Auxiliary Spindle Turret Mounting for Flexible Workpiece Machining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Machine tools, such as lathes, face inefficiencies due to limited workpiece machining areas and unused workspace resulting from the need for maximal tool accessibility, leading to decreased compactness and restricted machining domains.

Innovation Solution

An auxiliary spindle system that connects to tool holder turrets, enabling precise and versatile workpiece positioning and machining on tool holder turrets, with adjustable mounting and clamping mechanisms, allowing for independent operation and integration with existing tool holder turret drives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple tool holding turrets are independently movable around a workpiece spindle to maximize tool accessibility, then flexibility and versatility of machining tools are improved, but device compactness deteriorates due to increased space requirements and potential collisions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of machining toolsVSAvoidcompactness of machine tool

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a workpiece spindle and a tool holding turret into a single integrated unit where the turret can rotate around the spindle. This merging eliminates the need for separate independently movable turrets around the workpiece, reducing space requirements while maintaining tool accessibility. The integrated design allows tools to be positioned around the workpiece without requiring multiple independent turret systems, thus improving compactness while preserving versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tool holding turret is designed with multi-functionality to serve both as a tool carrier and as a rotating mechanism that provides tool accessibility from multiple angles. By making the turret itself rotatable around the workpiece spindle, a single turret can perform the function that would otherwise require multiple independently movable turrets, thereby maintaining versatility while reducing device complexity and improving compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If the surrounding area of the working spindle is assigned to working trajectories of tool holding turrets to ensure maximal accessibility, then tool accessibility is improved, but the machining domain is restricted to specific areas resulting in unused workspace

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of workpieceVSAvoidutilization of work space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamically rotatable tool holding turret that can change its orientation and position around the workpiece spindle during machining operations. This dynamic capability allows the turret to access workpiece areas that would otherwise be unreachable by stationary turrets, expanding the effective machining domain. The rotational movement enables tools to approach the workpiece from multiple angles without requiring the workpiece to remain stationary in a limited area, thus improving both accessibility and workspace utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces rotational movement as an additional dimension of tool approach, transforming the traditional linear or fixed-position tool trajectories into three-dimensional paths around the workpiece. By enabling the turret to rotate around the workpiece spindle, tools can access surfaces that are not reachable from fixed positions, effectively utilizing previously unused workspace areas and expanding the machining domain beyond the limitations of conventional tool holder arrangements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If multiple independently movable tool holding turrets are used to increase the number of usable tools, then productivity is improved, but device compactness decreases due to space constraints and collision risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of tools usable at the same timeVSAvoidcompactness of machine tool

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple tool holding capabilities into a single integrated turret system that can rotate around the workpiece spindle. Instead of using multiple independently movable turrets that would require significant space and coordination to avoid collisions, the invention combines these functions into one turret with rotational degrees of freedom. This allows multiple tools to be mounted on the turret and brought into position sequentially or simultaneously through rotation, maintaining high productivity while improving device compactness and eliminating collision risks between independent turrets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4122644A1Auxiliary spindle for a tool holder turret

Publication Date: 2023.01.25 DMG MORI BERGAMO SRL

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Figure 3a~3b

AI summary

Auxiliary spindle AS for clamping at least one workpiece W on a tool holder turret 200A - 200D for machining operation, in particular a tool holder turret 200A - 200D of a lathe having at least a spindle unit 310 configured to mount the auxiliary spindle AS onto turret port of a tool holder turret 200A - 200D and receive a workpiece W for machining operation of the received workpiece W on the tool holder turret. In addition, the spindle unit 310 further includes at least a receiving unit 311 configured to clamp the workpiece W onto the auxiliary spindle AS.