Machine Tool Workpiece Table Partition for Parallel Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machine tools experience significant downtime due to the need for separate idle times during loading and unloading of workpieces, and swivel carriers require increased distances to avoid collisions, limiting efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool design featuring a workpiece table with a partition wall extending across its width and length, allowing parallel loading and unloading during machining, and incorporating symmetrical workpiece holders and a partition wall with through-openings and closure means to facilitate access by the work spindle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a swivel carrier is used to transfer workpiece tables, then loading and unloading can occur during machining, but the distance between the work spindle and rotation axis must be increased to avoid collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece table is segmented into two separate holders (first and second workpiece holders) positioned on opposite sides of the partition wall. This segmentation allows independent access to each holder, enabling the work spindle to machine one workpiece while the other workpiece holder is being loaded or unloaded, thus eliminating the need for increased distance to avoid collisions during transfer operations
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall acts as an intermediary structure that spatially separates the two workpiece holders while maintaining their functional integration on the same workpiece table. This intermediary structure enables the work spindle to access one holder through the partition wall opening without interfering with the other holder, allowing simultaneous machining and loading/unloading operations at compact distances
2Adaptability or versatility
If the workpiece table is rotated to position workpiece holders, then multiple holders can be accessed, but machine downtime occurs when the work spindle is idle during loading and unloading
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece table is designed with multiple workpiece holders positioned at different locations, allowing the work spindle to continuously machine workpieces from one holder while loading or unloading operations occur at other holders. This eliminates idle time by ensuring the work spindle always has a workpiece to machine, maintaining continuous useful action without interruption for loading or unloading
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple workpiece holders are pre-positioned on the workpiece table, with workpieces already loaded into some holders before machining begins. This preliminary preparation allows the work spindle to immediately begin machining without waiting for loading operations, and enables seamless transitions between holders as workpieces are completed and new ones are ready
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a machine tool (2) with a machine frame, with at least one work spindle (4) which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a spindle axis (6), with at least one workpiece table (8) assigned to the at least one work spindle (4), which is mounted in the machine frame so as to be rotatable or pivotable about a rotation axis (10), which comprises a closed, planar partition wall (12) which extends across the entire width of the workpiece table (8) transversely to the rotation axis (10) and across the entire length of the workpiece table (8) parallel to the rotation axis (10) and through which the rotation axis (10) runs, and which comprises at least one first workpiece holder (14) and at least one second workpiece holder (16) which are arranged on the workpiece table (8) in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the partition wall (12) on opposite sides of the partition wall (12),wherein the workpiece table (8) can be transferred into a separation position, at least in a loading and unloading mode of the machine tool (2) parallel to the main time, in which the partition wall (12) is arranged transversely to the associated spindle axis (6) and spatially separates a work area (18), in which the first or second workpiece holder (14, 16) is arranged in the separation position and is accessible to the associated work spindle (4), from a loading area (20), in which the second or first workpiece holder (16, 14) is arranged in the separation position.