding wall 21 are arranged obliquely relative to the transverse vertical plane. In other words, the inner transverse walls 18 and 21 of the slider 4 are arranged obliquely relative to the vertical axis.

[0032] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 As shown, the slider 4 is connected to the motor drive device M.

[0033] Reference Figure 5 The bracket 3 is configured to slide along the transverse guide member 22 of the slider 4 to be described. The bracket 3 is formed by a body including a front vertical wall 23 on which a vertical guide member 24 extending parallel to the vertical axis Z is provided. The vertical guide member 24 is arranged to be slidably connected to a corresponding vertical sliding member 28 fixed on the processing head support 2 for the movement of the processing head support 2 parallel to the vertical axis.

[0034] In addition, see Figure 3 and Figure 5 The main body of bracket 3 includes a first outer transverse bracket wall 25 and a second outer transverse bracket wall 26 extending parallel to the transverse axis Y in its opposite lateral portions. The first outer transverse bracket wall 25 faces and is parallel to the first inner transverse sliding wall 18, and includes at least one transverse sliding member 27 slidably associated with the transverse guide member 22 of the first inner transverse sliding wall 18. The second outer transverse bracket wall 26 faces and is parallel to the second inner transverse sliding wall 21, and includes at least one transverse sliding member 27 slidably associated with the transverse guide member 22 of the second inner transverse sliding wall 21.

[0035] Therefore, it is evident that the first outer transverse bracket wall 25 and the second outer transverse bracket wall 26 are also arranged at an angle relative to the transverse vertical plane in order to optimize the force distribution, especially during the sliding of the bracket 3 on the slider 4 during workpiece processing.

[0036] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 As shown, the bracket 3 includes a rear wall 29 connected to the motor drive unit M.

[0037] As in Figure 3 As can be seen in more detail, the processing head support 2 includes an elongated body in the vertical direction, which includes a vertical guide member 28 at the rear that is connected to the vertical sliding member 24 of the bracket 3.

[0038] As described above, the machining head support 2 includes a machining head assembly T for machining a workpiece at its lower end, the workpiece being located in a workstation S, which is arranged between the front portions 8 of a pair of base bodies 7 of the base structure 6.

[0039] The machining head T is preferably a vertical milling cutter head or a milling cutter head including one or more axes of rotation, which is optimized for high-precision milling operations, but is not limited thereto, and the machining head T can be configured to perform other types of machining, such as drilling, cutting, grinding, etc., or can be configured to perform measurement operations.

[0040] A corresponding main shaft 11 is fixed on the upper wall 10 of each front part 8 of the base body 7.

[0041] To move different moving components of the machine tool, such as the slide 4, the bracket 3, and the machining head support 2, linear motors, rack and pinion mechanisms, or ball screws can be provided.

[0042] Naturally, construction details and embodiments may vary extensively with respect to what has been described and shown, without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A machine tool (1), the machine tool having a longitudinal axis (X), a transverse axis (Y) and a vertical axis (Z), the machine tool comprising: A base (5), the base including a base wall (9) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (X), the base wall (9) including spaced-apart longitudinal guide members (12) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (X), A slider (4), which is slidable along the longitudinal guide member (12) of the base wall (9) and includes: A longitudinal sliding wall (13) facing the base wall (9) and including longitudinal sliding members (15), each of which is slidably associated with a corresponding longitudinal guide member (12) of the base wall (9). A lateral guide member (22) extends parallel to the lateral axis (Y). The bracket (3) is slidable along the lateral guide member (22) of the slider (4) and includes a vertical guide member (24) extending parallel to the vertical axis (Z). A machining head support (2), which is slidable along the vertical guide member (24) of the bracket (3) and carries the machining head assembly (T) at its lower end, characterized in that, The slider (4) includes: The first internal transverse sliding wall (18) and the second internal transverse sliding wall (21) are spaced apart from each other, extend parallel to the transverse axis (Y), and each includes at least one of the transverse guide members (22). The bracket (3) includes: A first outer transverse bracket wall (25) and a second outer transverse bracket wall (26) are spaced apart from each other and extend parallel to the transverse axis (Y). The first outer transverse bracket wall (25) faces the first inner transverse sliding wall (18) and includes at least one transverse sliding member (27) slidably associated with at least one transverse guide member (22) of the first inner transverse sliding wall (18). The second outer transverse bracket wall (26) faces the second inner transverse sliding wall (21) and includes at least one transverse sliding member (27) slidably associated with at least one transverse guide member (22) of the second inner transverse sliding wall (21). The front longitudinal bracket wall (23), which includes the vertical guide member (24), And among them, The base wall (9) is arranged at an angle relative to the longitudinal vertical plane, and The first internal transverse sliding wall (18) and the second internal transverse sliding wall (21) are arranged at an angle relative to the transverse vertical plane.

2. The machine tool (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base wall (9) forms an angle between 40° and 80° with the longitudinal vertical plane, and the first inner transverse sliding wall and the second inner transverse sliding wall (21) form an angle between 40° and 80° with the transverse vertical plane.

3. The machine tool (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The base (5) has a generally trapezoidal cross-section.

4. The machine tool (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The longitudinal sliding wall (13) is parallel to the base wall (9).

5. The machine tool (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The first outer transverse bracket wall (25) is parallel to the first inner transverse sliding wall (18), and the second outer transverse bracket wall (26) is parallel to the second inner transverse sliding wall (21).

6. The machine tool (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The slider (4) includes a first lateral sliding body (16) and a second lateral sliding body (17), which are spaced apart from each other, extend parallel to the transverse axis, and are connected to each other at their respective rear end edges by the longitudinal sliding wall (13). The first lateral sliding body (16) includes a vertical lower portion (19) and an inner upper portion containing the first inner transverse sliding wall (18), and the second lateral sliding body (17) includes a vertical lower portion (20) and an inner upper portion containing the second inner transverse sliding wall (21).

7. The machine tool (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The base (5) is supported by a base structure (6), which includes a pair of base bodies (7) spaced apart from each other. The base bodies (7) extend parallel to the transverse axis (Y) and have corresponding front portions (8) extending beyond the base wall (9), wherein a corresponding main shaft (11) is fixed to the upper wall (10) of the front portion (8) of the base body (7).

8. The machine tool (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The bracket (3), the sliding member (4), and the processing head support (2) are driven by a linear motor, rack and pinion mechanism, or ball screw.

9. The machine tool (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The machine tool in question is a milling machine.

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