Chip removal method and chip removal system

Abstract

To provide a technology for safely and reliably removing residues such as chips from inside a machine tool while suppressing a decrease in work efficiency. [Solution] The fluid jet tool 50 is a fluid jet tool attached to the spindle 3 of a machining center 1A, which allows automatic tool replacement and can inject a fluid, such as coolant or air, using a center-through method. The fluid jet tool is tubular with an open base 56 and includes an internal flow path 60 extending in the tool axial direction and through which the fluid injected through the interior of the spindle passes, and a lateral through-hole 63 provided on the tip 54 side, penetrating from the inner circumferential surface 60b of the internal flow path to the outside of the fluid jet tool and jetting the fluid that has passed through the internal flow path to the outside of the fluid jet tool. The lateral through-hole 63 is inclined at an inclination angle θ1 toward the tool axial direction relative to the tool radial direction, which is perpendicular to the tool axial direction, so that an outer opening 63d is closer to the base than an inner opening 63c.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid jet tool that is attached to a tool mounting portion of a machine tool, a chip removal method using the fluid jet tool, and a chip removal system. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, when machining a blind hole using a machine tool such as a machining center equipped with an automatic tool changer (autochanger), an NC lathe, or a turning center (combined machine tool), the machine tool operation is stopped temporarily between the process of drilling the pilot hole and the process of cutting the internal thread into the pilot hole, or between the process of cutting the internal thread and the process of finishing, and the operator (worker) removes the chips from the pilot hole or the screw hole using an air gun or similar.

[0003] A known technology for removing such chips is the chip removal device described in Patent Document 1 below. In this chip removal device, a spiral flow generating unit composed of multiple screw-shaped guide pieces is provided at the tip of the air blow nozzle. The spiral flow generating unit changes the air flowing through the air blow nozzle into a spiral flow, and notches are provided every 120 degrees around the axis, as well as an opening at the tip of the axis. It is said that using a chip removal device with such a spiral flow generating unit can create a tornado-like spiral flow that rises from near the bottom of a machined hole, such as a pilot hole or a screw hole, toward the opening of the machined hole, lifting up chips and other residues in the machined hole and removing them outside the opening. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3949623 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, even when removing chips using the air blow nozzle described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to temporarily stop the operation of a machine tool such as a machining center. Therefore, even if the machine tool is equipped with an automatic tool changer, it is not possible to complete all processes, including chip removal, simply by inputting commands at the start of machining, leaving room for improvement in work efficiency.

[0006] Furthermore, when workers at machine tool manufacturing sites remove chips by holding an air gun, chips and coolant (cutting oil) can fly toward the worker, and there has been anticipation for the development of technology to prevent injury and contamination. There has also been anticipation for the development of technology that can reliably remove chips without relying on the worker's experience in chip removal work.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for safely and reliably removing residues such as chips from inside a machine tool while suppressing a decrease in work efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of a fluid ejection tool made to solve the above problem is: A fluid jetting tool that can be attached to a tool attachment part of a machine tool that can automatically change tools to be used, can machine a workpiece by rotating either the workpiece or the tool, and can inject a fluid that is a coolant liquid or air by a center-through method, The base portion side, which is the side attached to the tool attachment portion, is tubular and open, an internal flow path portion extending in the tool axial direction and through which the fluid passes when injected through the inside of the tool attachment portion; a lateral through-hole portion that is provided on the tip end side opposite to the base portion, that penetrates from an inner circumferential surface of the internal flow path portion to the outside of the fluid jetting tool, and that jets the fluid that has passed through the internal flow path portion to the outside of the fluid jetting tool, The fluid ejection tool is characterized in that the lateral through-hole portion is inclined at a predetermined angle toward the tool axis direction relative to the tool radial direction perpendicular to the tool axis direction, so that the outer opening is closer to either the base or the tip than the inner opening.

[0009] This fluid jet tool is capable of injecting a fluid, such as a coolant or air, in a center-through manner and is attached to a tool mounting portion, such as a spindle, of a machine tool capable of automatic tool changeover. The fluid flowing into the tool mounting portion can be ejected to the outside through the lateral through-holes. The lateral through-holes are inclined at a predetermined angle toward the tool axis from the tool radial direction so that the outer opening is located closer to either the base or the tip than the inner opening. Therefore, if the lateral through-holes are inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the base than the inner opening, chips can be effectively blown toward the base of the fluid jet tool. Furthermore, if the lateral through-holes are inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the tip than the inner opening, chips can be effectively blown toward the tip of the fluid jet tool. Therefore, chips can be removed using the fluid injected through the tool mounting portion without stopping the operation of the machine tool. As a result, it is possible to remove chips from inside the machine tool safely and reliably, while preventing a decline in work efficiency, compared to manual cleaning by an operator using an air gun or the like.

[0010] In the fluid ejection tool of the above aspect, It is desirable that a plurality of the lateral through-hole portions be provided in the circumferential direction of the fluid ejection tool.

[0011] According to the fluid jet tool of this aspect, it is easy to jet fluid evenly over the entire circumferential area of ​​the fluid jet tool, thereby improving the accuracy of chip removal.

[0012] Furthermore, in the fluid ejection tool of the above aspect, The side through hole portion is a plurality of the fluid ejection tool members are provided in a circumferential direction of the fluid ejection tool at first positions that are a first distance from the tip end in the tool axis direction, It is desirable that a plurality of the grooves are provided in the circumferential direction of the fluid ejection tool at second positions that are a second distance from the tip in the tool axis direction that is longer than the first distance.

[0013] According to this aspect of the fluid ejection tool, a plurality of lateral through-holes are provided at different positions (first position, second position) in the tool axial direction. Therefore, chips blown away by fluid ejected from the plurality of lateral through-holes at either the first position or the second position can be further blown away by fluid ejected from the plurality of lateral through-holes at the other of the first position or the second position. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the chip removal accuracy.

[0014] In the fluid ejection tool of the above aspect, the side through-hole portion is inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the base portion than the inner opening, The tip portion is preferably provided with a tip through-hole portion that penetrates from the inner tip surface of the internal flow path portion to the outside of the fluid jet tool along the axis of the fluid jet tool.

[0015] According to this aspect of the fluid jet tool, fluid can be jetted from the tip through-hole along the tool axis, thereby stirring up chips remaining at the machining point on the workpiece or on the workpiece fixture. The stirred-up chips can then be blown toward the base (tool attachment side) of the fluid jet tool by the fluid jetted from the side through-holes, which are inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the base than the inner opening. This makes it easy to blow away chips remaining at the machining point on the workpiece or on the workpiece fixture away from the workpiece or fixture.

[0016] In addition, one aspect of a chip removal method made to solve the above problem is: A chip removal method using the fluid ejection tool of the above aspect, a replacement step of replacing a tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool after a machining step of machining a blind hole or a blind-hole-threaded hole portion in the workpiece; an insertion step of inserting the fluid ejection tool into the bottomed hole portion formed by the processing step to position the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion within the bottomed hole portion; and a chip removal step of moving the fluid ejection tool in a direction away from the bottomed hole portion while ejecting the fluid from the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion and rotating the fluid ejection tool in a direction opposite to the tool rotation direction when forming the bottomed hole portion.

[0017] According to this chip removal method, the fluid ejection tool attached to the tool attachment part is inserted into the bottomed hole to position the tip through hole and the side through hole within the bottomed hole, and then the fluid ejection tool is rotated in the opposite direction to that used when forming the bottomed hole while ejecting fluid from the tip through hole and the side through hole, and moved in a direction away from the bottomed hole, thereby reliably blowing away any chips remaining in the bottomed hole outside the bottomed hole. Furthermore, if the bottomed hole is a blind threaded hole, the chips can be completely expelled from the bottomed hole by moving them spirally along the thread groove.

[0018] In addition, one aspect of a chip removal system made to solve the above problem is: A chip removal system comprising the fluid ejection tool of the above aspect and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls the operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit a tool changing process for changing a tool to be used to the fluid ejection tool after a machining process for machining a blind hole or a blind-hole-threaded hole portion in the workpiece; a tool insertion process in which the fluid ejection tool is inserted into the bottomed hole portion formed by the machining process, and the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion are positioned within the bottomed hole portion; and a chip removal process in which the fluid ejection tool is moved in a direction away from the bottomed hole portion while ejecting the fluid from the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion and rotating the fluid ejection tool in a direction opposite to the tool rotation direction when forming the bottomed hole portion.

[0019] According to this aspect of the chip removal system, after a workpiece has been machined, the control unit of the machine tool replaces the tool being used with a fluid jet tool, inserts the fluid jet tool into the blind hole, positions the tip through hole and the side through hole within the blind hole, and then rotates the fluid jet tool in the opposite direction to that used when forming the blind hole while jetting fluid from the tip through hole and the side through hole, moving the fluid jet tool out of the blind hole. This ensures that any chips remaining in the blind hole are blown out of the blind hole. Furthermore, if the blind hole is a threaded hole, the chips can be completely removed from the blind hole by moving them spirally along the thread groove.

[0020] In the above-described chip removal system, In the tool insertion process, the control unit preferably moves the fluid ejection tool to the same position as the machining position of the workpiece in the machining step.

[0021] According to the chip removal system of this aspect, the fluid ejection tool is moved to the same position as the bottomed hole formed in the machining process, so it is possible to improve the accuracy of removing chips from inside the bottomed hole.

[0022] In the above-described chip removal system, In the tool insertion process, the control unit preferably inserts the fluid ejection tool into the bottomed hole to a depth that does not exceed the insertion depth of the tool in the machining process.

[0023] With this type of chip removal system, the fluid ejection tool cannot be inserted too deeply into the bottomed hole portion, thereby preventing the workpiece from being damaged by the fluid ejection tool hitting the bottom of the bottomed hole portion, for example.

[0024] In the above-described chip removal system, It is desirable that the control unit, in the chip removal process, rotate the fluid jetting tool at a rotation speed corresponding to the rotation speed of a tool in the machining process.

[0025] According to this chip removal system, the control unit of the machine tool rotates the fluid jet tool during the chip removal process at a rotational speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the tool during the machining process. This allows for chip removal appropriate for the machined bottomed hole. Furthermore, if a blind-hole is machined, the fluid jet tool is rotated in the opposite direction to the machining direction at a rotational speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the tool used to cut the threads. This ensures that the chips are spirally moved along the thread groove, allowing for accurate removal of chips from the threaded hole.

[0026] In the above-described chip removal system, In the chip removal process, the control unit preferably moves the fluid ejection tool in a direction to come out of the bottomed hole at a feed rate corresponding to a feed rate of the tool in the machining process.

[0027] According to this aspect of the chip removal system, the control unit of the machine tool moves the fluid jet tool in the chip removal process in the direction of removal from the blind hole at a feed rate that corresponds to the feed rate of the tool in the machining process. This makes it possible to remove chips that are appropriate for the blind hole that has been machined. In other words, it is possible to prevent the speed at which the fluid jet tool is removed from the blind hole from being too fast or too slow, making it possible to balance the accuracy of chip removal with the efficiency of the removal work.

[0028] In another aspect of the fluid ejection tool made to solve the above problem, It is desirable that the side through-hole portion be inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the tip than the inner opening.

[0029] According to this aspect of the fluid jetting tool, the fluid jetted from the lateral through-hole portion, whose outer opening is closer to the tip than the inner opening, can blow away chips toward the tip side of the fluid jetting tool (the side of the workpiece or fixture), thereby making it possible to effectively remove chips remaining in a machining location that penetrates the workpiece.

[0030] Another aspect of the chip removal method achieved to solve the above problem is: A chip removal method using the fluid ejection tool of the other aspect, a replacement step of replacing a tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool after a machining step of machining a through hole or a through hole portion that is a threaded hole of a through hole into the workpiece; and a chip removal step of passing the fluid ejection tool through the through-hole while ejecting the fluid from the lateral through-hole and rotating the fluid ejection tool in the same direction as the tool rotation direction when forming the through-hole.

[0031] According to this chip removal method, by passing the fluid ejection tool attached to the tool attachment part through the through hole while rotating it in the same direction as when the through hole was formed, while ejecting fluid from the lateral through-hole, it is possible to reliably blow away any chips remaining in the through hole outside the through hole. Furthermore, if the through hole is a threaded through hole, it is possible to completely eject the chips outside the through hole by moving them spirally along the thread groove.

[0032] Another aspect of the chip removal system that has been made to solve the above problem is: A chip removal system comprising the fluid ejection tool of any one of the above aspects and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls the operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit a tool changing process for changing a tool to be used to the fluid ejection tool after a machining process for machining a through hole or a through hole portion that is a threaded hole of a through hole in the workpiece; a chip removal process in which the fluid ejection tool is passed through the through-hole while ejecting the fluid from the lateral through-hole and rotating the fluid ejection tool in the same direction as the tool rotation direction when forming the through-hole.

[0033] According to this chip removal system, after the workpiece has been machined, the control unit of the machine tool replaces the tool with a fluid jetting tool and passes the fluid jetting tool through the through hole while rotating it in the same direction as when the through hole was formed, while jetting fluid from the side through-hole. This ensures that any chips remaining in the through hole are blown out of the through hole. Furthermore, if the through hole is a threaded through hole, the chips can be completely removed from the through hole by moving them spirally along the thread groove.

[0034] Further, still another aspect of the chip removal method achieved in order to solve the above problem is: A chip removal method using the fluid ejection tool of the above aspect, a replacement step of replacing a tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool; and a chip removal step of positioning the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion within a T-slot groove formed in a table of the machine tool, and rotating the fluid ejection tool while moving it in the direction in which the T-slot groove extends, while ejecting the fluid from the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion.

