Machine Tool Coolant Feed Control Using Stored Flow Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for feeding coolant lubricant to machine tools are difficult to manage, especially when tools change, as they require precise regulation dependent on tool-specific and machine-specific flow resistances, which are hard to determine and store efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A method and machine tool system that computes tool-specific regulator parameters based on machine-specific and tool-specific flow resistances, allowing for rapid and exact coolant lubricant feed by determining these resistances once and storing them for flexible use with various tools, using a pump and control device to regulate coolant pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If tool-specific regulator parameters are determined for each tool change, then coolant lubricant feed precision is improved, but measurement and computation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining and storing tool-specific flow resistances and machine-specific flow resistances in advance before actual machining operations. The control device pre-computes regulator parameters based on these pre-determined resistance values, so that when a tool is changed, the system can quickly retrieve and apply the appropriate parameters without performing time-consuming measurements or computations during the tool change process.
2Manufacturing precision
If regulator parameters are set for each specific tool, then coolant lubricant feed exactness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the total flow resistance into two independent components: tool-specific flow resistance and machine-specific flow resistance. This segmentation allows the system to store and manage parameters more efficiently - tool-specific resistances are stored in a tool database associated with tool identifiers, while the machine-specific resistance is stored as a single global parameter. When a tool is selected, the control device combines the relevant tool-specific resistance with the machine-specific resistance to compute the regulator parameters, thereby reducing the overall complexity of parameter management.
3Measurement precision
If flow resistance measurements are performed frequently, then parameter accuracy is improved, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs flow resistance measurements preliminarily and stores the results for reuse. Tool-specific flow resistances are determined once for each tool and stored in the control device's memory. Machine-specific flow resistance is determined once and stored as a permanent parameter. This preliminary determination eliminates the need for repeated measurements during operational changes, thereby maintaining parameter accuracy while significantly improving operational efficiency.
4Speed
If tool-specific parameters are computed for every tool change, then coolant feed rapidity is improved, but computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device pre-computes and stores tool-specific flow resistances and machine-specific flow resistances during setup or initial operation. When a tool is changed, the system rapidly retrieves the pre-stored resistance values from memory and directly applies the corresponding regulator parameters without performing complex real-time computations. This preliminary computation approach enables rapid parameter application while minimizing the computational load during actual machining operations.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method for operating a machine tool, a machine-specific flow resistance and a respective tool-specific flow resistance are ascertained for various tools. Tool-specific regulator parameters for regulating a pump of a coolant lubricant device are computed on the basis of the machine-specific flow resistance and the tool-specific flow resistance of the tool chucked in a tool spindle. Subsequently, the machine tool is operated using the tool-specific regulator parameters. In this way, a rapid and exact feed of coolant lubricant to the machining point of the respective chucked tool is enabled in a simple and flexible manner.