milling spindle fan

Abstract

A milling fan comprises fan blades with a radially inner end and a radially outer end, and a mounting sleeve with a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface. The radially inner surface forms a tool contact surface, and the radially outer surface engages with the radially inner ends of the fan blades. The milling fan also includes an outer sleeve that connects the radially outer ends of the fan blades, forming a ring.

Description

INTRODUCTION

[0001] The present description relates to the field of machining and in particular to a milling machine with a fan for removing deposits.

[0002] Milling machines are used in various industries for shaping and cutting materials such as metals, plastics, and composites. These machines typically use a rotating cutting tool, called a milling cutter, to remove material from a workpiece. The workpiece is fixed to a table. The table can move relative to the milling cutter, or the milling cutter can move relative to the table, to allow for precise positioning and feeding of the workpiece into the cutting tool. On some milling machines, the movement of the milling cutter relative to the workpiece can be controlled manually by an operator or with a numerical control unit (CNC).

[0003] Depending on the type of workpiece being machined, a fluid can be applied to the milling tool and the workpiece to reduce friction and the heat generated during the machining process. Additionally, a vacuum source can be used with some materials to collect the waste material produced by the milling cutter. DESCRIPTION

[0004] This document describes a milling fan. The milling fan comprises fan blades with a radially inner end and a radially outer end, as well as a mounting sleeve with a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface. The radially inner surface forms a tool contact surface, and the radially outer surface engages with the radially inner ends of the fan blades. The milling fan also includes an outer sleeve that connects the radially outer ends of the fan blades, forming a ring.

[0005] In one aspect of the description, the outer sleeve has a conical shape.

[0006] In one aspect of the description, the radially inner end of each of the fan blades is synchronized relative to a corresponding radially outer end of the fan blades.

[0007] In one aspect of the description, the majority of fan blades have a radially inner chord length near the radially inner end of each fan blade that is smaller than a radial chord length near the radially outer end of each fan blade.

[0008] In one aspect of the description, the mounting sleeve extends over a first axial length relative to an axis of rotation of the milling fan, and the outer sleeve extends over a second axial length relative to the axis of rotation of the milling fan, the second axial length being greater than the first axial length.

[0009] In one aspect of the description, the mounting sleeve is partially axially offset from the outer sleeve relative to a rotational axis of the milling fan.

[0010] In one aspect of the description, the mounting sleeve is at least partially offset from the outer sleeve by at least 50% of the axial length of the mounting sleeve.

[0011] In one aspect of the description, the radially inner ends of the fan blades are offset axially outwards relative to the axis of rotation of the milling fan from an axial end of the outer sleeve.

[0012] In one aspect of the description, the radially outer end of each fan blade is offset axially outwards from an axial end of the mounting sleeve relative to a rotational axis of the milling fan.

[0013] In one aspect of the description, the mounting sleeve includes a mounting opening for receiving a fastening element, and the mounting opening is located axially outside an axial end of the outer sleeve with respect to a rotational axis of the milling fan.

[0014] This document describes a milling machine. The milling machine comprises a drive motor engaged with a spindle, a tool mounted on the spindle and configured to rotate with the spindle, and a milling fan mounted on the tool and configured to rotate with the tool. The milling fan comprises fan blades with a radially inner end and a radially outer end, and a mounting sleeve with a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface. The radially inner surface forms a tool contact surface, and the radially outer surface engages with the radially inner ends of the fan blades. The milling fan also includes an outer sleeve that connects the radially outer ends of the fan blades to form a ring.

[0015] In one aspect of the description, the outer sleeve has a conical shape.

[0016] In one aspect of the description, the radially inner end of each of the fan blades is synchronized relative to a corresponding radially outer end of the fan blades.

[0017] In one aspect of the description, the fan blades have a radially inner chord length near the radially inner end of each fan blade that is smaller than a radial chord length near the radially outer end of each fan blade.

[0018] In one aspect of the description, the mounting sleeve extends over a first axial length relative to an axis of rotation of the milling fan, and the outer sleeve extends over a second axial length relative to the axis of rotation of the milling fan, the second axial length being greater than the first axial length.

[0019] In one aspect of the description, the mounting sleeve is partially axially offset from the outer sleeve relative to a rotational axis of the milling fan.

[0020] In one aspect of the description, the mounting sleeve includes a mounting opening for receiving a fastening element, and the mounting opening is located axially outside an axial end of the outer sleeve with respect to a rotational axis of the milling fan.