[0035] According to this type of chip removal method, the tip through hole portion and side through hole portion of the fluid ejection tool attached to the tool mounting portion are positioned within the T-slot groove of the table of the machine tool, and while ejecting fluid from the tip through hole portion and side through hole portion, the fluid ejection tool is rotated and moved in the direction in which the T-slot groove extends, making it possible to reliably blow away any chips remaining in the T-slot groove outside the T-slot groove.

[0036] Further, still another aspect of the chip removal system achieved in order to solve the above problem is: A chip removal system comprising the fluid ejection tool of the above aspect and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls the operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit a tool changing process for changing a tool to be used to the fluid ejection tool; a chip removal process in which the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion are positioned within a T-slot groove formed in a table of the machine tool, and the fluid is ejected from the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion while rotating the fluid ejection tool and moving it in the direction in which the T-slot groove extends.

[0037] According to this aspect of the chip removal system, after a workpiece has been machined, the control unit of the machine tool replaces the tool being used with a fluid jet tool, positions the tip through hole and side through hole of the fluid jet tool within the T-slot groove of the table of the machine tool, and moves the fluid jet tool in the direction of extension of the T-slot groove while rotating it while jetting fluid from the tip through hole and side through hole. This makes it possible to reliably blow away any chips remaining in the T-slot groove out of the T-slot groove.

[0038] Further, still another aspect of the chip removal method achieved in order to solve the above problem is: A chip removal method using the fluid ejection tool of the above aspect, a replacement step of replacing a tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool; and a chip removal step of rotating the fluid ejection tool and bringing it closer to a chuck of the machine tool while ejecting the fluid from the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion.

[0039] According to this type of chip removal method, after replacing the tool being used with a fluid ejection tool, the fluid ejection tool is rotated while ejecting fluid from the tip through-hole portion and the side through-hole portion, and is then brought closer to the chuck of the machine tool, thereby reliably blowing away any chips remaining on the chuck in a direction away from the chuck.

[0040] Further, still another aspect of the chip removal system achieved in order to solve the above problem is: A chip removal system comprising the fluid ejection tool of the above aspect and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls the operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit a tool changing process for changing a tool to be used to the fluid ejection tool; and a chip removal process in which the fluid is ejected from the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion while the fluid ejection tool is rotated and brought closer to a chuck of the machine tool.

[0041] According to this aspect of the chip removal system, after the machining process of the workpiece, the control unit of the machine tool replaces the tool being used with the fluid jetting tool, and moves the fluid jetting tool closer to the chuck of the machine tool while rotating it and jetting fluid from the tip through-hole and the side through-hole, thereby making it possible to reliably blow away chips remaining on the chuck in a direction away from the chuck.

[0042] In addition, in yet another aspect of the fluid ejection tool made to solve the above problem, The tip portion has a blade for processing the workpiece, It is desirable that the lateral through-hole portion be inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the base portion than the inner opening, and that the lateral through-hole portion be drilled so that the fluid spraying out from the lateral through-hole portion hits the chips cut by the blade.

[0043] According to this aspect of the fluid jet tool, a fluid such as coolant or air is jetted from the side through-holes, which are inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the base than the inner opening, while the fluid jet tool is rotated relatively or absolutely to bring the blades into contact with the workpiece. This allows cutting to proceed, and chips generated by the cutting can be blown away toward the base (tool attachment portion) by the fluid jetted from the side through-holes. In other words, it is possible to simultaneously process the workpiece and remove the chips. As a result, it is possible to significantly improve work efficiency. [Effects of the Invention]

[0044] According to the technology disclosed in this specification, it is possible to safely and reliably remove chips from inside a machine tool while suppressing a decrease in work efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0045] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view that schematically shows a chip removal system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the chip removal system including a fluid ejection tool and a machining center. [Figure 2] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tip (lower end) of a spindle of a machining center according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a front view of a fluid ejection tool held in a tool holder. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fluid ejection tool. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the fluid ejection tool. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5. [Figure 7]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a workpiece or the like in which a blind-hole threaded hole is formed, showing a state in which cutting chips have accumulated inside the blind-hole threaded hole. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of a method for removing chips accumulated in a blind hole using a fluid ejection tool. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of a method for removing chips accumulated in a threaded hole of a blind hole using a fluid ejection tool. [Figure 10] 4 is a flowchart of a threaded hole forming process performed by a control device of a machine tool in the chip removal system of the first embodiment. [Figure 11A] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of a method for removing chips accumulated in a threaded hole of a blind hole formed by helical machining using a fluid ejection tool. [Figure 11B] 10 is a flowchart of a threaded hole forming process performed by a control device of a machine tool when a blind threaded hole is formed by helical machining. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the fluid ejection tool according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of a method for removing chips remaining in a threaded hole of a through hole using the fluid ejection tool according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a chip removal system according to a third embodiment, the chip removal system including a machining center different from the machining center according to the first embodiment and the same fluid jet tool as the fluid jet tool according to the first embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which chips have accumulated on the upper surface of the table and in the T-slot grooves in the machining center according to the third embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a method for removing chips accumulated in a T-slot groove of a table using a fluid ejection tool, and is a diagram showing a part of a longitudinal cross section along the short side direction of the table. [Figure 18]FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the table as seen from diagonally above left, showing an example of a method for removing chips accumulated in a T-slot groove of the table using a fluid ejection tool. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a chip removal system according to a fourth embodiment, the chip removal system including a multi-purpose machine tool in which a machining center is provided with a turning function, and the same fluid jet tool as the fluid jet tool according to the first embodiment. [Figure 20] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a method for removing chips accumulated in a chuck of a work spindle of a combined machine tool using a fluid ejection tool. FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a fluid jet tool according to a fifth embodiment and an example of use of the fluid jet tool. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] 1. First embodiment A chip removal system KSA according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the chip removal system KSA includes a machining center 1A (an example of a machine tool) and a fluid jet tool 50. The machining center 1A includes a machining head 2, an automatic tool changer 20, and a control device 30. The control device 30 can automatically exchange one of a plurality of tools set in a tool magazine 22 of the automatic tool changer 20 with a tool attached to a spindle 3 (an example of a tool attachment portion) of the machining head 2 based on work instruction data. The chip removal system KSA includes a fluid jet tool 50 held in a tool holder 80 as one of the tools set in the tool magazine 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the fluid jet tool 50 can be attached to the spindle 3 through a tool exchange process performed by the control device 30. The work instruction data is a program for causing the machining center 1A to perform a desired operation, such as machining, and can be input as appropriate by an operator (worker).

[0047] The fluid jet tool 50 can be attached to a tool mounting portion (spindle, turret, etc.) of various known machine tools such as a machining center, an NC lathe, and a combined machine tool (turning center). The fluid jet tool 50 is provided with a plurality of through-holes (a tip through-hole 61 and a side through-hole 63, which will be described later). The fluid jet tool 50 is a cleaning tool that sprays a fluid such as coolant or air through the inside of a tool mounting portion, such as the spindle 3, using a center-through method, from a plurality of through-holes (in other words, oil holes) to the outside, and is used to remove chips and the like remaining in the machining space (the area where a workpiece is machined) within the machine tool.

[0048] In this specification, the up-down and left-right directions of each part of the machining center 1A and the fluid jet tool 50 will be described as coinciding with the up-down and left-right directions as seen from a person facing the machining center 1A with the fluid jet tool 50 attached to the vertical spindle 3. The front direction of each part of the machining center 1A and the fluid jet tool 50 will be described as the direction toward a person facing the machining center 1A in that state, and the rear direction of each part of the machining center 1A will be described as the direction away from a person facing the machining center 1A in that state. The left-right direction will be described as the X-axis, the front-rear direction will be described as the Y-axis, and the up-down direction will be described as the Z-axis.

[0049] The machining center 1A is a vertical machining center, and as shown in Fig. 1, is equipped with a machining head 2, a workpiece support device 40 that supports the workpiece Wa, a moving device 48 that moves the machining head 2 relative to the workpiece support device 40, an automatic tool changer 20, and a control device 30. Although not shown in Fig. 1, the machining center 1A is provided with an outer wall (casing) that surrounds the workpiece support device 40 and the machining head 2, and a sliding door that opens and closes an opening formed in the outer wall, and opening and closing the sliding door makes it possible to open and close the machining space in which the workpiece Wa is machined.

[0050] The workpiece support device 40 includes a table 41 that supports the workpiece Wa via a fixing jig 43, and a base 42 that rotatably supports the table 41. The table 41 is supported on the base 42 so that it can rotate about an axis AX1 that is along the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) by a drive device (not shown). The workpiece support device 40 may be one in which the table 41 can swing about the X-axis. Alternatively, the workpiece support device 40 may be one in which the table 41 cannot rotate about the axis AX1.

[0051] The moving device 48 moves the machining head 2 relative to the workpiece support device 40, and is supported by a base 49. The moving device 48 includes a drive source and a drive mechanism, and is a device that can move the machining head 2 along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions (i.e., move it three-dimensionally).

[0052] The automatic tool changer 20 includes a tool magazine 22 in which a variety of tools such as end mills, drills, taps, and reamers are set, and an exchange arm (not shown), and operates the exchange arm etc. to exchange a tool attached to the spindle 3 of the machining head 2 with a tool set in the tool magazine 22. The chip removal system KSA includes a fluid jet tool 50, which will be described in detail later, as a tool that is set in the tool magazine 22 and can be attached to the spindle 3.

[0053] The control device 30 (an example of a control unit) controls the rotation of the tool attached to the spindle 3, the movement of the machining head 2 (the operation of the moving device 48), the rotation of the table 41, the operation of the automatic tool changer 20, etc. The control device 30 also controls the operation of a fluid supply device (not shown) that supplies coolant (cutting oil) and air, and a recovery device (not shown) that recovers chips generated by machining the workpiece Wa. Known fluid supply devices and recovery devices can be used as appropriate.

[0054] The control device 30 includes a processor, memory (RAM, ROM, etc.), communication circuits, etc. (not shown), and also includes an input / output device 32. The memory stores data necessary for machining the workpiece Wa and programs for operating each component of the machining center 1A, and the processor executes the programs stored in the memory. In this embodiment, the input / output device 32 is a touch panel capable of displaying images and performing input operations. The input / output device may also be composed of input devices such as buttons, switches, levers, pointing devices, and keyboards, and output devices such as liquid crystal displays and organic electroluminescence displays. An operator (worker) of the machining center 1A can operate the input / output device 32 to appropriately input a work program (work instruction data) for machining the unmachined workpiece Wa into a desired finished product. The processor executes the work program, causing various devices, such as the moving device 48, to operate.

[0055] The machining head 2 has a spindle 3. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tip (lower end in the figure) of the spindle 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the spindle 3 includes a rotating body 5 that holds a tool holder 80 that grips a tool, a bearing 6, and a housing 7 that supports the rotating body 5 via the bearing 6 so that the rotating body 5 can rotate about an axis AX2 along the Z-axis direction. The rotating body 5 is driven to rotate about the axis AX2 by a rotation drive device (not shown). The rotation drive device can be configured to include, for example, a motor having a stator fixed to the housing 7 and a rotor fixed to the rotating body 5.

[0056] The rotating body 5 is configured with a draw bar 5b arranged inside a rotating shaft main body 5a, and a tool holder 80 holding a tool is attached to the mounting portion at the tip (lower end in Figure 2) of the draw bar 5b via a pull stud 8.

[0057] The machining center 1A of this embodiment is capable of injecting various fluids, such as coolant and air, through the interior of the spindle 3 (rotating body 5) using a center-through system. That is, piping (not shown) for sending these fluids passes through an internal through-hole in the draw bar 5b and reaches the top of the pull stud 8, allowing the coolant and air to be sent into the tool through the internal through-hole in the pull stud 8, which communicates with the internal through-hole in the draw bar 5b, and through the internal through-hole in the tool holder 80. Note that the configuration of the spindle 3 can be any known configuration as long as it allows the tool holder 80 holding a tool to be attached and detached and allows for the injection of fluids, such as coolant, using a center-through system.

[0058] A tool holder 80 that holds a tool is attached to the spindle 3. Fig. 3 is a front view of the fluid jet tool 50 and the tool holder 80 that holds it. As shown in Fig. 3, the tool holder 80 includes a holder main body 81 and a nut portion 83 that is attached to the tip (lower end in Fig. 3) side of the holder main body 81. The fluid jet tool 50 has a stepped shape in which the diameter is smaller on the base end 50b (upper end in Fig. 3) side than on the tip 50a (lower end in Fig. 3) side when viewed in the axial direction.

[0059] The fluid jet tool 50 is held in the tool holder 80 via a collet 85. That is, the fluid jet tool 50 is inserted into the holder body 81 from the tip end, with the small-diameter shank portion 57 on the base end 50b side being inserted into the collet 85 attached to the nut portion 83, and the tapered portion of the collet 85 is pressed down by rotating the nut portion 83, thereby holding the fluid jet tool 50 in place in the tool holder 80. Note that a stepped portion of the fluid jet tool 50 abuts against the tip surface (the surface at the bottom end in FIG. 3 ) of the collet 85 when the collet 85 is fitted into the fluid jet tool 50, thereby fulfilling a positioning function. Note that the fluid jet tool 50 may have a shape without a step.

