Coaxial Tool Head Clamping for Vibration and Thermal Stress Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tool heads with two spindles are susceptible to vibrations and thermal expansion, leading to potential bearing damage during machining processes, especially when using tools with small diameters that operate at high speeds.
Innovation Solution
A tool head design with controllable clamping devices that connect the spindle bearings coaxially, allowing for rigid connection during machining and release during breaks, combined with axial preload forces to mitigate vibrations and thermal stresses, and integrated sensors for real-time monitoring and adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If two spindles are mounted coaxially with rigid connection to reduce vibrations, then vibration resistance is improved, but thermal expansion causes bearing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the two spindle units is made dynamically controllable through a clamping device that can switch between connected and disconnected states. During machining operations, the spindles are connected rigidly to minimize vibrations. During machining breaks, the connection is released to allow thermal expansion and prevent bearing damage. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the connection state to operational requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If spindles are connected rigidly during machining operations, then cutting precision is improved, but axial forces from thermal expansion cause bearing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping device is activated periodically - engaged during machining operations to ensure precision and disengaged during machining breaks to relieve thermal stresses. This periodic engagement and disengagement pattern allows the system to achieve high cutting precision when needed while preventing thermal expansion damage during idle periods, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and thermal stress protection.
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
Significantly reduces vibration and thermal-induced bearing damage, ensuring stable operation and extending the lifespan of spindle bearings by actively managing axial forces and thermal expansion.
Implementation Method 1
a controllable clamping device in order to connect the first spindle bearing and the second spindle bearing to one another in a controlled manner
Implementation Method 2
there is a risk of bearing damage in the tool spindles if the tool thermally expands during machining
Implementation Method 3
an axial force element which is designed to generate an axial preload force between the first spindle bearing and the second spindle bearing
Implementation Method 4
The tool head has at least one sensor for monitoring the operating state of the tool head, in particular a temperature sensor, vibration sensor, strain sensor, force sensor, or pressure sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a tool head (300) for a machine tool, in particular a gear cutting machine, comprising a first and a second spindle unit (320, 330) with in each case at least one spindle bearing (323, 333) and a spindle shaft (322, 332) which is mounted in the respective spindle bearing so as to be rotatable about a tool spindle axis (B) . The respective spindle bearing can absorb both radial forces and axial forces. The spindle units are arranged coaxially to one another, and a tool (340) is axially received between the spindle shafts. A controlled clamping device (600) connects the spindle bearings to one another. A control device (730) activates the clamping device (600) during a machining operation and deactivates it in pauses between machining operations. Alternatively or additionally, the tool head comprises an axial force element which generates an axial prestressing force between the spindle bearings.