Dual-Spindle Drilling Layout for Irregular Hole Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machining centers and drilling machines process holes one at a time, even when they are not regularly arranged, leading to inefficiencies in machining time, especially when holes are not aligned at the same pitch.
Innovation Solution
A drilling method and machine that utilize a genetic algorithm to create a machining order for simultaneously machining two holes with spindles arranged in the X direction, allowing for efficient alignment and machining of holes not regularly arranged, by rotating and moving the machining table and spindles to minimize total machining time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional machining centers drill holes one at a time, then the machining process is simple to control, but the machining time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic machining by enabling the machining table to rotate during the drilling process, allowing holes at different angular positions to be machined simultaneously by multiple spindles. This dynamic adjustment of the workpiece orientation enables parallel machining operations that adapt to the specific angular distribution of target holes, thereby reducing total machining time while maintaining manageable control through automated sequencing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple drilling operations into a single coordinated process by positioning multiple spindles to machine different holes simultaneously. The machining table rotation function merges the positioning of holes from different angular positions into a common machining plane, allowing concurrent drilling operations that would otherwise require sequential processing, thus improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Productivity
If holes not arranged at the same pitch are processed one by one, then the machining process maintains simplicity, but the total machining time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The machining table rotation capability enables dynamic repositioning of the workpiece to align holes with different pitch arrangements into positions where multiple spindles can machine them simultaneously. This dynamic adjustment transforms irregularly spaced holes into a configuration amenable to parallel processing, improving machining efficiency while the automated control system manages the complexity of coordinating multiple spindles with varying hole positions.
3Loss of time
If multiple spindles are used to machine holes simultaneously, then machining time is reduced, but the complexity of coordinating spindle movements and table rotation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback control in the numerical control system to coordinate the rotation of the machining table with the positioning and drilling operations of multiple spindles. The control system continuously monitors the positions and operations of all components, adjusting their coordination in real-time to ensure precise alignment and synchronous operation, thereby reducing total machining time while managing coordination complexity through automated feedback mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The machining table rotation function serves as an intermediary mechanism that coordinates between the fixed positions of multiple spindles and the variable positions of target holes. By rotating the table, the system mediates the alignment between spindles and holes, enabling simultaneous machining operations without requiring complex independent positioning mechanisms for each spindle, thus reducing overall system complexity while achieving time reduction.
Data Source
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AI summary
A drilling method of machining holes that are not regularly arranged in one direction in a short machining time is provided. The drilling method includes: creating a machining order of machining a first hole to be machined with a first spindle (28) and a second hole to be machined with a second spindle (39) for a workpiece (38) having a plurality of target holes on a machining table (37), the first spindle and the second spindle arranged in X direction; rotating the machining table relative to the first spindle and the second spindle so that the first hole and the second hole are arranged in X direction with the first hole located nearer to the first spindle; moving the first spindle and the second spindle relative to the machining table so that the first hole and a center of the first spindle are aligned and the second hole and a center of the second spindle are aligned; and machining the first hole with the first spindle and the second hole with the second spindle.