Adjustable Tool Spindle for Rigid Non-Circular Turning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tool spindles are limited in their ability to perform non-circular turning due to rigidity issues, unbalance sensitivity, and limitations in speed and coolant supply, making precise industrial production challenging, especially when trying to create non-round or complex shapes.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional tool spindle design with a tool adjustment device integrated into the drive shaft, allowing for parallel or transverse movement, hydraulic control, and automatic tool changing, which enhances rigidity and enables non-circular turning without increasing spindle size, supporting high-speed operations and coolant supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional tool spindle design is used, then the structure is simple and compact, but it cannot perform non-circular turning and lacks the necessary adjustment capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The tool spindle is designed to perform multiple machining operations including conventional turning, drilling, milling, and non-circular turning through a single integrated structure. The tool holder can be adjusted to different positions and orientations, allowing the same spindle to execute diverse machining tasks without requiring separate specialized spindles for each operation type
Solution Approach 2:
The tool holder is made adjustable and movable relative to the drive shaft, allowing dynamic repositioning during machining operations. This enables the tool to achieve eccentric positions and varied orientations necessary for non-circular turning, while maintaining fixed positioning when conventional machining is required, thus providing operational flexibility without permanent structural complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the tool holder is made adjustable for non-circular turning, then machining versatility improves, but rigidity decreases leading to instability under radial and axial forces
Solution Approach 1:
The tool holder features a dual-state design: adjustable during setup to achieve required eccentric positions for non-circular contours, and lockable during machining to maintain fixed positioning. This allows the system to transition from a static rigid structure to a dynamically adjustable one only when necessary, preserving rigidity during actual machining operations
Solution Approach 2:
The tool holder position is adjusted and locked before machining begins. This preliminary adjustment establishes the correct eccentric position for non-circular turning, and once locked, the position remains fixed throughout the machining process, ensuring rigidity and stability during operation without sacrificing the ability to reconfigure for different machining tasks
3Productivity
If high rotational speeds are used, then productivity increases, but unbalance effects become significant reducing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The tool holder incorporates balancing weights or counterbalancing mechanisms that offset the unbalance effects generated during high-speed rotation. This allows the spindle to maintain high rotational speeds for improved productivity while the counterbalancing elements compensate for centrifugal forces and vibrations that would otherwise degrade cutting precision
4Temperature
If external coolant supply is used, then cooling is provided, but the effect is insufficient for high-speed operations
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant supply system is integrated directly into the spindle structure, with coolant channels positioned to deliver cooling fluid directly at the tool-workpiece interface. This extraction of the coolant delivery point from external supply lines to the immediate machining zone enables effective cooling even during high-speed operations where heat generation is intense and contact time is minimal
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design allows for precise and rigid tool clamping, enabling the production of complex shapes and non-round parts with improved rigidity and speed, maintaining the compactness of the spindle and supporting automatic tool changes, thus enhancing industrial manufacturing quality.
Implementation Method 1
By means of a piston assembly (42), the tool adjustment unit (44) can be adjusted
Implementation Method 2
A measuring sensor area (40) is arranged on the tool adjustment unit (44)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a tool spindle having a spindle housing, a rotary drive, and a tool receiving unit, wherein the tool receiving unit is arranged within the spindle housing and is movable with respect thereto. The tool spindle can be used multifunctionally and both conventional machining processes such as drilling, milling and lathing as well as novel machining processes such as off-round turning can be carried out in each case without damage to the spindle and with high industrial manufacturing quality.