[0021] This document describes a method for operating a milling machine to produce a workpiece. The method includes receiving a toolpath representative of a component with a control unit and instructing a tool to engage the workpiece and selectively remove material while following the toolpath. The method also includes generating an airflow with a milling fan in an interface between the tool and the workpiece to remove deposits from the toolpath by selecting a rotational speed for the tool based on the workpiece material and a feed rate of the tool.The milling fan comprises fan blades and a mounting sleeve with a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, wherein the radially inner surface has a tool mounting surface in direct contact with the tool, and the radially inner ends of the fan blades extend radially outward from the radially outer surface of the mounting sleeve. The milling fan also comprises an outer sleeve that connects the distal ends of the fan blades, forming a ring. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary milling machine with a milling fan. Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a top view of the milling fan of Fig. 1. Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a side view of the milling fan of Fig. 1. Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a perspective top view of the milling fan of Fig. 1. Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a lower perspective sectional view of the milling fan. Fig. 1. Fig. Figure 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary procedure for operating the milling machine of Fig. 1.

[0022] The present description can be modified or implemented in alternative embodiments, representative embodiments of which are shown in the drawings and described in detail below. The inventive aspects of the present description are not limited to the embodiments shown. Rather, the present description is intended to cover alternatives that fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Those with normal technical knowledge will recognize that terms such as "above," "below," "upwards," "downwards," "upward," "downward," "left," "right," etc., are used descriptively for the figures and do not represent limitations on the scope of the description as defined by the attached claims. Furthermore, the teachings may be described here in the form of functional and / or logical block components and / or various processing steps. It should be clear that such block components may comprise a number of hardware, software, and / or firmware components configured to perform the specified functions.

[0024] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a milling machine 20, where identical numbers denote identical parts that refer to the drawings, and identical reference numbers refer to identical components. The milling machine 20 enables the movement of a milling cutter, e.g., a tool 38, relative to a workpiece 39 on a workpiece carrier 41. In the example shown, the workpiece 39 is made of a clay-based material. A characteristic of milling a clay-based material is that deposits generated during milling can accumulate along a toolpath of the tool 38 or become embedded in a finished surface of the workpiece 39. This impairs the surface quality of the workpiece 39 and can lead to wear of the access tool. Furthermore, the size and volume of the particles that accumulate can vary depending on the feed rate of the tool 38.Furthermore, this disclosure is applicable to the milling of workpieces that contain materials other than clay, such as materials or metal.

[0025] In the example shown, the milling machine 20 comprises a frame 21 that supports the milling machine 20 on a floor surface. The milling machine 20 is configured to allow the movement of the tool 38 along an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis. A vertical guide column 22 includes a motor 24 that moves a horizontal crossbar 26 along the z-axis in a track extending along the vertical guide column 22. The horizontal crossbar 26 includes a motor 28 that moves a second crossbar 30 along the x-axis in a track extending along the horizontal crossbar 26. Furthermore, the second horizontal crossbar 30 includes a motor 32 that moves the tool 38 along the y-axis in a track extending along the second horizontal crossbar 30. This configuration of the milling machine 20 is generally referred to as a three-axis milling machine, i.e., x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis.However, the milling machine 20 can be configured so that the workpiece 39 is moved along additional axes by manipulating the workpiece carrier 41, for example along at least a first rotary axis R1 that runs vertically through the workpiece 39, or a second rotary axis R2 that tilts the workpiece 39, as in . Fig. Figure 1 shows that using these additional axes would allow milling machine 20 to operate as a five-axis milling machine. Furthermore, this description also applies to milling machines with other configurations.

[0026] The milling machine 20 has a drive motor 34 that rotates the tool 38 at a predetermined speed. The tool 38 is attached to the milling machine by a chuck 36, but other types of fixtures can also be used to attach the tool 38 to the drive motor 34. A milling fan 40 is attached directly to the tool 38, so that the milling fan 40 rotates at the same speed as the tool 38.

[0027] Furthermore, the milling machine 20 can be set up manually or with the aid of an electronic control unit 70. The electronic control unit 70 can be arranged in conjunction with the motors 24, 28, 32, and 34 to control the movement of the tool 38 along the x, y, and z axes. The electronic control unit 70 can alternatively also be referred to as a control module, control unit, control unit, computer, etc. The electronic control unit 70 can include a computer and / or processor 72 as well as software, hardware, memory, algorithms, etc., for managing and controlling the milling machine 20. Thus, a method described below and generally referred to in Fig. 2, which is represented as a program or algorithm that can be partially configured on the electronic control unit 70. The electronic control unit 70 can include a device capable of performing the necessary tasks for controlling the operation of the milling machine 20.

