Machine Tool Door Opening Stop Position Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine tool systems face challenges in shortening the opening and closing time of a door when exchanging workpieces, as opening the door to the required width necessitates deceleration, prolonging the process, and opening it wider than needed increases the time to close it fully.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool system with an opening width setting unit, an opening stop position calculating unit, and a door control unit that calculates and controls the optimal opening stop position of the door to minimize total time, preventing interference with the workpiece exchanging device and optimizing door movement speed and acceleration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the door is opened only to the required width, then the opening width is minimized, but the door must decelerate before stopping at the required width, prolonging the opening time
Solution Approach 1:
The door is opened beyond the required width (pre-opening) so that the workpiece exchanging device can be positioned inside the machine tool before the door stops. This preliminary action of opening further allows the door to maintain higher speed throughout the opening process, avoiding deceleration before the required width is reached, thus reducing opening time while still enabling safe workpiece exchange.
2Loss of time
If the door is opened wider than the required width, then the opening time is reduced, but the distance to the fully closed position increases, prolonging the closing time
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the opening stop position parameter based on real-time conditions. By calculating the optimal stop position that is beyond the required width but not excessively far, the system finds the parameter value that minimizes opening time while keeping the subsequent closing distance acceptable. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between opening speed and closing distance.
3Measurement precision
If the door is opened to the required width, then the opening width is controlled precisely, but the total time for opening and closing is prolonged due to deceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The door opens beyond the required width as a preliminary action, allowing the workpiece exchanging device to be positioned inside the machine tool before the door stops. This approach maintains higher door speed throughout the opening process (avoiding deceleration losses) while still achieving precise positioning for workpiece exchange, thus improving cycle time without sacrificing precision.
4Device complexity
If a fluid pressure cylinder is used to open and close the door, then the structure is simple, but the position and speed control is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fluid pressure cylinder (hydraulic/pneumatic system) with a servomotor-driven ball screw mechanism. This substitution enables precise position and speed control through electronic feedback and control algorithms, while maintaining relatively simple mechanical structure. The servomotor provides accurate control of door movement, allowing the door to open beyond the required width and stop at the optimal position without complex additional mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine tool system and an opening stop position calculating device are provided. The machine tool system includes an openable and closable door for closing an opening of a cover surrounding a machine tool. Furthermore, the machine tool system includes an opening width setting unit for setting an opening width of the door, an opening stop position calculating unit for calculating an opening stop position of the door at which a total time, which is obtained by summing a time required to move the door from a fully closed position to a position of the set opening width and a time required to move the door from an opening stop position where the door is opened and stopped to the fully closed position, is minimized, and a door control unit for controlling opening and closing of the door based on the calculated opening stop position when exchanging the workpiece.