System and method for transferring part being machined
The system transfers parts between fixtures using aligned rotary actuators, addressing the inefficiency of manual part flipping in machining systems, thereby reducing time and costs while enhancing productivity.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2025031124
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-02-29
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing machining systems require manual or robotic intervention to flip parts for machining the unmachined face, which is inefficient and increases machining time and costs.
A system and method for transferring a part from one fixture to another using aligned rotary actuators, allowing the unmachined surface of the part to be exposed for machining without manual intervention.
This approach reduces machining time and costs by automating the process of flipping parts, enhancing efficiency and productivity in machining operations.
Smart Images
Figure 2025133097000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. Application No. 18 / 459,648, titled "In-Process Part Machining Orientation Change / Index," filed September 1, 2023, which claims the benefit of the priority date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 374,837, titled "In-Process Part Machining Orientation Change / Index," filed September 7, 2022.
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for transferring a part being machined from one fixture to another, and more particularly to systems and methods for transferring a part being machined from one fixture to another using aligned rotary actuators such that the unmachined surface of the part secured in a fixture mounted on a slide is exposed for machining. [Background technology]
[0003] When machining a part for a specific application, such as removing metal from a part blank to form a part or drilling a hole in the part, the part is placed in a fixture on a machine, such as a CNC machine or lathe, either manually or by a robot that removes the part or blank from, for example, a parts bin. The part is held on one side by a fixture, such as a mechanical chuck or pneumatic device, allowing the machine access to all other sides of the part (e.g., five sides if the part is cubic). A machine tool or multiple tools movable in the X, Y, and Z directions are used to machine the part while it is held in the fixture. The fixture can be fixed to an actuator that rotates the part both clockwise and counterclockwise, for example, in the Y direction, thereby providing another axis of freedom for machining. An additional fixture coupled to a rotary actuator that rotates the part in the X direction can also be provided. Computer-controlled operations control the tools and actuators to machine the part in the desired manner from all angles. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] Once machining of the part is complete, it is typically necessary to next machine the face of the part held in the fixture. To do this, the part is manually or robotically removed from the fixture, turned over, and returned to the fixture so that the already-machined face is held, thereby allowing the tool to access the unmachined face. Alternatively, the partially machined part can be placed in a different fixture within the same machine or in a fixture within a different machine so that the tool can access the unmachined face. For reasons of efficiency, reduced machining time, reduced costs, etc., it may be desirable to transfer the part from one fixture to another to simplify the step of machining the face of a part held in a fixture. [Means for solving the problem]
[0005] The following discussion discloses and describes a system and method for transferring a part being machined from a first fixture to a second fixture to expose an unmachined surface of the part for machining, where 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 a surface of the part excluding a surface of the part coupled to the first fixture. The method includes sliding the first actuator away from the second actuator, manipulating the first and second actuators 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, releasing the part from the first fixture, and again sliding the first actuator away from the second actuator. The method then machines the surface of the part that was not machineable when the part was coupled to the first fixture.
[0006] Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cutaway isometric view of a machine for machining parts having two rotatable fixtures configured to transfer parts from one fixture to another so that the raw surface of a part secured in one fixture can be exposed for machining when the part is secured in the other fixture.
[0008] [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cutaway isometric view of the machine shown in FIG. 1 showing multiple fixtures oriented relative to one another to transfer parts from one fixture to another.
[0009] [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cutaway isometric view of the machine shown in FIG. 1 after a part has been transferred from one fixture to another.
[0010] [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a cutaway isometric view of an example part after it has been machined.
[0011] [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a cutaway isometric view of a machine for machining parts having two rotatable fixtures configured to transfer parts from one fixture to another so that the raw surface of a part secured in one fixture can be exposed for machining when the part is secured in the other fixture, one of the fixtures being mounted on a slide.
[0012] [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cutaway isometric view of the machine shown in FIG. 5 with one fixture slid away from the other fixture, the fixtures in an upright position, and one fixture holding a part.
[0013] [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a cutaway isometric view of the machine shown in FIG. 5 with one fixture sliding away from the other fixture and the fixtures rotating to face each other, one fixture holding a part.
[0014] [Figure 8] FIG. 6 is a cutaway isometric view of the machine shown in FIG. 5, showing the fixtures facing each other so that one fixture slides toward the other and a part can be exchanged from one fixture to the other.
[0015] [Figure 9] FIG. 6 is a cutaway isometric view of the machine shown in FIG. 5, showing one fixture sliding away from the other fixture and the fixtures rotating to face each other while the other fixture holds the part.