[0028] The electronic control unit 70 can be implemented as one or more digital computers or host machines, each comprising one or more processors 72, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), optical drives, magnetic drives, etc., a high-speed clock, an analog-to-digital (A / D) circuit, a digital-to-analog (D / A) circuit, an input / output (I / O) circuit, I / O devices and communication interfaces, and signal conditioning and buffer electronics. The computer-readable memory can comprise a non-volatile / tangible medium involved in providing data or computer-readable instructions. The memory can be non-volatile or volatile. Non-volatile media can be, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent storage media.An example of volatile memory is dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), which can represent main memory. Other forms of memory include, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape or other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, a DVD and / or other optical medium, as well as other possible devices such as flash memory.

[0029] The electronic control unit 70 comprises a tangible, non-transient memory 74 in which computer-executable instructions, including one or more algorithms, for controlling the operation of the milling machine 20 are stored. The algorithm(s) in question may, in particular, include an algorithm configured to instruct the milling machine 20 to follow a toolpath for the tool 38 that results in the formation of a finished workpiece, as explained in more detail below with reference to method 100.

[0030] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 2-5, the milling fan 40 comprises a mounting sleeve 42, a plurality of fan blades 48, and an outer sleeve 50. In the illustrated example, the mounting sleeve 42 is cylindrical and has a radially inner surface 44 that forms a tool contact surface for direct engagement with the tool 38. The mounting sleeve 42 also comprises a radially outer surface 46 with radially inner ends of the fan blades 48 extending radially outward from this surface. The axial ends of the mounting sleeve 42 may also have a space 47 extending from the axial ends, with a radial thickness less than the radial thickness of a central portion of the mounting sleeve 42. In this description, the terms "radial," "axial," or "longitudinal" refer to the axis of rotation A of the milling fan 40 unless otherwise specified.

[0031] The mounting sleeve 42 also includes a mounting opening 43 for receiving a fastening element 45, e.g., an adjusting screw. The mounting opening 43 is located axially outside an axial end of the outer sleeve 50 with respect to axis A.

[0032] In the illustrated example, the fan blades 48 extend radially outwards from a proximal or radially inner end of the fan blade 48 at the mounting sleeve 42 to a distal or radially outer end at the outer sleeve 50. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the fan blades 48 extend in the radial direction and in the circumferential direction, such that the radially outer ends of the fan blades 48 are staggered relative to the radially inner ends of the fan blades 48.

[0033] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 4-5, the fan blades also have a pressure or concave side 56 opposite a suction or convex side 58. Furthermore, the chord length between the leading and trailing edges of each fan blade 48 at the radially inner or proximal end is shorter than the chord length at the radially outer or distal end of each fan blade 48. The mounting sleeve 42 also has an axial length that is shorter than the axial length of the outer sleeve 50.

[0034] In the illustrated example, the outer sleeve 50 comprises a radially inner surface 52 and a radially outer surface 54. The outer sleeve 50 has a conical shape, tapering from an end near an inlet 60 of the milling fan 40, which draws in air during rotation, to an outlet 62 that expels air from the milling fan 40. Furthermore, as shown in the Fig. Figures 2 and 4-5 show an upstream end of the mounting sleeve 42, adjacent to the inlet 60, recessed into the outer sleeve 50, such that the upstream ends of the mounting sleeve 42 and the outer sleeve 50 are at least partially axially offset from each other. Furthermore, a downstream end of the mounting sleeve 42 projects axially beyond an axial end of the outer sleeve 50 at the outlet 62, so that the downstream ends of the mounting sleeve 42 and the outer sleeve 50 are at least partially axially offset from each other. In this description, upstream and downstream refer to a flow direction of air through the milling fan 40 during normal operation, which generates an airflow from the outlet end 62 and over the tool 38. Additionally, the radial inner ends of the fan blades 48 are at least partially offset in a downstream direction relative to the radial outer ends of the fan blades 48.

[0035] Furthermore, the axial length of the mounting sleeve 42 is less than the axial length of the outer sleeve 50. In addition, the mounting sleeve 42 is axially offset from the outer sleeve 50 by at least 50% of the axial length of the mounting sleeve 42, so that more than 50% of the axial length of the mounting sleeve 42 is spaced outwards from one of the axial ends of the outer sleeve 50.