[0060] Next, the fluid jet tool 50 will be described in detail. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the fluid jet tool 50, Fig. 5 is a bottom view (a view of the tip surface) of the fluid jet tool, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 5. As shown in Figs. 3 to 6, the fluid jet tool 50 has a bottomed, circular tubular shape, and includes a bottom portion 51 that is circular when viewed from the bottom, and a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 52 that extends upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom portion 51. The peripheral edge of the bottom portion 51 is chamfered. The fluid jet tool 50 is made of iron. As described above, the fluid jet tool 50 has a stepped shape in which the diameter is smaller on the base end 50b side than on the tip portion 50a side (bottom side) when viewed in the axial direction. The fluid jetting tool 50 has an axial length L1 of approximately 100 mm, and the ratio of the axial length L2 of the large-diameter main body 55 including the tip portion 54 to the axial length L3 of the small-diameter shank 57 including the base portion 56 is approximately 3:2. The outer diameter D1 of the main body 55 is approximately 15 mm, and the outer diameter D2 of the shank 57 is approximately 12 mm.

[0061] An internal flow path 60 is formed inside the fluid jet tool 50, through which fluids such as coolant liquid and air injected through the spindle 3 flow in. The diameter d1 of the internal flow path 60 (i.e., the inner diameter d1 of the fluid jet tool 50 common to the main body 55 and the shank 57) is approximately 8 mm. The thickness of the bottom 51 is approximately 2 mm, and the overall length of the internal flow path 60 extends over almost the entire area of ​​the fluid jet tool 50, from the base end 50b to the tip end 50a.

[0062] The tip 54 of the fluid jet tool 50 is provided with a plurality of through-holes that penetrate between the internal flow path 60 and the outside and jet the fluid that has passed through the internal flow path 60 to the outside. Specifically, a tip through-hole 61 that penetrates from the inner tip surface 60a of the internal flow path 60 to the outside is formed in the center of the bottom 51, which is circular in bottom view, along the axial direction of the fluid jet tool 50. The tip through-hole 61 is a cylindrical through-hole and is provided coaxially with the central axis of the internal flow path 60 (axis AX3 of the fluid jet tool 50). The diameter of the tip through-hole 61 is approximately 3 mm. The fluid that has passed through the internal flow path 60 is jetted from the tip through-hole 61 in the axial direction.

[0063] Furthermore, a plurality of lateral through-holes 63 are provided at the tip end portion of the peripheral wall portion 52, penetrating from the inner peripheral surface 60b of the internal flow path portion 60 to the outside. The plurality of lateral through-holes 63 include four first lateral through-holes 63a provided at 90-degree intervals in the circumferential direction at a position (an example of a first position) approximately 5 mm (an example of a first distance) from the tip end 50a, and four second lateral through-holes 63b provided at 90-degree intervals in the circumferential direction at a position (an example of a second position) approximately 10 mm (an example of a second distance) from the tip end 50a so as to be shifted by 45 degrees from each of the first lateral through-holes 63a.

[0064] Each of the side through-holes 63 (each of the first side through-holes 63a and each of the second side through-holes 63b) is a cylindrical through-hole that opens in an elliptical shape with the axial direction as the longitudinal direction. The circumferential width of each of the side through-holes 63 is approximately 2 mm. Each of the side through-holes 63 opens so that its axis intersects with the axis of the fluid jet tool 50 (internal flow path 60). Each of the side through-holes 63 is inclined at a predetermined inclination angle θ1 (see FIG. 6 ) toward the axial direction with respect to the radial direction of the fluid jet tool 50 so that the fluid that has passed through the internal flow path 60 is jetted toward the base 56 side relative to the radial direction of the fluid jet tool 50. In other words, the side through-holes 63 are inclined so that the outer opening 63d is located closer to the base 56 than the inner opening 63c. In this embodiment, the inclination angle θ1 of each of the side through-holes 63 is approximately 40 degrees. The dimensions of the fluid jetting tool 50, including the tilt angle θ1, can be changed as appropriate within a range in which the function of removing chips can be suitably exhibited. The tilt angle θ1 is preferably in the range of 10 to 70 degrees.

[0065] Furthermore, the inner bottom surface 50c of the fluid jet tool 50 (the inner tip surface 60a of the internal flow path portion 60) is a mortar-shaped inclined surface that becomes thinner from the periphery toward the center. This makes it difficult for the fluid that has passed through the internal flow path portion 60 to accumulate on the inner bottom surface 50c of the fluid jet tool 50.

[0066] As described above, the fluid jet tool 50 of this embodiment is provided with a plurality of through holes (tip through hole 61 and each side through hole 63) within a range of approximately 15 mm in the axial direction from the tip 50a. Therefore, the fluid jet tool 50 allows the fluid injected through the inside of the spindle 3 to flow into the internal flow path 60 from an opening on the base 56 side of the fluid jet tool 50, and further, the fluid that has passed through the internal flow path 60 can be jetted from the tip through hole 61 in the axial direction and from the first side through hole 63a and the second side through hole 63b in a direction toward the base 56 rather than in the radial direction. By using the fluid jet tool 50 of this embodiment, it is possible to remove chips generated during machining of the workpiece Wa by jetting the fluid in this manner, as will be described below.

[0067] Next, a method for removing chips using the fluid jet tool 50 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a plan view of a workpiece Wa machined by a machining center 1A. In FIG. 7, a fixing jig 43 is fixed to a table 41, and the workpiece Wa is fixed to the fixing jig 43. Four blind threaded holes Ha (an example of a bottomed hole portion) are formed in the workpiece Wa by cutting (such as drilling or threading). In this specification, the blind threaded holes Ha are also referred to as blind tapped holes Ha. Each blind tapped hole Ha is provided at each of the four corners of the workpiece Wa. The four blind tapped holes Ha have the same shape, and the diameter of each blind tapped hole Ha is larger than the outer diameter D1 of the main body 55 of the fluid jet tool 50. Chips K generated by the cutting process accumulate inside each blind tapped hole Ha.

[0068] Conventionally, after thread cutting, the operator (worker) had to stop the operation of the machining center 1A and remove the chips K that had accumulated in the blind tap hole Ha using an air gun or the like. Also, after the pilot hole drilling (hole drilling) that precedes the thread cutting, chips accumulate in the pilot hole before threading. For this reason, the operator (worker) had to stop the operation of the machining center 1A and remove the chips in the pilot hole using an air gun or the like, and it was not possible to perform pilot hole drilling and thread cutting in a single automatic operation.

[0069] According to the chip removal system KSA of this embodiment, after pilot hole drilling or thread cutting, the tool attached to the spindle 3 is changed from a cutting tool to a fluid jetting tool 50 by the automatic tool changer 20. Then, the fluid jetting tool 50 is operated as follows to remove chips K from the pilot hole or the screw hole.

[0070] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of how chips K are removed from inside a pilot hole Fa before threading using a fluid jet tool 50. As shown in FIG. 8, the control device 30 of the machining center 1A changes the tool attached to the spindle 3 from a drill for drilling to the fluid jet tool 50, then moves the fluid jet tool 50 to the position of the pilot hole Fa (an example of a bottomed hole portion) and inserts a tip 54 of the fluid jet tool 50 into the pilot hole Fa. Here, the control device 30 moves the fluid jet tool 50 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction so that the central axis of the pilot hole Fa and the rotation axis AX3 of the fluid jet tool 50 coincide with each other. The control device 30 also inserts the fluid jet tool 50 into the pilot hole Fa (moves it in the Z-axis direction) to a depth such that the tip 50a (tip surface) of the fluid jet tool 50 does not hit the bottom surface Fb of the pilot hole Fa (for example, by separating the tip 50a from the bottom surface Fb by approximately 5 to 8 mm).

[0071] The control device 30 then drives a fluid supply device (not shown) to feed coolant (cutting oil) into the internal flow passage 60 of the fluid jet tool 50, while moving the fluid jet tool 50 (in other words, the spindle 3) axially toward the base 56 (upward) at a predetermined feed rate. The predetermined feed rate can be set as appropriate, but may be the same as the feed rate of the drill used in drilling the pilot hole, for example. The predetermined feed rate may be set within a range of approximately 70% to 130% of the feed rate of the drill used in drilling the pilot hole. A feed rate within this range corresponds to the feed rate of the tool used in the machining process.

[0072] The fluid sent to the fluid jet tool 50 passes through the internal flow path 60 and is ejected in the axial direction from the tip through hole 61. When the fluid ejected from the tip through hole 61 hits the bottom surface Fb of the pilot hole Fa, it passes through the gap between the tip 50a (tip surface) and the bottom surface Fb and enters the gap M between the outer circumferential surface of the fluid jet tool 50 and the inner circumferential surface Fc of the pilot hole Fa. Due to this flow of the fluid, chips K that have accumulated on the bottom surface Fb of the pilot hole Fa are blown away toward the periphery of the bottom surface Fb and are blown upward, and enter the gap M between the outer circumferential surface of the fluid jet tool 50 and the inner circumferential surface Fc of the pilot hole Fa.

[0073] The fluid sent to the fluid jet tool 50 also passes through the internal flow path 60 and is ejected from the lateral through-holes 63 (first lateral through-hole 63a, second lateral through-hole 63b). Eight lateral through-holes 63 are provided at 45-degree intervals around the entire circumference of the fluid jet tool 50, so that the fluid ejected from the lateral through-holes 63 is ejected all around the inner circumferential surface Fc of the pilot hole Fa. The lateral through-holes 63 are inclined toward the base 56 from the radial direction of the fluid jet tool 50. Therefore, the fluid ejected from the lateral through-holes 63 is ejected at an angle inclined toward the base 56 from the radial direction of the fluid jet tool 50 (i.e., inclined upward from the left-right direction in FIG. 8). When the fluid ejected from the lateral through-holes 63 hits the inner circumferential surface Fc of the pilot hole Fa, it rises along the inner circumferential surface Fc. In other words, by injecting coolant (cutting oil) from the tip through-hole portion 61 and the side through-hole portion 63 of the fluid ejection tool 50, a linear upward flow is formed that sends the chips K from the bottom of the pilot hole Fa to the upper opening Fe.

[0074] Chips K blown away by the fluid ejected from the tip through-hole portion 61 and entering the gap M between the fluid ejection tool 50 and the inner circumferential surface Fc of the pilot hole Fa are sent upward along the inner circumferential surface Fc by the fluid ejected from the side through-hole portion 63. As the fluid ejection tool 50 is withdrawn from the pilot hole Fa (moving upward in the Z-axis direction), the position at which the fluid ejected from the side through-hole portion 63 strikes also gradually rises above the inner circumferential surface Fc. In this way, as the fluid ejection tool 50 inserted into the pilot hole Fa is withdrawn upward while ejecting fluid, the chips K accumulated in the pilot hole Fa are blown away toward the upper opening Fe of the pilot hole Fa and are discharged from the upper opening Fe to the outside of the pilot hole Fa. In this way, by using the fluid ejection tool 50 of this embodiment, it is possible to effectively remove chips K from the pilot hole Fa, which is a blind hole.

[0075] The size, number, and shape of the opening surfaces of the through-hole portions (tip through-hole portion 61, side through-hole portion 63) of the fluid jetting tool 50 can be changed as appropriate within a range in which the speed of the jetted fluid can adequately remove the chips K. However, if the total opening area of ​​the through-hole portions is too large, the flow rate of the jetted coolant liquid may become too slow, potentially reducing the performance of removing the chips K, while if the total opening area of ​​the through-hole portions is too small, the efficiency of removing the chips K may decrease; therefore, it is desirable to design the tool appropriately while balancing these factors. Furthermore, the pressure at which the coolant liquid (cutting oil) or fluid such as air is sent may be set as appropriate within a range in which the chips K can be blown away.

[0076] Next, chip removal from the blind tapped hole Ha will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of how chips K are removed from the blind tapped hole Ha using a fluid jet tool 50. As shown in FIG. 9, the control device 30 of the machining center 1A changes the tool attached to the spindle 3 from a threading tap to the fluid jet tool 50, then moves the fluid jet tool 50 to the position of the blind tapped hole Ha and inserts a tip 54 of the fluid jet tool 50 into the blind tapped hole Ha. Here, the control device 30 moves the fluid jet tool 50 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions so that the central axis of the blind tapped hole Ha coincides with the rotation axis AX3 of the fluid jet tool 50. The control device 30 also inserts the fluid jet tool 50 into the blind tapped hole Ha (moves it in the Z-axis direction) to a depth such that the tip 50a of the fluid jet tool 50 does not hit the bottom surface Hb of the blind tapped hole Ha (for example, the tip 50a is spaced about 5 to 8 mm from the bottom surface Hb).

[0077] The control device 30 then drives a fluid supply device (not shown) to feed coolant (cutting oil) into the internal flow passage 60 of the fluid jet tool 50. The control device 30 then rotates the fluid jet tool 50 (i.e., the spindle 3) at a predetermined rotational speed in the opposite direction to that used during thread cutting (i.e., the direction in which the thread loosens, specifically, counterclockwise for right-handed threads and clockwise for left-handed threads), while moving the fluid jet tool 50 (i.e., upward) along the axial direction toward the base portion 56 at a predetermined feed rate. The predetermined rotational speed and predetermined feed rate can be set as appropriate. For example, they may be set to the same rotational speed and feed rate as the tap used during thread cutting. This allows the amount of feed per rotation of the fluid jet tool 50 to be matched to the pitch of the blind-threaded hole Ha, ensuring smooth removal of chips K along the thread groove Hd. The predetermined rotational speed may be set within a range of approximately 70% to 130% of the rotational speed of the tap used during thread cutting. This range of rotational speed corresponds to the rotational speed of the tool used during the machining process. The predetermined feed rate should be set within a range of approximately 70% to 130% of the feed rate of the tap during thread cutting. This range of feed rate corresponds to the feed rate of the tool in the machining process.