[0016] [Figure 10] FIG. 6 is a cutaway isometric view of the machine shown in FIG. 5 with the fixture in an upright position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The following description of embodiments of the present disclosure directed to systems and methods for transferring a part being machined from a first fixture to a second fixture using aligned actuators to expose an unmachined surface of the part for machining, wherein one of the fixtures is mounted on a slide, is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the disclosure or its applications or uses.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a cutaway isometric view of a machine 10 for machining a part, e.g., part 12. Machine 10 is intended to represent any CNC machine, lathe, drill, or the like suitable for machining part 12 in a desired manner consistent with the description herein. Machine 10 includes a rotary toolholder assembly 14 having a plurality of toolholders 16 therearound for holding various tools (not shown), such as cutting tools, drilling tools, etc., for machining part 12. Toolholder assembly 14 is operable to be controlled in the X, Y, and Z directions. Machine 10 also includes side-by-side rotary actuators 20 and 22 mounted on a common block 24 disposed on table 26, which add two additional axes of control to machine 10. Actuator 20 rotates circular member 28 in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and actuator 22 rotates circular member 30 in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, here along the Y-axis. Table 26 is also movable along the X- and Y-axes. Machine 10 also includes a fixture 34 having a fixture holder 36 attached to member 28, and a fixture 38 having a fixture holder 40 attached to member 30. Fixture 34 also includes a vise 42 having a vise jaw 44 attached to fixture holder 36, and fixture 38 includes a vise 46 having a vise jaw 48 attached to fixture holder 40, with jaws 44 and 48 operable to hold and release part 12 during machining of part 12. In this non-limiting embodiment, vises 42 and 46 are oriented at 90° with respect to each other. Part 12, as shown in FIG. 1 , is secured in an upright position in fixture 34 to prepare it for machining with a tool. Part 12 is placed into fixture 34 as a part blank 50, either manually or by a robot (not shown), from a container 52 of blanks 50, which is also positioned on table 26.
[0019] Once part 12 has been machined on all sides except the side held by fixture 34, actuator 20 rotates fixture 34 90° counterclockwise, and actuator 22 rotates fixture 38 90° clockwise, as shown in FIG. 2. Actuators 20 and 22 are positioned on table 24 and configured to rotate, so that part 12 aligns with and contacts the vise jaws of fixture 38 on its already-machined side. Vise jaws 48 then engage and hold part 12, and vise jaws 44 disengage and release part 12. Next, actuator 20 rotates fixture 34 90° clockwise, and actuator 22 rotates fixture 38 90° counterclockwise, so that part 12 is upright within fixture 38, as shown in FIG. 3. This makes the unmachined side of part 12 accessible for machining with a tool. FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a representative example of part 12 after machining.
[0020] As noted above, machine 10 is merely exemplary of a machine suitable for the purposes described herein. Other machines having fixtures in other orientations, such as stacked fixtures, fixtures rotatable in the X or Z axes, etc., are also usable within the scope of this disclosure and can be configured and arranged to transfer parts from one fixture to another to machine the raw surfaces as described. For example, actuators 20 and 22 can be stacked and arranged along the Z axis to provide a five-axis machine and configured to transfer parts in this manner.
[0021] In the above-described embodiment, when rotating fixtures 34 and 38 opposite one another to exchange part 12 from fixture 34 to fixture 38 as described above, fixtures 34 and 38 must be aligned along the Y axis with extremely high precision. If this precision is not maintained, the exchange of part 12 may fail. According to another embodiment, one of the fixtures is slidable relative to the other fixture, relaxing the requirement for precision alignment.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a cutaway isometric view of machine 60 for machining parts 62 and 64, illustrating such an embodiment, in which like elements are identified with the same reference numerals. In this configuration, fixture 34 includes another vise 68 having vise jaws 70 secured to fixture holder 36 adjacent to vise 42, and fixture 38 includes another vise having vise jaws 74 secured to fixture holder 40 adjacent to vise 46. 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 with a fixed block 80 on which only rotary actuator 22 rests. Rotary actuator 20 rests on a slide block 82 attached to table 26, which includes a slide 84 operable to move rotary actuator 20 along the Y-axis using a servo motor 86.