[0036] The radially inner ends of the fan blades 48 are also partially offset axially outwards from one of the axial ends of the outer sleeve 50.

[0037] Fig. Figure 6 shows an example of a method 100 for operating the milling machine 20 to bring the workpiece 39 into a desired shape. The method 100 begins in block 102 with the electronic control unit 70 receiving a toolpath representing the desired shape of the workpiece 39. The method then proceeds to block 104.

[0038] In block 104, the electronic control unit 70 instructs the tool 38 to engage the workpiece 39 and selectively remove material from it as it follows the toolpath. In addition to controlling the tool 38, the electronic control unit 70 selects a rotational speed for the tool 38 based on at least one material type of the workpiece 39 or a feed rate of the tool 38. In this way, the milling fan 40 can generate sufficient force to remove deposits in the area of ​​an intersection between the tool 38 and the workpiece 39. The process 100 then proceeds to block 106, where the milling fan 40 generates an airflow that removes the deposits produced by the tool 38 as the tool engages the workpiece 39.One feature of this configuration is that no additional energy source is required to generate the airflow, as it is generated directly by the rotation of the tool.

[0039] The terms "a" and "an" do not imply a limitation of quantity, but rather indicate the presence of at least one of the elements mentioned. The term "or" means "and / or" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. When the entire description refers to "an aspect," this means that a specific element (e.g., a feature, a structure, a step, or a property) described in connection with that aspect is included in at least one of the aspects described therein and may or may not be present in other aspects. Furthermore, the described elements can be combined appropriately across the various aspects.

[0040] When an element, such as a layer, film, area, or substrate, is described as being "on" another element, it may be located directly on top of that element, or there may be intermediate elements. Conversely, when an element is described as being "directly on" another element, there are no intermediate elements.

[0041] Unless otherwise stated herein, verification standards are the latest standard in force on the filing date of this application or, if priority is claimed, the filing date of the earliest priority application in which the verification standard appears.

[0042] Unless otherwise defined, the technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as they are commonly understood by a person skilled in the field to which this description belongs.

[0043] Although the above description refers to exemplary embodiments, the person skilled in the art understands that various modifications can be made and equivalent elements replaced by others without departing from the scope of the description. Furthermore, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the description without infringing its scope. Therefore, the present description is not intended to be limited to the individual embodiments but also to include embodiments that fall within its scope.

Claims

[1] A milling fan which has the following features: a plurality of fan blades, each having a radially inner end and a radially outer end; a mounting sleeve with a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, wherein the radially inner surface has a tool contact surface and the radially outer surface engages with the radially inner ends of the majority of fan blades; and an outer sleeve connecting the radially outer ends of the majority of fan blades, the outer sleeve forming a ring. [2] Milling fan according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve has a conical shape. [3] Milling fan according to claim 1, wherein the radially inner end of each of the plurality of fan blades is pulsed relative to a corresponding radially outer end of the plurality of fan blades. [4] Milling fan according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fan blades has a radially inner chord length near the radially inner end of each of the plurality of fan blades which is smaller than a radial chord length near the radially outer end of each of the plurality of fan blades. [5] Milling fan according to claim 1, wherein the mounting sleeve extends over a first axial length relative to an axis of rotation of the milling fan and the outer sleeve extends over a second axial length relative to the axis of rotation of the milling fan, wherein the second axial length is greater than the first axial length. [6] Milling fan according to claim 1, wherein the mounting sleeve is partially axially offset relative to the axis of rotation of the milling fan to the outer sleeve. [7] Milling fan according to claim 6, wherein the mounting sleeve is offset at least partially by at least 50% of the axial length of the mounting sleeve relative to the outer sleeve. [8] Milling fan according to claim 1, wherein the radially inner end of each of the plurality of fan blades is axially offset outwards relative to an axis of rotation of the milling fan from an axial end of the outer sleeve. [9] Milling fan according to claim 1, wherein the radially outer end of each of the plurality of fan blades is axially offset outwards from an axial end of the mounting sleeve relative to an axis of rotation of the milling fan. [10] Milling fan according to claim 1, wherein the mounting sleeve has a mounting opening for receiving a fastening element and the mounting opening is arranged axially outwards from an axial end of the outer sleeve relative to an axis of rotation of the milling fan.

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