Machine Tool Tool Exchange Device Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine tools with tool changing devices have complex structures and high mobility requirements, leading to increased effort and cost in design and installation, particularly due to the need for multiple axes of mobility in tool magazines and large drive motors to handle heavy tools.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool design where the tool spindle is positioned above or below the tool magazine, allowing the tongs carrier to move at an angle, reducing the need for multiple axes of mobility and using a rigid support for the tool changing device, which simplifies the structural design and eliminates the need for large drive motors by enabling linear movement for tool transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the tool magazine is made movable with multiple axes to enable problem-free tool changing, then the tool changing capability is improved, but the structural engineering effort and drive motor size increase enormously
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the tool magazine movable with multiple axes as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the approach by making the tool spindle movable relative to the stationary tool magazine. The tool spindle can move in at least one axis to reach tools in the magazine, while the magazine remains fixed, dramatically reducing structural complexity and drive requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention separates the mobility function from the tool magazine and assigns it to the tool spindle instead. This segmentation allows the heavy magazine to remain stationary while only the lighter spindle assembly requires movement capability, reducing overall system complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the tool magazine is made movable to ensure problem-free tool changing, then the tool changing capability is improved, but the drive motors must be very large to handle the heavy weight
Solution Approach 1:
The invention swaps which component is movable and which is stationary. Instead of moving the heavy tool magazine with large drive motors, the tool spindle is made movable with smaller drives, inverting the conventional arrangement to reduce power requirements
Solution Approach 2:
By making the tool spindle movable rather than the tool magazine, the system effectively counterweights the problem of moving heavy masses. The spindle assembly that needs to move has much less weight than the full magazine, reducing drive motor size requirements
3Device complexity
If the tool spindle is positioned above or below the tool magazine with linear movement, then the structural effort is reduced, but the tool changing speed must be increased to maintain productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs dynamic positioning where the tool spindle can move in at least one axis to reach tools at different positions in the magazine. This dynamic capability allows the simplified linear structure to adapt to various tool positions without compromising changing speed
Solution Approach 2:
The tool magazine is designed to hold tools in accessible positions, and the spindle movement is pre-planned to reach these positions efficiently. This preliminary arrangement of tools and movement paths ensures fast tool changes despite the simpler linear structure
Data Source
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Figure 1b
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AI summary
The invention relates to a machine tool with at least one spindle, a tool changing device, and at least one tool magazine. The invention is characterized in that the tool changing device is movable in a tool plane oriented perpendicular or at right angles to the spindle axis.