Machine Tool Lifter Drive Inversion for Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The stability of machine tools with numerical control is compromised due to a high center of gravity caused by the placement of heavy feed motors above the discharge holes, leading to impaired stability and precision in machining.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool design where the top-bottom guide extends from the back surface of the bed upward from near the floor surface, supporting cutting resistance and weight at a lower position, and the feed motor is coupled to the bottom end of the feed screw near the floor, reducing the overall height and improving stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the feed motor is attached to the top end of the ball screw above the base frame, then the lifter can be driven to move along the Y-axis, but the center of gravity of the machine tool is set at a high position which impairs stability
Solution Approach 1:
The feed motor is inverted from its conventional position at the top end of the ball screw to the bottom end near the floor surface. This inversion relocates the heavy motor component from a high position to a low position, thereby lowering the center of gravity and improving machine tool stability while preserving the lifter's movement capability along the Y-axis through the ball screw mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If the top-bottom guide is arranged above the discharge hole, then the lifter can move vertically, but the cutting resistance and weight are supported at a relatively high position which prevents suppression of machine deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The top-bottom guide is extended downward into the vertical space below the base frame, utilizing the unused dimensional space near the floor surface. This allows the guide to support cutting resistance and lifter weight at a low position, suppressing machine deformation and improving machining precision, while the lifter maintains its vertical movement capability through the extended guide structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to the machine tool (10) according to the present invention, a top-bottom guide (28) is attached to a back surface of a base frame (12). By being guided by this top-bottom guide (28), the lifter (21) moves in the top-bottom direction with respect to the base frame (12). A drive source (30) which drives rotation of a top-bottom feed screw (35) which extends parallel to the top-bottom guide (28) is attached to a back surface of the base frame (12). This drive source (30) is coupled with a bottom end of the top-bottom feed screw (35). As a result, compared to when the drive source (30) is coupled with a top end of the top-bottom feed screw (35), the center of gravity of the machine tool (10) can be set to a lower position. In this way, a machine tool (10) can be increased in stability. The precision of machining in the machine tool (10) can be improved. In addition, the drive source (30) need not be arranged at the top end of the machine tool (10), so the overall height of the machine tool (10) can be made smaller.