[0078] The fluid sent to the fluid jet tool 50 passes through the internal flow path 60 and is ejected axially from the tip through hole 61. When the fluid ejected from the tip through hole 61 hits the bottom surface Hb of the blind tapped hole Ha, it passes through the gap between the tip 50a and the bottom surface Hb and enters the gap N between the outer circumferential surface of the fluid jet tool 50 and the inner circumferential surface Hc of the blind tapped hole Ha. Due to this flow of the fluid, chips K that have accumulated on the bottom surface Hb of the blind tapped hole Ha are blown away toward the periphery of the bottom surface Hb and are blown upward, and enter the gap N between the outer circumferential surface of the fluid jet tool 50 and the inner circumferential surface Hc of the blind tapped hole Ha.

[0079] The fluid sent to the fluid jetting tool 50 also passes through the internal flow path 60 and is jetted from the lateral through-holes 63 (first lateral through-hole 63a, second lateral through-hole 63b). Eight lateral through-holes 63 are provided at 45-degree intervals around the entire circumference of the fluid jetting tool 50. The fluid jetting tool 50 is moved in a direction to remove from the blind threaded hole Ha (upward in the Z-axis direction) while being rotated in the direction of loosening the screw. The lateral through-holes 63 are inclined toward the base portion 56 from the radial direction of the fluid jetting tool 50 (i.e., inclined upward from the left-right direction in FIG. 9). Therefore, when the fluid jetted from the lateral through-holes 63 hits the inner circumferential surface Hc of the blind threaded hole Ha, it ascends in a spiral shape along the thread groove Hd of the inner circumferential surface Hc. In other words, by rotating the fluid ejection tool 50 and spraying coolant (cutting oil) from the tip through-hole portion 61 and the side through-hole portion 63, the chips K that have accumulated at the bottom of the blind thread hole Ha are sent into the gap N between the fluid ejection tool 50 and the inner surface Hc of the blind thread hole Ha, and a spiral upward flow is formed that sends the chips K sent into the gap N, together with the chips K that have accumulated in the thread groove Hd, along the thread groove Hd to the upper opening He of the blind thread hole Ha.

[0080] This spiral upward flow sends the chips K in the blind tapped hole Ha upward along the thread groove Hd, and as the fluid jetting tool 50 is pulled out of the blind tapped hole Ha (as it moves upward in the Z-axis direction), the position at which this upward flow hits also gradually moves upward on the inner circumferential surface Hc. In this way, all of the chips K that have accumulated in the blind tapped hole Ha are discharged out of the blind tapped hole Ha from the upper opening He of the blind tapped hole Ha. In this way, by using the fluid jetting tool 50 of this embodiment, it is possible to effectively remove the chips K from the blind tapped hole Ha.

[0081] In this embodiment, the first lateral through hole portion 63a and the second lateral through hole portion 63b are provided at positions offset in the axial direction in the fluid jetting tool 50. Therefore, chips K blown toward the base portion 56 by the fluid jetted from the first lateral through hole portion 63a near the tip 50a of the fluid jetting tool 50 can be blown further toward the base portion 56 by the second lateral through hole portion 63b.

[0082] The fluid ejection tool 50 of this embodiment can be used to effectively remove not only chips K accumulated in bottomed holes such as pilot holes Fa and blind tapped holes Ha, but also coolant (cutting oil) accumulated in the bottomed holes. The chips K, coolant (cutting oil), and other materials that require removal are collectively referred to as residues.

[0083] To remove the coolant accumulated in the bottomed holes, it is sufficient to change the fluid sprayed from the tip through-hole 61 and the side through-hole 63 of the fluid jet tool 50 from coolant to air. The machining center 1A of this embodiment is capable of feeding not only coolant but also air into the fluid jet tool 50 through the inside of the spindle 3. Specifically, the control device 30 of the machining center 1A feeds air into the fluid jet tool 50 while inserting the fluid jet tool 50 into the pilot hole Fa shown in FIG. 8 and the blind tapped hole Ha shown in FIG. 9 at a predetermined feed rate. This allows the coolant accumulated in the pilot hole Fa and the blind tapped hole Ha to be efficiently discharged outside the bottomed holes. The feed rate of the fluid jet tool 50 may be set as appropriate. The process of spraying air from the fluid jet tool 50 to remove the coolant from the bottomed holes is referred to as a residue removal process.

[0084] Next, the processing of the control device 30 when blind threaded holes Ha are formed in an unmachined workpiece by the machining center 1A will be described with reference to FIG. 10. With the chip removal system KSA of this embodiment, which includes the fluid ejection tool 50, the operator can have the machining center 1A perform all processes up to the completion of machining, including cleaning the workpiece, by simply entering a machining instruction once. When the operator operates the input / output device 32 and the processor of the control device 30 receives an instruction to machine a threaded hole, the processor of the control device 30 performs, for example, the threaded hole forming process shown in FIG. 10. Note that the threaded hole forming process shown in FIG. 10 is a process for forming four blind threaded holes Ha in a workpiece Wa, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0085] 10, the processor of the control device 30 first drills four center holes in the workpiece Wa, and then changes the tool of the spindle 3 to a pilot hole drill to form four pilot holes Fa (step S1). Next, the processor of the control device 30 performs a tool changing process to operate the automatic tool changer 20 or the like to change the tool of the spindle 3 from the pilot hole drill to a fluid jet tool 50 (step S2). Then, a chip removal process is performed to remove chips K from the pilot holes Fa using the fluid jet tool 50 (step S3).

[0086] In the chip removal process (S3), chips K are removed from each of the four pilot holes Fa. First, the fluid jet tool 50 is moved coaxially with the central axis of the first pilot hole Fa. Then, the fluid jet tool 50 is inserted into the pilot hole Fa to a depth corresponding to the depth of the pilot hole Fa (a depth at which the tip 50a of the fluid jet tool 50 does not come into contact with the chips K accumulated in the pilot hole Fa). Note that a program (work instruction data) for moving the fluid jet tool 50 coaxially with the central axis of the pilot hole Fa can be easily input by an operator into the control device 30 by referencing the position data (position data in the X-axis and Y-axis directions) used during pilot hole drilling. In addition, a program for inserting the fluid jet tool 50 to an optimal depth into the pilot hole Fa can also be easily input by an operator into the control device 30 by referencing the depth data (position data in the Z-axis direction) used during pilot hole drilling and taking into account the amount of chips K generated by pilot hole drilling.

[0087] Next, the processor of the control device 30 sends coolant liquid through the inside of the spindle 3 into the internal flow path 60 of the fluid jet tool 50, and while spraying it from each through-hole portion (tip through-hole portion 61 and side through-hole portion 63), moves the spindle 3 (fluid jet tool 50) in the direction of exiting the pilot hole Fa at a predetermined feed speed (see FIG. 8). The feed speed here is set within a certain range (approximately plus or minus 30%) based on the feed speed of the drill used in drilling the pilot hole. If the feed speed is too fast, chips K may not be sufficiently removed, and if the feed speed is too slow, machining efficiency may decrease.

[0088] By controlling the fluid jet tool 50 (spindle 3) in this manner, chips K in the pilot holes Fa are suitably removed. After chips K have been removed from the first pilot hole Fa, the processor of the control device 30 similarly removes chips K from the remaining pilot holes Fa one by one. According to the chip removal system KSA of this embodiment, the operating conditions (operating data) of the fluid jet tool 50 can be determined by referring to the machining conditions (machining data) of the pilot holes Fa. Therefore, the fluid jet tool 50 can be moved to an optimal position for the pilot holes Fa that have been machined, and the fluid jet tool 50 can be operated at an optimal speed for removing chips K in the pilot holes Fa. Therefore, chips K in the pilot holes Fa can be removed more accurately than in a configuration in which the operator manually performs the removal.

[0089] Next, the processor of the control device 30 changes the tool of the spindle 3 to a chamfering tool to chamfer the entrance of each pilot hole Fa, and further changes the tool of the spindle 3 to a tap for threading to thread each pilot hole Fa to form a blind tap hole Ha (step S4). If coolant liquid accumulates in the pilot hole Fa due to the chip removal process in step S3, it is advisable to perform a residue removal process in which air is sprayed from the fluid ejection tool 50 between steps S3 and S4.

[0090] Following step S4, the processor of the control device 30 performs a tool changing process to change the tool of the spindle 3 from a tap for thread cutting to the fluid jetting tool 50 by operating the automatic tool changer 20 etc. (step S5). Then, a chip removal process is performed to remove chips K from the blind thread hole Ha using the fluid jetting tool 50 (step S6).

[0091] In the chip removal process (S6), chips K are removed from each of the four blind tapped holes Ha. First, the fluid jetting tool 50 is moved coaxially with the central axis of the first blind tapped hole Ha. Then, the fluid jetting tool 50 is inserted into the blind tapped hole Ha to a depth corresponding to the depth of the blind tapped hole Ha (a depth at which the tip 50a of the fluid jetting tool 50 does not come into contact with the chips K accumulated in the blind tapped hole Ha). Note that a program (work instruction data) for moving the fluid jetting tool 50 coaxially with the central axis of the blind tapped hole Ha can be easily input into the control device 30 by an operator by referencing position data during thread cutting (position data in the X-axis and Y-axis directions). In addition, a program for inserting the fluid jetting tool 50 to an optimal depth into the blind tapped hole Ha can also be easily input into the control device 30 by an operator by referencing depth data during thread cutting (position data in the Z-axis direction) and taking into account the amount of chips K generated by thread cutting.

[0092] Next, the processor of the control device 30 sends coolant liquid through the inside of the spindle 3 into the internal flow passage 60 of the fluid jet tool 50 and sprays it from each through-hole portion (the tip through-hole portion 61 and the side through-hole portion 63). While rotating the fluid jet tool 50 at a predetermined rotational speed in the direction of loosening the thread, the processor also moves the spindle 3 (fluid jet tool 50) at a predetermined feed rate in the direction of removal from the blind thread hole Ha (see FIG. 9 ). The rotational speed and feed rate are set to the same as those of the tap during thread cutting. By matching the operating conditions (operational data) of the fluid jet tool 50 to the thread cutting conditions (cutting data), the coolant liquid can be more easily applied to all of the thread grooves Hd, making it possible to easily remove chips K along the thread grooves Hd without leaving any chips outside the blind thread hole Ha. The rotational speed and feed rate of the fluid jet tool 50 do not need to be completely consistent with the thread cutting conditions; they can be appropriately changed within a range that allows for the chips K to be suitably removed. For example, the rotation speed and feed rate of the fluid ejection tool 50 may be set within a certain range (approximately plus or minus 30%) based on the rotation speed and feed rate of the tap during thread cutting.

[0093] By controlling the fluid jet tool 50 (spindle 3) in this manner, chips K inside the blind tapped hole Ha are suitably removed. After chips K have been removed from the first blind tapped hole Ha, the processor of the control device 30 similarly removes chips K from the remaining blind tapped holes Ha one by one. According to the chip removal system KSA of this embodiment, the operating conditions (operating data) of the fluid jet tool 50 can be determined by referring to the machining conditions (machining data) for the blind tapped hole Ha. Therefore, the fluid jet tool 50 can be moved to an optimal position for the machined blind tapped hole Ha, and the fluid jet tool 50 can be operated at an optimal rotation speed and feed rate for removing chips K inside the blind tapped hole Ha. Therefore, chips K inside the blind tapped hole Ha can be removed more accurately than in a configuration where an operator manually performs the removal.

[0094] Next, the processor of the control device 30 performs a residue removal process (step S7). In the residue removal process, the fluid ejection tool 50 is inserted sequentially into each of the blind tapped holes Ha while air is being fed into the fluid ejection tool 50. This allows the coolant liquid that has accumulated in each of the blind tapped holes Ha during the chip removal process in step S6 to be discharged from each of the blind tapped holes Ha.

[0095] In this way, with the chip removal system KSA of this embodiment, which includes the fluid ejection tool 50, the operator (worker) only needs to operate the input / output device 32 once at the start of machining, allowing the machining center 1A to continue performing all processes, including cleaning the workpiece, until the machining is complete. Therefore, after drilling the pilot hole Fa or the blind tapped hole Ha, the operator does not need to temporarily stop the operation of the machining center 1A to remove residual materials such as chips K. This improves operator work efficiency and increases factory production efficiency. Furthermore, compared to a configuration in which the operator removes chips themselves, the operator is less likely to be injured or get dirty.

[0096] Furthermore, as described above, the chip removal system KSA of this embodiment has higher chip removal accuracy (leaving fewer chips K behind) than when the chips K (residues) are removed by the operator himself. Thus, this embodiment makes it possible to remove chips K with high accuracy in a safe, clean, and efficient manner.

[0097] Next, the removal of chips K from a blind tapped hole formed by helical machining will be described with reference to FIG. 11A. The blind tapped hole Ja shown in FIG. 11A is a tapped hole with a larger diameter than the blind tapped hole Ha shown in FIG. 9. This blind tapped hole Ja was formed by helical machining, which moves a threading tool (such as a tap mill) in a spiral pattern. When removing chips K from such a blind tapped hole Ja, the processor of the control device 30 replaces the tool attached to the spindle 3 with the fluid ejection tool 50, and then moves it in the reverse order and direction from when the blind tapped hole Ja was machined.