[0023] FIG. 5 shows the machine 60 in its initial position after parts 62 and 64 have been loaded into vises 42 and 68, respectively. In this position, the slide 84 is on the side of the slide block 82 closest to the actuator 22. As described above, parts 62 and 64 are machined on all sides except for the sides held in vises 42 and 68. Next, the slide 84 is operated by the servo motor 86 to slide the actuator 20 along the Y axis away from the actuator 22, as shown in FIG. 6. Also as described above, the actuator 20 rotates the fixture 34 90° counterclockwise, and the actuator 22 rotates the fixture 38 90° clockwise, as shown in FIG. 7. Because the actuator 20 has slid away from the actuator 22, in this position, parts 62 and 64 do not contact the vise jaws 48 and 70. Next, the slide 84 is operated to slide the actuator 20 toward the actuator 22, as shown in FIG. 8. Actuators 20 and 22 are positioned and configured so that as slide 84 slides back toward actuator 22, part 62 aligns with and contacts vise jaw 48 of fixture 38 with the previously machined surface of part 62, and part 64 aligns with and contacts vise jaw 74 of fixture 38 with the previously machined surface of part 64. Vise jaw 48 then engages to hold part 62, vise jaw 44 disengages to release part 62, vise jaw 74 engages to hold part 64, and vise jaw 70 disengages to release part 64. Slide 84 is again operated by servo motor 86, sliding actuator 20 away from actuator 22, as shown in FIG. 9 . Actuator 20 then rotates fixture 34 90° clockwise, and actuator 22 rotates fixture 38 90° counterclockwise. This allows the parts 62 and 64 to stand upright within the fixture 38, as shown in FIG. 10, allowing the raw surfaces of the parts 62 and 64 to be accessed and machined.
[0024] The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, the accompanying drawings, and the claims that various changes, modifications, and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as defined in the claims.
Claims
1. 1. A method of transferring a part being machined from a first fixture attached to a first actuator to a second fixture attached to a second actuator, comprising: Fixing the component to the first fixture; machining the part while the part is secured in a first fixture; Sliding the first actuator away from the second actuator; operating the first actuator and the second actuator so that a component 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; machining a surface of the part that was not machineable due to being coupled to the first fixture; A method comprising:
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are rotary actuators.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are arranged side by side.
4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein manipulating the first actuator and the second actuator so that the part secured to the first fixture is aligned with the second fixture comprises rotating the first actuator 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise from an upright position and rotating the second actuator 90 degrees counterclockwise or counterclockwise from an upright position.
5. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein machining a face of the part that was not machineable when the part was coupled to the first fixture comprises rotating the second actuator to the upright position.
6. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein machining the part includes using a tool movable in X-Y-Z directions, the first actuator and the second actuator rotate in a Y direction, and the first actuator slides in a Y direction.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein machining the part includes using a tool movable in XYZ directions, and the first actuator and the second actuator rotate in a Z direction.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fixture and the second fixture include vises for holding the part.
9. 1. A method of machining a part with a machine, the machine comprising a first rotary actuator, a first fixture 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 arranged side-by-side, the method comprising: Fixing the component to the first fixture; machining the part while the part is secured in a 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 component fixed to the first fixture is aligned with the second fixture, rotating the first rotary actuator 90° clockwise or counterclockwise from an upright position, and rotating the second rotary actuator 90° counterclockwise 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; sliding the second rotary actuator to the upright position; machining a surface of the part that was not machineable due to being coupled to the first fixture; A method comprising:
10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein machining the part includes using a tool movable in X-Y-Z directions, and the first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator rotate in a Y direction.
11. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein machining the part includes using a tool movable in XYZ directions, and the first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator rotate in a Z direction.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first fixture and the second fixture include vices for holding the part.
13. A machine for processing parts, a first actuator; a first fixture coupled to the first actuator and operable to hold the component; a second actuator disposed on the slide; a second fixture coupled to the second actuator and operable to hold the component; the first actuator and the second actuator are constructed and arranged so that the part is transferable from the first fixture to the second fixture and an unmachined surface of the part that was coupled to the first fixture is exposed for machining when the part is coupled to the second fixture.
14. 14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are a first rotary actuator and a second rotary actuator, respectively.
15. The machine of claim 14 , wherein the first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator are arranged side by side.
16. 16. The machine of claim 15, wherein the first rotary actuator and the second rotary actuator are constructed and arranged such that the first rotary actuator rotates 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise from an upright position and the second rotary actuator rotates 90 degrees in the opposite clockwise or counterclockwise direction from an upright position to transfer the part from the first fixture to the second fixture.
17. 17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the second rotary actuator rotates back to the upright position to machine the raw surface of the part.
18. 15. The machine of claim 14, wherein the machine comprises a tool movable in X-Y-Z directions to machine the part, and the first actuator and the second actuator rotate in a Y direction.
19. 15. The machine of claim 14, wherein the machine comprises a tool movable in XYZ directions to machine the part, and the first actuator and the second actuator rotate in a Z direction.
20. The machine of claim 13 , wherein the first fixture and the second fixture include vises for holding the part.