[0098] That is, the processor of the control device 30 inserts the fluid jet tool 50 close to the bottom surface Jb of the blind tapped hole Ja and moves the fluid jet tool 50 closer to the inner circumferential surface Jc so that the axis AX3 of the fluid jet tool 50 is closer to the inner circumferential surface Jc than the central axis AX4 of the blind tapped hole Ja. Then, the processor rotates the fluid jet tool 50 by rotating the fluid jet tool 50 about its axis AX3 in the opposite direction to that during machining, while also rotating the fluid jet tool 50 in the opposite direction to that during machining (about the central axis AX4 of the blind tapped hole Ja) to rotate the fluid jet tool 50 in a circular motion along the inner circumferential surface Jc (i.e., lifting it up in a spiral). At this time, the processor controls the movement of the fluid jet tool 50 so that one revolution of the fluid jet tool 50 raises the fluid jet tool 50 in the Z-axis direction by one pitch of the blind tapped hole Ja. In other words, the rotation and feed of the fluid jet tool 50 are synchronized, and the feed rate per rotation is controlled to be equal to the pitch amount of the blind-threaded hole Ja. The processor of the control device 30 controls the movement in this way and also sprays coolant from the tip through-hole 61 and the side through-hole 63 of the fluid jet tool 50. This control of the fluid jet tool 50 ensures that chips K in the blind-threaded hole Ja are transported reliably along the thread groove Jd of the blind-threaded hole Ja to the upper opening Je. Therefore, chips K in the blind-threaded hole Ja can be removed with high precision. This control of the movement and fluid jet of the fluid jet tool can also be suitably used to remove chips K from blind holes without threads formed by helical machining.

[0099] 11A may be formed by a method in which a pilot hole is formed and then a thread is cut using a threading tool in a helical feed from the bottom of the hole toward the opening of the hole. In the process of removing chips K when the blind threaded hole Ja is formed by such a method, the processor of the control device 30 may set the direction of rotation and the direction of revolution of the fluid ejection tool 50 to the same directions as during threading.

[0100] Here, when forming a blind threaded hole Ja by helical machining, the processor of the control device 30 performs a threaded hole forming process shown in FIG. 11B. Steps S1 to S6 in the threaded hole forming process shown in FIG. 11B are the same as steps S1 to S6 in the threaded hole forming process shown in FIG. 10, and therefore will not be described. As shown in FIG. 11A, after forming the blind threaded hole Ja by helical machining (step S4) and performing a chip removal process using the fluid jet tool 50 (steps S5 and S6), the processor of the control device 30 replaces the tool of the spindle 3 with a threading tool for finish machining and performs finish machining on the blind threaded hole Ja (step S10). Thereafter, the processor of the control device 30 replaces the tool of the spindle 3 with the fluid jet tool 50 again (step S11) and removes chips K generated by the finish machining from the blind threaded hole Ja (step S12). Next, the processor of the control device 30 performs a residue removal process (step S13). In the residue removal process, the processor of the control device 30 inserts the fluid jet tool 50 into the blind threaded hole Ja while supplying air to the fluid jet tool 50, and discharges the coolant liquid that has accumulated in the blind threaded hole Ja through the chip removal process of step S12. In this way, with the chip removal system KSA of this embodiment including the fluid jet tool 50, even in machining of a workpiece that includes thread cutting by helical machining, the operator (worker) only needs to operate the input / output device 32 once at the start of machining to allow the machining center 1A to continuously perform all processes from finish machining to the subsequent cleaning.

[0101] As described above in detail, the fluid ejection tool 50 according to the first embodiment is a tool attached to the spindle 3 of the machining center 1A. The machining center 1A can automatically change the tool attached to the spindle 3, can machine a workpiece by rotating the tool, and can eject a fluid such as a coolant liquid or air by a center-through method (see FIG. 1). The fluid jet tool 50 is tubular and has an opening on the base 56 side. When attached to the spindle 3, the fluid jet tool 50 extends in a tool axis direction that is the axial direction of the spindle 3. The fluid jet tool 50 includes an internal flow path 60 through which a fluid to be injected passes through the inside of the spindle 3, and side through-holes 63 (first side through-hole 63a, second side through-hole 63b) that are provided on the tip 54 side opposite the base 56 and penetrate from an inner circumferential surface 60b of the internal flow path 60 to the outside of the fluid jet tool 50 and jet the fluid that has passed through the internal flow path 60 to the outside of the fluid jet tool 50 (see FIGS. 4 to 6). The side through-holes 63 are inclined at an inclination angle θ1 (approximately 40 degrees in this embodiment) toward the tool axis direction rather than the tool radial direction so that an outer opening 63d is closer to the base 56 than an inner opening 63c (see FIG. 6).

[0102] According to the fluid jet tool 50 of this aspect, a fluid such as a coolant liquid injected from the spindle 3 and flowing into the interior can be jetted to the outside from the side through-hole portion 63. The side through-hole portion 63 is inclined at an inclination angle θ1 toward the tool axis direction rather than the tool radial direction so that the outer opening 63d is located closer to the base portion 56 than the inner opening 63c. This allows chips K to be suitably blown away toward the base portion 56 of the fluid jet tool 50. Therefore, chips K can be removed using the fluid injected through the spindle 3 without stopping the operation of the machining center 1A. As a result, chips K can be removed from the machining center 1A safely and reliably, while suppressing a decrease in work efficiency, compared to manual cleaning by an operator using an air gun or the like.

[0103] The first embodiment also discloses a chip removal method using a fluid ejection tool 50, which includes: an exchange step (steps S2 and S5 in Figure 10) of exchanging the tool being used with the fluid ejection tool 50 after a machining process of machining a bottomed hole portion (pilot hole Fa or blind tap hole Ha) in a workpiece Wa; an insertion step (part of the processing included in steps S3 and S6 in Figure 10) of inserting the fluid ejection tool 50 into the bottomed hole portion formed by the machining process and positioning the lateral through hole portion 63 and the tip through hole portion 61 within the bottomed hole portion; and a chip removal step (another part of the processing included in steps S3 and S6 in Figure 10) of moving the fluid ejection tool 50 in a direction to exit the bottomed hole portion while rotating the fluid ejection tool 50 in a direction opposite to the tool rotation direction when forming the bottomed hole portion while ejecting fluid from the lateral through hole portion 63 and the tip through hole portion 61.

[0104] The first embodiment also discloses a chip removal system KSA equipped with a machining center 1A having a control device 30 that controls operations based on input work instruction data, and a fluid ejection tool 50. In this chip removal system KSA, after the machining process of machining a bottomed hole portion (pilot hole Fa or blind tap hole Ha) into the workpiece Wa, the control device 30 performs a tool change process (steps S2 and S5 in Figure 10) in which the tool being used is changed to a fluid ejection tool 50, a tool insertion process (part of the process included in steps S3 and S6 in Figure 10) in which the fluid ejection tool 50 is inserted into the bottomed hole portion formed by the machining process and the lateral through hole portion 63 and the tip through hole portion 61 are positioned within the bottomed hole portion, and a chip removal process (other part of the process included in steps S3 and S6 in Figure 10) in which the fluid ejection tool 50 is moved in a direction to exit the bottomed hole portion while ejecting fluid from the lateral through hole portion 63 and the tip through hole portion 61 and rotating the fluid ejection tool 50 in a direction opposite to the tool rotation direction when forming the bottomed hole portion (other part of the process included in steps S3 and S6 in Figure 10).

[0105] According to the chip removal method and chip removal system KSA disclosed in the first embodiment, the fluid jetting tool 50 attached to the spindle 3 is inserted into a blind hole (prepared hole Fa or blind tapped hole Ha) to position the tip through hole 61 and the side through hole 63 within the blind hole, and then the fluid jetting tool 50 is rotated in the opposite direction to that used to form the blind hole while jetting fluid from the tip through hole 61 and the side through hole 63, and moved in a direction away from the blind hole, thereby reliably blowing away any chips K remaining within the blind hole (see FIGS. 8 and 9). In particular, when the blind tapped hole Ha is used, the chips K can be completely expelled from the blind hole while moving in a spiral pattern along the thread groove Hd (see FIG. 9). When removing residues such as chips K using the fluid ejection tool 50, the sliding door (not shown) in the machining center 1A is closed to enclose the machining space, so the coolant liquid and chips K do not scatter outside the machining center 1A.

[0106] In addition, in the chip removal system KSA disclosed in the first embodiment, the control device 30 moves the fluid ejection tool 50 to the same position as the machining position of the workpiece in the machining process, making it possible to improve the accuracy of removing chips K from the bottomed hole portion.

[0107] Furthermore, in the chip removal system KSA disclosed in the first embodiment, the control device 30 inserts the fluid ejection tool 50 into the bottomed hole portion to a depth that does not exceed the insertion depth of the tool in the machining process, thereby preventing the workpiece from being damaged by the fluid ejection tool 50 hitting the bottom of the bottomed hole portion (bottom surface Fb of the pilot hole Fa, bottom surface Hb of the blind screw hole Ha).

[0108] Furthermore, in the chip removal system KSA disclosed in the first embodiment, the control device 30 rotates the fluid jetting tool 50 at a rotational speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the tool in the machining process, making it possible to remove chips K appropriate for the machined bottomed hole. In particular, when machining a blind tapped hole Ha, by rotating the fluid jetting tool 50 in the opposite direction to that during machining at a rotational speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the tool when cutting the thread, it is possible to reliably move the chips K spirally along the thread groove Hd, and it is possible to accurately remove the chips K from the blind tapped hole Ha.

[0109] Furthermore, in the chip removal system KSA disclosed in the first embodiment, the control device 30 moves the fluid jetting tool 50 in the direction of removal from the bottomed hole at a feed speed that corresponds to the feed speed of the tool in the machining process, making it possible to remove chips K that are appropriate for the machined bottomed hole. In other words, it is possible to prevent the speed at which the fluid jetting tool 50 is removed from the bottomed hole from being too fast or too slow, making it possible to balance the accuracy of chip removal K with the efficiency of the removal work.

[0110] 2. Second embodiment Next, a chip removal system according to a second embodiment will be described. The chip removal system according to the second embodiment includes a fluid jet tool 50A shown in Figures 12 and 13 and the same machining center 1A as in the first embodiment. That is, in the second embodiment, the fluid jet tool 50A shown in Figures 12 and 13 is set in the machining center 1A as a tool that can be replaced by the automatic tool changer 20. In the description of the second embodiment, the same components and components with the same functions as in the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals, and their description may be omitted.

[0111] Fig. 12 is a bottom view of a fluid jet tool 50A according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 12. As shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13, the fluid jet tool 50A according to the second embodiment differs from the fluid jet tool 50 of the first embodiment in that a bottom portion 51A that is circular in bottom view does not have a tip through-hole portion formed therein, and in that a side through-hole portion 63A formed in a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 52A that extends upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom portion 51A is inclined from an inner opening 63Ac to an outer opening 63Ad toward the bottom portion 51A (tip 50Aa of the fluid jet tool 50A). Otherwise, the configuration is generally similar to that of the fluid jet tool 50 of the first embodiment.

[0112] Specifically, in the fluid jet tool 50A according to the second embodiment, the bottom surface (the surface of the tip 50Aa of the fluid jet tool 50A) of the bottom 51A is entirely closed, as shown in FIG. 12. Therefore, the fluid (coolant liquid, air) that has passed through the internal flow path 60A is not ejected in the axial direction of the fluid jet tool 50A. Furthermore, in the fluid jet tool 50A according to the second embodiment, the side through-holes 63A are inclined at a predetermined inclination angle θ2 toward the axial center with respect to the radial direction of the fluid jet tool 50A as a reference, as shown in FIG. 13, so that the fluid that has passed through the internal flow path 60A is ejected toward the bottom 51A (the tip 50Aa of the fluid jet tool 50A) rather than toward the radial direction of the fluid jet tool 50A. In other words, the side through-holes 63A are inclined so that the outer openings 63Ad are located closer to the bottom 51A (the tip 50Aa of the fluid jet tool 50A) than the inner openings 63Ac. In this embodiment, the inclination angle θ2 of the side through-hole portion 63A is approximately 40 degrees.

[0113] In the second embodiment, four lateral through-holes 63A are provided at two positions: a first position closer to the bottom 51A in the axial direction and a second position farther from the bottom 51A than the first position. The four lateral through-holes 63Aa at the first position closer to the bottom 51A are offset by 45 degrees in the circumferential direction from the second lateral through-holes 63Ab at the second position farther from the bottom 51A. The dimensions of each component of the fluid jet tool 50A according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the fluid jet tool 50 according to the first embodiment. Furthermore, the positions of the outer openings 63Ad of the lateral through-holes 63A according to the second embodiment are the same as the positions of the outer openings 63d of the lateral through-holes 63 according to the first embodiment. The dimensions of the fluid jet tool 50A can be appropriately changed as long as the tool can adequately perform its chip removal function. The inclination angle θ2 is preferably between 10 and 70 degrees.

[0114] The fluid jetting tool 50A according to the second embodiment configured in this manner allows fluid injected through the interior of the spindle 3 to flow into the internal flow path 60A from an opening on the base 56A side of the fluid jetting tool 50A, and the fluid passing through the internal flow path 60A can be ejected from the first and second lateral through-holes 63Aa and 63Ab in a direction toward the bottom 51A (tip 50Aa of the fluid jetting tool 50A) rather than in the radial direction. By ejecting the fluid in this manner, the fluid jetting tool 50A according to this embodiment can effectively remove chips K adhering to the inside of a threaded through hole formed in a workpiece, as will be described below.

[0115] 14 is a diagram showing an example of how chips K are removed from inside a threaded hole Pa of a through hole (hereinafter also referred to as "through threaded hole Pa") using a fluid jetting tool 50A. When removing chips K from the through threaded hole Pa (an example of a through hole portion), as shown in FIG. 14, the control device 30 of the machining center 1A changes the tool attached to the spindle 3 from a threading tap to the fluid jetting tool 50A, and then moves the fluid jetting tool 50A in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction so that the central axis AX5 of the through threaded hole Pa and the rotation axis of the fluid jetting tool 50A coincide with each other.

[0116] The control device 30 then drives a fluid supply device (not shown) to supply coolant (cutting oil) to the internal flow passage 60A of the fluid jet tool 50A. The control device 30 rotates the fluid jet tool 50A (i.e., the spindle 3) at a predetermined rotational speed in the same direction as during thread cutting (i.e., the direction in which the thread tightens, specifically, clockwise for right-handed threads and counterclockwise for left-handed threads), while moving the fluid jet tool 50A (i.e., the spindle 3) downward toward the lower opening Pf of the through-thread hole Pa at a predetermined feed rate along the axial direction (Z-axis direction). The predetermined rotational speed and predetermined feed rate can be set as appropriate, but are preferably the same as the rotational speed and feed rate of the tap used during thread cutting. This allows the amount of feed per rotation of the fluid jet tool 50 to be matched to the pitch of the through-thread hole Pa, ensuring smooth removal of chips K along the thread groove Pd. The predetermined rotational speed is preferably set within a range of approximately 70% to 130% of the rotational speed of the tap used during thread cutting. This range of rotation speed corresponds to the rotation speed of the tool in the machining process. Furthermore, the predetermined feed rate should be set within a range of approximately 70% to 130% of the feed rate of the tap used in thread cutting. This range of feed rate corresponds to the feed rate of the tool in the machining process.

[0117] The fluid sent to the fluid jetting tool 50A passes through the internal flow path 60A and is ejected from the lateral through-holes 63A (first lateral through-hole 63Aa, second lateral through-hole 63Ab). Eight lateral through-holes 63A are provided at 45-degree intervals around the entire circumference of the tip end 54A of the fluid jetting tool 50A. The fluid jetting tool 50A is rotated in the screw tightening direction and moved in a direction passing through the through-threaded hole Pa (downward in the Z-axis direction). The lateral through-holes 63A are inclined toward the bottom 51A from the radial direction of the fluid jetting tool 50A (i.e., inclined downward from the left-right direction in FIG. 14). Therefore, when the fluid ejected from the lateral through-holes 63A hits the inner circumferential surface Pc of the through-threaded hole Pa, it spirals downward along the thread groove Pd of the inner circumferential surface Pc. In other words, by injecting coolant (cutting oil) from the lateral through-hole portion 63A while rotating the fluid ejection tool 50A, a spiral downward flow is formed that sends the chips K adhering to the inner surface Pc of the through-thread hole Pa along the thread groove Pd to the lower opening Pf of the through-thread hole Pa.

[0118] This spiral downward flow sends the chips K in the through thread hole Pa downward along the thread groove Pd, and as the fluid jet tool 50A is moved downward through the through thread hole Pa (down in the Z-axis direction), the position where this downward flow hits also gradually moves downward below the inner circumferential surface Pc. In this way, all of the chips K adhering inside the through thread hole Pa are discharged out of the through thread hole Pa through the lower opening Pf of the through thread hole Pa. In this way, by using the fluid jet tool 50A of this embodiment, it is possible to effectively remove the chips K from the through thread hole Pa.

[0119] In this embodiment, the first lateral through hole portion 63Aa and the second lateral through hole portion 63Ab are provided at positions offset in the axial direction in the fluid jetting tool 50A. Therefore, chips K blown toward the bottom 51A of the fluid jetting tool 50A by the fluid jetted from the second lateral through hole portion 63Ab, which is farther from the bottom 51A, can be blown further toward the bottom 51A by the first lateral through hole portion 63Aa.

[0120] As described above, the fluid ejection tool 50A according to the second embodiment has a lateral through-hole portion 63A that is inclined at an inclination angle θ2 (approximately 40 degrees in this embodiment) so that the outer opening 63Ad is closer to the bottom 51A (the tip 50Aa of the fluid ejection tool 50A) than the inner opening 63Ac, as shown in FIG. 13, and does not have a tip through-hole portion (see FIG. 13).

[0121] According to the fluid jetting tool 50A of this aspect, the fluid jetted from the lateral through-hole portion 63A can blow off chips K toward the tip 50Aa side (the side where the workpiece or fixture is located) of the fluid jetting tool 50A. Therefore, it is possible to effectively remove chips remaining at the machining location of the type that penetrates the workpiece.

[0122] The second embodiment discloses a chip removal method using a fluid ejection tool 50A, which includes a replacement step of replacing the tool being used with the fluid ejection tool 50A after a machining process of machining a through hole portion (e.g., a through screw hole Pa) into a workpiece, and a chip removal step of passing the fluid ejection tool 50A through the through hole portion while ejecting fluid from the lateral through hole portion 63 and rotating the fluid ejection tool 50A in the same direction as the tool rotation direction when forming the through hole portion.

[0123] The second embodiment also discloses a chip removal system that includes a machining center 1A having a control device 30 that controls operation based on input work instruction data, and a fluid jet tool 50A. In this chip removal system, after a machining process of machining a through hole portion (e.g., a through screw hole Pa) in a workpiece, the control device 30 performs a tool change process in which the tool being used is changed to the fluid jet tool 50A, and a chip removal process in which the fluid jet tool 50A is passed through the through hole portion while jetting fluid from a lateral through-hole portion 63 and rotating the fluid jet tool 50A in the same direction as the tool rotation direction when the through hole portion was formed.

[0124] According to the chip removal method and chip removal system disclosed in the second embodiment, by passing the fluid ejection tool 50A attached to the spindle 3 through the through hole (for example, the through thread hole Pa) while rotating in the same direction as when the through hole is formed while ejecting fluid from the side through-hole portion 63, it is possible to reliably blow away chips K remaining in the through hole to the outside of the through hole (see FIG. 14). In particular, when the through hole is a through thread hole Pa, it is possible to move the chips K spirally along the thread groove Pd and completely eject them to the outside of the through hole (see FIG. 14).

[0125] 3. Third embodiment Next, a chip removal system KSB according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 18. In the description of the third embodiment, the same components and components with the same functions as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0126] As shown in FIG. 15, the chip removal system KSB of the third embodiment includes a machining center 1B (an example of a machine tool) and the same fluid jet tool 50 as in the first embodiment. Like the machining center 1A of the first embodiment, the machining center 1B includes a machining head 2, an automatic tool changer 20, and a control device 30, and the control device 30 can automatically exchange one of a plurality of tools set in a tool magazine 22 of the automatic tool changer 20 with a tool attached to a spindle 3 (an example of a tool attachment portion) of the machining head 2 based on work instruction data. The chip removal system KSB includes a fluid jet tool 50 as one of the tools set in the tool magazine 22, and the fluid jet tool 50 can be attached to the spindle 3 by a tool exchange process performed by the control device 30, as shown in FIG. 15.

[0127] The machining center 1B according to the third embodiment is longer in the X-axis direction (left-right direction) than the machining center 1A according to the first embodiment. The machining center 1B includes a table 200, which is rectangular in plan view and has its longitudinal direction in the X-axis direction (left-right direction) and its lateral direction in the Y-axis direction (front-rear direction), as a workpiece support device for supporting the workpiece. The machining center 1B also includes a movement device 48 that moves the machining head 2 relative to the table 200. The control device 30 controls the rotation of the tool attached to the spindle 3, the movement of the machining head 2 (operation of the movement device 48), the operation of the automatic tool changer 20, the operation of a fluid supply device (not shown) that supplies coolant (cutting oil) and air, and the operation of a collection device (not shown) that collects chips K generated by machining the workpiece. Although not shown in Figure 15, the machining center 1B is provided with an outer wall (casing) that surrounds the table 200 and the machining head 2, and a sliding door that opens and closes an opening formed in the outer wall, and by opening and closing the sliding door, it is possible to open and close the machining space in which the workpiece is machined.

[0128] Furthermore, the machining center 1B of this embodiment, like the machining center 1A according to the first embodiment, is capable of injecting various fluids such as coolant liquid and air through the inside of the spindle 3 using a center-through method.

[0129] Next, a method for removing chips using the fluid jet tool 50 in the machining center 1B will be described. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a table 200 included in the machining center 1B. After the machining center 1B has machined a workpiece, chips K remain on the table 200 as shown in FIG. 16. Chips K also remain in a T-slot groove 210 formed in the table 200. The T-slot groove 210 is an inverted T-shaped groove in left side view for fixing a fixture that fixes a workpiece to the table 200, and the groove width at the bottom side is wider than the groove width at the upper opening side (width in the Y-axis direction). The wide lower portion of the T-slot groove 210 is referred to as the wide groove 210a, and the narrow upper portion is referred to as the narrow groove 210b. The width of the narrow groove 210b is longer than the outer diameter D1 of the main body 55 of the fluid jet tool 50. The T-slot grooves 210 extend along the longitudinal direction of the table 200 over the entire area from the left end to the right end, and five of them are provided at equal intervals from the front end to the rear end of the table 200.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 16, if chips K remain on the table 200 and in the T-slot groove 210, the machining center 1B cannot be used for the next machining. Conventionally, cleaning of the table 200 of the machining center 1B has been performed by an operator using an air gun or the like. With the chip removal system KSB of this embodiment, it is possible to automate the cleaning of the table 200. That is, the operator can complete cleaning of the table 200 simply by operating the input / output device 32 of the control device 30 to replace the tool attached to the spindle 3 with the fluid jet tool 50 and operating the fluid jet tool 50 as follows.

[0131] 17 and 18 are diagrams showing an example of how chips K are removed from inside the T-slot groove 210 of the table 200 using the fluid jet tool 50. After replacing the tool attached to the spindle 3 with the fluid jet tool 50, the control device 30 of the machining center 1B inserts the fluid jet tool 50 into the T-slot groove 210 as shown in FIG. 17. The fluid jet tool 50 is inserted to a depth such that the tip through-hole portion 61 and the side through-hole portion 63 reach the lower wide groove 210a of the T-slot groove 210. Here, the control device 30 moves the fluid jet tool 50 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction so that the axis AX3 of the fluid jet tool 50 is positioned at the center of the T-slot groove 210 in the front-rear direction. The control device 30 also inserts the fluid ejection tool 50 into the T-slot groove 210 (moves it in the Z-axis direction) to a depth such that the tip 50a of the fluid ejection tool 50 does not hit the bottom surface 210c of the T-slot groove 210 (for example, by separating the tip 50a from the bottom surface 210c by about 2 mm).

[0132] The control device 30 drives a fluid supply device (not shown) to feed coolant (cutting oil) into the internal flow path 60 of the fluid jet tool 50, while rotating the fluid jet tool 50 (i.e., the spindle 3) at a predetermined rotation speed in a predetermined rotation direction (counterclockwise in this embodiment) and moving the fluid jet tool 50 at a predetermined feed rate in a predetermined direction (rightward or leftward) along the extension direction of the T-slot groove 210, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 . When cleaning one T-slot groove 210, it is desirable to move the fluid jet tool 50 from the left end to the right end of the T-slot groove 210 at least once. The fluid jet tool 50 may be moved back and forth between the left and right ends of one T-slot groove 210 one or more times. The rotation speed and feed rate of the fluid jet tool 50 can be set as appropriate.

[0133] When the fluid jet tool 50 is used as described above, the fluid jetted in the axial direction from the tip through-hole portion 61 can blow away and fly up chips K adhering to the bottom surface 210c of the wide groove 210a of the T-slot groove 210 in the tool radial direction. Then, the fluid jetted from each side through-hole portion 63 toward the base portion 56 as the fluid jet tool 50 rotates forms an upward flow that spirals upward toward the upper opening of the T-slot groove 210, making it possible to blow away all of the chips K in both the wide groove 210a and the narrow groove 210b of the T-slot groove 210 outside the T-slot groove 210.

[0134] In particular, according to this embodiment, the lateral through-hole portion 63 is inclined toward the base portion 56 with respect to the tool radial direction, so that the fluid can also be applied to chips K adhering to the upper surface 210d of the wide groove 210a of the T-slot groove 210. Therefore, chips K do not remain on the upper surface 210d of the wide groove 210a, and it is possible to remove almost all of the chips K inside the T-slot groove 210.

[0135] The chip removal system KSB of the third embodiment described above includes a machining center 1B having a control device 30 that controls operation based on input work instruction data, and a fluid jet tool 50. The control device 30 performs a tool change process in which the tool being used is replaced with the fluid jet tool 50, and a chip removal process in which the fluid jet tool 50 is moved in the direction of extension of the T-slot groove 210 while rotating and positioning the side through-hole portion 63 and the tip through-hole portion 61 within a T-slot groove 210 formed in the table 200 and jetting fluid from the side through-hole portion 63 and the tip through-hole portion 61 (see FIGS. 17 and 18 ). This makes it possible to reliably blow away chips K remaining in the T-slot groove 210 to the outside of the T-slot groove 210.

[0136] The third embodiment discloses a chip removal method using a fluid ejection tool 50, which includes an exchange step of exchanging the tool being used with the fluid ejection tool 50, and a chip removal step of positioning the lateral through-hole portion 63 and the tip through-hole portion 61 within a T-slot groove 210 formed in a table 200 of the machining center 1B, ejecting fluid from the lateral through-hole portion 63 and the tip through-hole portion 61, while rotating the fluid ejection tool 50 and moving it in the direction in which the T-slot groove 210 extends.

[0137] 4. Fourth embodiment Next, a chip removal system KSC according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 19 and 20. In the description of the fourth embodiment, the same components and components with the same functions as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0138] As shown in Fig. 19, the chip removal system KSC of the fourth embodiment includes a multi-purpose machine tool 1C (an example of a machine tool) and the same fluid jet tool 50 as in the first embodiment. The multi-purpose machine tool 1C is a machine tool that adds a turning function to a machining center, and is equipped with a spindle 3 (tool spindle) of a machining head 2 and a work spindle unit 300 including a work spindle that rotates a workpiece. Like the machining center 1A of the first embodiment, the multi-purpose machine tool 1C also includes an automatic tool changer 20 and a control device 30, and the control device 30 can automatically exchange one of a plurality of tools set in a tool magazine 22 of the automatic tool changer 20 for a tool attached to the spindle 3 (an example of a tool mounting unit) of the machining head 2 based on work instruction data. The chip removal system KSC is equipped with a fluid ejection tool 50 as one of the tools set in the tool magazine 22, and the fluid ejection tool 50 can be attached to the spindle 3 by tool replacement processing by the control device 30, as shown in Figure 19.

[0139] A chuck (vice) 310 for fixing a workpiece Wb is attached to the work spindle unit 300 of the combined machine tool 1C. In this embodiment, the chuck 310 is a three-jaw chuck having three jaws 312 spaced 120 degrees apart around the central axis AX6 of the work spindle unit 300. Each jaw 312 is movable in the radial direction of the chuck 310 by a drive unit (not shown). By moving each jaw 312 closer to the central axis AX6 of the chuck 310, the workpiece Wb can be clamped and fixed to the work spindle unit 300, and by moving each jaw 312 away from the central axis AX6 of the chuck 310, the workpiece Wb can be removed.

[0140] The combined machine tool 1C also includes a moving device 48 that moves the machining head 2 relative to the chuck 310. The control device 30 controls the rotation of the tool attached to the spindle 3, the movement of the machining head 2 (operation of the moving device 48), the rotation of the workpiece attached to the work spindle unit 300, the opening and closing of the chuck 310, the operation of the automatic tool changer 20, the operation of a fluid supply device (not shown) that supplies coolant (cutting oil) and air, and the operation of a recovery device (not shown) that recovers chips K generated by machining the workpiece. Although not shown in FIG. 19 , the combined machine tool 1C is provided with an outer wall (casing) that surrounds the work spindle unit 300 and the machining head 2, and a sliding door that opens and closes an opening formed in the outer wall. Opening and closing the sliding door makes it possible to open and close the machining space in which the workpiece is machined.

[0141] Furthermore, like the machining center 1A according to the first embodiment, the multi-purpose machine tool 1C of this embodiment is capable of injecting various fluids such as coolant and air through the inside of the spindle 3 using a center-through method.

[0142] Next, a chip removal method using the fluid jet tool 50 in the multi-task machine tool 1C will be described. After machining a workpiece using the multi-task machine tool 1C, as shown in FIG. 20 , chips K remain near the center of the disk-shaped body 314 of the chuck 310 and on the inner surfaces of the jaws 312 (the central axis side of the chuck 310). With chips K remaining in the chuck 310, the multi-task machine tool 1C cannot be used for the next machining. Conventionally, cleaning of the chuck 310 of such a multi-task machine tool 1C has been performed by an operator (worker) using an air gun or the like. The chip removal system KSC of this embodiment makes it possible to automate the cleaning of the chuck 310. That is, the operator can complete cleaning of the chuck 310 simply by operating the input / output device 32 of the control device 30 to replace the tool attached to the spindle 3 with the fluid jet tool 50 and then operating the fluid jet tool 50 as follows.

[0143] That is, the control device 30 of the combined machine tool 1C replaces the tool attached to the spindle 3 with the fluid jet tool 50, and then moves the position and orientation (posture) of the spindle 3 so that the rotation axis of the fluid jet tool 50 is aligned with the central axis AX6 of the chuck 310, as shown in FIG. 20 . Then, while driving a fluid supply device (not shown) to feed coolant (cutting oil) into the internal flow path 60 of the fluid jet tool 50, the control device 30 rotates the fluid jet tool 50 (in other words, the spindle 3) at a predetermined rotation speed in a predetermined rotation direction (counterclockwise in this embodiment) and moves the fluid jet tool 50 at a predetermined feed rate so as to approach the chuck 310 (to the left in this embodiment). Here, the fluid jet tool 50 is brought close to the chuck 310 to the extent that the tip 50a of the fluid jet tool 50 does not come into contact with the surface of the body 314 of the chuck 310 (for example, to a position where the tip 50a is about 5 to 8 mm away from the surface of the body 314). The rotation speed and feed speed of the fluid jet tool 50 can be set appropriately.

[0144] By using the fluid jet tool 50 as described above, the fluid jetted in the axial direction from the tip through-hole portion 61 can blow away chips K adhering to the surface of the body 314 of the chuck 310 in the radial direction of the chuck 310. Furthermore, the fluid jetted from each side through-hole portion 63 toward the base portion 56 side (the spindle 3 side in FIG. 20 ) as the fluid jet tool 50 rotates forms a spiral flow that flows in a direction away from the chuck 310. This blows away chips K adhering to each jaw portion 312, and as the fluid jet tool 50 approaches the body 314, the spiral flow also enters gaps between the jaw portions 312 and the body 314, making it possible to blow away chips K adhering to the body 314 and chips K adhering to the bases of the jaw portions 312 (portions on the body 314 side) away from the chuck 310.

[0145] In this manner, when the fluid ejection tool 50 according to this embodiment is used, the lateral through-hole portion 63 is inclined toward the base portion 56 (toward the spindle 3) relative to the tool radial direction, so that chips K are less likely to remain trapped in the various gaps on the chuck 310, and it is possible to remove almost all of the chips K adhering to the chuck 310.

[0146] The above-described method for cleaning the chuck 310 using the fluid jet tool 50 is one example, and the operation of the fluid jet tool 50 can be changed as appropriate depending on the degree of adhesion of chips K to the chuck 310. Specifically, it is desirable to appropriately change the operation of the fluid jet tool 50 using numerical control by the control device 30, such as spraying the fluid from the fluid jet tool 50 onto the chuck 310 from above or obliquely above the chuck 310 before cleaning the center of the chuck 310, moving the fluid jet tool 50 so that it approaches each chuck 310 in turn, or moving the fluid jet tool 50 in a circular motion around the periphery of the chuck 310. Furthermore, when cleaning the chuck 310 using the fluid jet tool 50, the chuck 310 may be rotated. In this case, both the chuck 310 and the fluid jet tool 50 may be rotated, or only the chuck 310 may be rotated. When both the chuck 310 and the fluid jet tool 50 are rotated, it is desirable that they rotate at different speeds. That is, when cleaning the chuck 310 using the fluid jet tool 50, it is sufficient that the fluid jet tool 50 rotates relative to the chuck 310.

[0147] The fluid jet tool 50 of this embodiment can also be suitably used for a combined machine tool having two work spindles. Specifically, for example, after cleaning the chuck of the first work spindle as described above, the spindle to which the fluid jet tool 50 is attached is rotated by a predetermined angle (for example, 180 degrees) so that the fluid jetted from the fluid jet tool 50 is applied to the chuck of the second work spindle located on the opposite side of the first work spindle, and the chuck of the second work spindle can also be cleaned in the same way as the chuck of the first work spindle.

[0148] The chip removal system KSC of the fourth embodiment described above includes a multi-purpose machine tool 1C having a control device 30 that controls operation based on input work instruction data, and a fluid jetting tool 50. The control device 30 performs a tool changing process in which the tool to be used is replaced with the fluid jetting tool 50, and a chip removal process in which the fluid jetting tool 50 is rotated while jetting fluid from the side through-hole portion 63 and the tip through-hole portion 61, and the fluid jetting tool 50 is brought closer to the chuck 310 of the multi-purpose machine tool 1C (see FIG. 20 ). This makes it possible to reliably blow away chips K remaining on the chuck 310 in a direction away from the chuck 310.

[0149] The fourth embodiment discloses a chip removal method using a fluid ejection tool 50, which includes a replacement step of replacing the tool being used with the fluid ejection tool 50, and a chip removal step of rotating the fluid ejection tool 50 while ejecting fluid from the side through-hole portion 63 and the tip through-hole portion 61, and moving the fluid ejection tool 50 closer to a chuck 310 of the combined machining center 1C.

[0150] 5. Fifth embodiment Next, a chip removal system according to a fifth embodiment will be described. The chip removal system according to the fifth embodiment includes a fluid jet tool 50B shown in FIG. 21 and the same machining center 1A as in the first embodiment. That is, in the fifth embodiment, the fluid jet tool 50B shown in FIG. 21 is set in the machining center 1A as a tool that can be replaced by the automatic tool changer 20. In the description of the fifth embodiment, the same components and components with the same functions as in the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals, and their description may be omitted.

[0151] As shown in FIG. 21 , a fluid jetting tool 50B according to the fifth embodiment is an indexable end mill provided with a lateral through-hole portion 63B. Specifically, the fluid jetting tool 50B has two blades (chips) T attached to a tip portion 54B at equal intervals around the tool axis AX7. A cylindrical internal flow path portion 60B is provided inside the fluid jetting tool 50B, through which a fluid (such as a coolant liquid) flows to be injected through the inside of the spindle 3. The tip (lower end in the drawing) of the internal flow path portion 60B has a smaller diameter than the inlet side (upper end in the drawing). Note that the shape of the internal flow path portion 60B is not limited to one in which the tip is smaller in diameter than the inlet side, and can be configured in any appropriate shape.

[0152] The fluid jet tool 50B is formed with two side through-holes 63B that penetrate between the small-diameter tip flow path portion 60Ba of the internal flow path portion 60B and the outside. Each side through-hole 63B is drilled at an inclination angle θ1 (see FIG. 6) similar to that of the side through-hole 63 of the first embodiment so that the outer opening 63Bd is positioned closer to the tool base in the axial direction than the inner opening 63Bc. The outer opening 63Bd of the side through-hole 63B opens into the surface of the groove (groove surface GA) adjacent to the blade T.

[0153] Using the fluid jet tool 50B according to the fifth embodiment configured as described above, it is possible to simultaneously perform cutting of the workpiece Wc with the blade T and removal of chips K with the coolant jetted from the side through-holes 63B. Specifically, for example, when machining a bottomed pocket hole Qa (an example of a bottomed hole) that is rectangular in plan view in the workpiece Wc as shown in FIG. 21 , the control device 30 of the machining center 1A attaches the fluid jet tool 50B to the spindle 3 and operates the fluid jet tool 50B according to a machining program for the desired pocket hole Qa. The coolant that has passed through the internal flow path 60B is jetted from each side through-hole 63B.

[0154] Each side through-hole 63B is provided corresponding to a respective blade T of the fluid jetting tool 50B, and is inclined toward the tool base side (in other words, upward, which is the opening direction of the pocket hole Qa) rather than in the radial direction of the fluid jetting tool 50B. Therefore, the coolant liquid sprayed from each side through-hole 63B hits chips K cut by the corresponding blade T and blows the chips K out of the pocket hole Qa. This makes it possible to prevent chips from remaining in the pocket hole Qa formed by cutting.

[0155] As described above, with the fluid ejection tool 50B according to this embodiment, it is possible to simultaneously carry out the cutting process and the removal of the chips K generated by the cutting process. Therefore, the removal of the chips K is completed when the cutting process is completed, resulting in extremely high work efficiency. In addition, it is possible to prevent the chips K generated by the cutting process from getting caught between the blade T and the workpiece Wc, which would cause damage to the blade T or the workpiece Wc.

[0156] The fluid ejection tool 50B of this embodiment differs from conventionally known end mills with oil holes in that the coolant liquid coming out of the lateral through-hole portion 63B is not ejected towards the tip of the cutting edge T (cutting point), but rather towards the chips K generated by cutting (to ensure this, the lateral through-hole portion 63B is inclined towards the tool axis relative to the tool radial direction).

[0157] Although the work efficiency is lower than in this embodiment, it is also possible to form the pocket hole Qa using an end mill and then remove the chips K that have accumulated in the pocket hole Qa using the fluid jet tool 50 according to the first embodiment. Even in this case, it is possible to sufficiently improve the work efficiency compared to removing the chips K manually by an operator. In this case, it is preferable to operate the fluid jet tool 50 under the operating conditions of the tool when machining the pocket hole Qa using an end mill.

[0158] The fluid jet tool 50B according to the fifth embodiment described above has a blade T for machining a workpiece Wc at its tip 54B and a side through-hole 63B inclined at an inclination angle θ1 similar to that of the first embodiment so that the outer opening 63Bd is closer to the base (spindle) than the inner opening 63Bc. The side through-hole 63B is drilled so that a fluid such as a coolant jetted from the side through-hole 63B strikes chips K cut by the blade T. As a result, while cutting is proceeding, the fluid jetted from the side through-hole 63B can blow chips K generated by the machining toward the base (spindle). In other words, machining of the workpiece Wc and removal of chips K can proceed simultaneously. As a result, work efficiency can be significantly improved.

[0159] In the fifth embodiment, the fluid jet tool 50B has two blades, but this can be changed as appropriate to three, four, six, etc. In this case, it is preferable to increase the number of side through-holes 63B in accordance with the number of blades (provide the same number of side through-holes 63B as the number of blades). Furthermore, in the fifth embodiment, the fluid jet tool 50B is an end mill with an exchangeable cutting edge, but side through-holes may be provided in a tool whose cutting edge cannot be exchanged, such as a solid mill.

[0160] Furthermore, a cutting tool used in a cutting process in which the workpiece is rotated without rotating the tool may be provided with a side through-hole portion similar to the fifth embodiment. That is, the cutting tool is provided with an internal flow path similar to the internal flow path portion 60B of the present embodiment, and further provided with a side through-hole portion similar to the side through-hole portion 63B of the present embodiment near the cutting edge of the cutting tool. Then, such a cutting tool (an example of a fluid ejection tool) with a side through-hole portion is set in the turret (an example of a tool mounting portion) of an NC lathe (an example of a machine tool). The turret functions as an automatic tool changer, and the NC lathe is capable of sending a fluid such as coolant into the tool through the turret using a center-through system. When such an NC lathe is used to perform a process such as boring using a cutting tool with a side through-hole portion, chips generated during boring can be expelled from the hole by the fluid ejected from the side through-hole portion during machining, preventing chips from accumulating in the workpiece and improving work efficiency. Furthermore, if it is possible to spray a fluid such as coolant through the tool using a center-through method, a tool with a lateral through-hole may be attached to an NC lathe equipped with a comb-type tool post (an example of a tool mounting part).

[0161] The above describes the chip removal system of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0162] The above-mentioned fluid ejection tools 50, 50A, and 50B are not limited to use with the above-mentioned machine tools, but can be used with various machine tools that can eject fluids such as coolant through the tool using a center-through method.

[0163] Furthermore, in the fluid jet tool 50 according to the first embodiment, the lateral through-hole portions 63 are provided in two rows (first lateral through-hole portion 63a and second lateral through-hole portion 63b) at different positions in the tool axial direction, but they may be provided in one row, or in three or more rows in the tool axial direction. The same applies to the fluid jet tool 50A according to the second embodiment. Furthermore, in the fluid jet tool 50B according to the fifth embodiment, the lateral through-hole portions 63B may be provided in two or more rows in the tool axial direction.

[0164] Furthermore, in the fluid jet tool 50 according to the first embodiment, eight lateral through-hole portions 63 (first lateral through-hole portion 63a, second lateral through-hole portion 63b) are provided in the circumferential direction, and are configured to enable uniform radial jetting of a fluid such as a coolant liquid, but if this point is not taken into consideration, at least one lateral through-hole portion 63 is sufficient. The same applies to the fluid jet tool 50A according to the second embodiment and the fluid jet tool 50B according to the fifth embodiment. Note that, in consideration of cleaning performance, it is desirable to provide two to three or more lateral through-hole portions 63 in the circumferential direction of the tool.

[0165] In the fluid ejection tool 50 according to the first embodiment, one tip through-hole 61 is provided in the bottom 51 along the tool axial direction, but two or more may be provided. Also, a configuration in which the tip through-hole 61 is not provided is also possible.

[0166] Furthermore, when cleaning the pilot hole Fa using the fluid jet tool 50 according to the first embodiment, the fluid jet tool 50 inserted into the pilot hole Fa may be rotated while being removed from the pilot hole Fa. In this case, the rotation direction of the fluid jet tool 50 may be the opposite direction to or the same direction as that used when machining the pilot hole Fa.

[0167] Furthermore, the pilot hole Fa may be cleaned by inserting the fluid jetting tool 50 into the pilot hole Fa while jetting fluid from the tip through-hole portion 61 and the side through-hole portion 63. This is because, if the pilot hole Fa is not too deep (for example, 20 mm), the force of the fluid jetted from the fluid jetting tool 50 can be sufficient to blow away chips K inside the pilot hole Fa by the time the fluid jetting tool 50 is inserted up to near the bottom surface Fb of the pilot hole Fa.

[0168] The fluid jet tool 50 according to the first embodiment may also be used to clean an unthreaded through hole (an example of a through hole portion). In this case, the fluid jet tool may be passed through the through hole while rotating in the same direction as or opposite to the direction used to machine the through hole, or may be passed through the through hole without rotating. By using the fluid jet tool 50 to clean the through hole, chips adhering to the inner circumferential surface of the through hole can be suitably removed.

[0169] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, it is advisable to remove chips K adhering to the upper surface of the table 200 after or before cleaning the T-slot groove 210. By simply changing the position to which the fluid ejection tool 50 moves using numerical control, chips K adhering to the upper surface of the table can be suitably removed, just as with cleaning the inside of the T-slot groove 210.

[0170] Furthermore, the removal of residues such as chips K and coolant liquid using the fluid ejection tool 50 according to the first embodiment may be performed on parts other than the workpiece, table, chuck (fixed jig), etc. (parts other than these within the machining space of the machine tool).

[0171] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the chips K are removed by spraying coolant liquid from the fluid jetting tools 50, 50A, and 50B, but in a machine tool capable of injecting air, the chips K may be removed by spraying air from the fluid jetting tools 50, 50A, and 50B.

[0172] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the fluid ejection tools 50, 50A, 50B are made of iron, but they may be made of other metals such as stainless steel.

[0173] In each of the above embodiments, the processor of the control device 30 may be configured to automatically calculate and set the operating conditions of the fluid jet tool 50 (position to be moved, depth, rotation speed, feed rate) by referring to the numerical values ​​of the machining process (operating conditions of the machining tool). In this case, if the rotation speed of the tool in the machining process is lower than a predetermined lower threshold, the rotation speed of the fluid jet tool 50 in the chip K removal process may be set higher than that during machining. If the rotation speed of the tool in the machining process is higher than a predetermined upper threshold, the rotation speed of the fluid jet tool 50 in the chip K removal process may be set lower than that during machining. Furthermore, if the feed rate of the tool in the machining process is slower than a predetermined lower threshold, the feed rate of the fluid jet tool 50 in the chip K removal process may be set faster than that during machining. If the feed rate of the tool in the machining process is faster than a predetermined upper threshold, the feed rate of the fluid jet tool 50 in the chip K removal process may be set slower than that during machining. This is to achieve both chip K removal performance and work efficiency.

[0174] In the present invention, the terms "rotating the fluid jet tool" and "the fluid jet tool rotates" include both a configuration in which the fluid jet tool itself rotates and a configuration in which the fluid jet tool rotates relative to the object to be cleaned (such as a workpiece, table, or chuck) as a result of the rotation of the object to be cleaned. In other words, "rotation of the fluid jet tool" includes both absolute rotation and relative rotation of the fluid jet tool. [Explanation of symbols]

[0175] 1A, 1B... Machining center (machine tool) 1C…Compound machine tool (machine tool) 3…Spindle 30...Control device (control unit) 50, 50A, 50B…Fluid jetting tool 54, 54A, 54B...Tip 56, 56A…Motobe 60, 60A, 60B...Internal flow path 60b…Inner peripheral surface 61...Tip through hole section 63, 63A, 63B...Side through hole section 63a, 63Aa...first side through hole section 63b, 63Ab...Second side through hole section 63c, 63Ac, 63Bc…inner opening 63d, 63Ad, 63Bd...Outer opening 210...T-slot groove 310…Chuck KSA, KSB, KSC...Swarf removal systems Wa, Wb, Wc...Work Fa…Pre-drilled hole Ha...Blind screw hole Pa...Through screw hole T…blade θ1, θ2…Inclination angle

Claims

1. A fluid jetting tool that can be attached to a tool attachment part of a machine tool that can automatically change tools to be used, can machine a workpiece by rotating either the workpiece or the tool, and can inject a fluid that is a coolant liquid or air by a center-through method, The base portion side, which is the side attached to the tool attachment portion, is tubular and open, an internal flow path portion extending in the tool axial direction and through which the fluid passes when injected through the inside of the tool attachment portion; a lateral through-hole portion that is provided on the tip end side opposite to the base portion, that penetrates from an inner circumferential surface of the internal flow path portion to the outside of the fluid jetting tool, and that jets the fluid that has passed through the internal flow path portion to the outside of the fluid jetting tool, the lateral through-hole portion is inclined at a predetermined angle toward the tool axis direction relative to a tool radial direction perpendicular to the tool axis direction, so that an outer opening is closer to either the base portion or the tip end than an inner opening.

2. The fluid ejection tool of claim 1 , The fluid jet tool, wherein a plurality of the side through-holes are provided in a circumferential direction of the fluid jet tool.

3. The fluid ejection tool according to claim 2, The side through hole portion is a plurality of the fluid ejection tool members are provided in a circumferential direction of the fluid ejection tool at first positions that are a first distance from the tip end in the tool axis direction, a plurality of the nozzles are provided in a circumferential direction of the fluid jet tool at second positions that are a second distance from the tip in the tool axis direction that is longer than the first distance.

4. The fluid ejection tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the side through-hole portion is inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the base portion than the inner opening, a tip through-hole portion that penetrates from an inner tip surface of the internal flow path portion to an outside of the fluid jet tool along an axial center of the fluid jet tool is provided in the tip portion.

5. A chip removal method using the fluid jet tool according to claim 4, a replacement step of replacing a tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool after a machining step of machining a blind hole or a blind-hole-threaded hole portion in the workpiece; an insertion step of inserting the fluid ejection tool into the bottomed hole portion formed by the processing step to position the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion within the bottomed hole portion; a chip removal step of rotating the fluid ejection tool in a direction opposite to the tool rotation direction when forming the bottomed hole portion while ejecting the fluid from the side through hole portion and the tip through hole portion, and moving the fluid ejection tool in a direction to exit the bottomed hole portion.

6. A chip removal system comprising: the fluid ejection tool according to claim 4; and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls an operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit a tool changing process for changing a tool to be used to the fluid ejection tool after a machining process for machining a blind hole or a blind-hole-threaded hole portion in the workpiece; a tool insertion process in which the fluid ejection tool is inserted into the bottomed hole portion formed by the machining process, and the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion are positioned within the bottomed hole portion; a chip removal process in which the fluid ejection tool is moved in a direction away from the bottomed hole portion while ejecting the fluid from the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion and rotating the fluid ejection tool in a direction opposite to the tool rotation direction when forming the bottomed hole portion.

7. 7. The swarf removal system of claim 6, The chip removal system is characterized in that, in the tool insertion process, the control unit moves the fluid ejection tool to the same position as a machining position of the workpiece in the machining process.

8. 7. The swarf removal system of claim 6, The chip removal system is characterized in that, in the tool insertion process, the control unit inserts the fluid ejection tool into the bottomed hole portion to a depth that does not exceed the insertion depth of the tool in the machining process.

9. 7. The swarf removal system of claim 6, The chip removal system is characterized in that the control unit rotates the fluid ejection tool at a rotation speed corresponding to the rotation speed of a tool in the machining process during the chip removal process.

10. 7. The swarf removal system of claim 6, The chip removal system is characterized in that, in the chip removal process, the control unit moves the fluid ejection tool in a direction to exit the bottomed hole portion at a feed speed corresponding to the feed speed of the tool in the machining process.

11. The fluid ejection tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The fluid ejection tool, wherein the side through-hole portion is inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the tip than the inner opening.

12. A chip removal method using the fluid jet tool according to claim 11, a replacement step of replacing a tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool after a machining step of machining a through hole or a through hole portion that is a threaded hole of a through hole into the workpiece; a chip removal step of passing the fluid ejection tool through the through-hole while ejecting the fluid from the lateral through-hole and rotating the fluid ejection tool in the same direction as the tool rotation direction when forming the through-hole.

13. A chip removal system comprising: the fluid ejection tool according to claim 11; and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls an operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit a tool changing process for changing a tool to be used to the fluid ejection tool after a machining process for machining a through hole portion, which is a through hole or a threaded through hole, in the workpiece; a chip removal process in which the fluid ejection tool is passed through the through-hole while ejecting the fluid from the lateral through-hole and rotating the fluid ejection tool in the same direction as the tool rotation direction when forming the through-hole.

14. A chip removal method using the fluid jet tool according to claim 4, a replacement step of replacing a tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool; a chip removal step of positioning the side through hole portion and the tip through hole portion within a T-slot groove formed in a table of the machine tool, and rotating the fluid ejection tool while moving it in the direction in which the T-slot groove extends, while ejecting the fluid from the side through hole portion and the tip through hole portion.

15. A chip removal system comprising: the fluid ejection tool according to claim 4; and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls an operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit a tool changing process for changing a tool to be used to the fluid ejection tool; a chip removal process in which the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion are positioned within a T-slot groove formed in a table of the machine tool, and the fluid is ejected from the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion while rotating the fluid ejection tool and moving it in the direction in which the T-slot groove extends.

16. A chip removal method using the fluid jet tool according to claim 4, a replacement step of replacing a tool to be used with the fluid ejection tool; a chip removal step of rotating the fluid ejection tool and bringing it closer to a chuck of the machine tool while ejecting the fluid from the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion.

17. A chip removal system comprising: the fluid ejection tool according to claim 4; and the machine tool, wherein the machine tool has a control unit that controls an operation of the machine tool based on input work instruction data, The control unit a tool changing process for changing a tool to be used to the fluid ejection tool; a chip removal process in which the fluid is ejected from the side through-hole portion and the tip through-hole portion while the fluid ejection tool is rotated and brought closer to a chuck of the machine tool.

18. The fluid ejection tool according to claim 1 or 2, The tip portion has a blade for processing the workpiece, The fluid ejection tool is characterized in that the lateral through-hole portion is inclined so that the outer opening is closer to the base portion than the inner opening, and is drilled so that the fluid ejected from the lateral through-hole portion hits the chips cut by the blade.

Images