Machine Tool Evacuation Control for Jammed Chip Torque Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current machine tool control systems face challenges in automatically evacuating tools without breakage during machining failures, leading to productivity degradation due to manual intervention.

Innovation Solution

A control device for machine tools that includes a parameter preparing unit, an evacuation unit, and an evacuation diagnosing unit, which diagnoses the normalcy of the evacuation operation and cancels it if abnormal, preventing tool breakage and ensuring safe chip discharge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automatic evacuation operation is performed by machine, then productivity is improved, but tool breakage occurs due to heavy load when chips are jammed

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveproductivityVSAvoidtool breakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The operational torque of the tap during evacuation is monitored in real-time, and when it exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the control unit automatically cancels the evacuation operation and activates an alarm, preventing tool breakage through feedback-based control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the evacuation speed parameter dynamically based on the operational torque condition, reducing speed when torque exceeds threshold to prevent breakage while maintaining automatic operation benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If manual extraction operation is performed by human, then tool breakage is prevented, but productivity degrades due to great deal of man-hours

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool breakage preventionVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The machine tool system performs self-monitoring and self-protection during evacuation by automatically detecting excessive torque and canceling the operation, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining breakage prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If evacuation speed is increased to improve productivity, then tool breakage occurs due to heavy load on jammed chips

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevacuation speedVSAvoidtool breakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The evacuation speed is made dynamic rather than fixed, automatically adjusting downward when operational torque exceeds the threshold, allowing high speed operation under normal conditions while preventing breakage when chips are jammed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12314030B2Control device for machine tool

Publication Date: 2025.05.27 OKUMA CORP

AI summary

A control device for a machine tool includes a tool mounted on a main spindle relatively movable with respect to a workpiece and machines the workpiece using the tool. The control device includes: a parameter preparing unit, an evacuation unit, and an evacuation diagnosing unit. The parameter preparing unit preliminarily stores a predetermined parameter relating to a control. The evacuation unit causes the tool to perform an evacuation operation from the workpiece. The evacuation diagnosing unit diagnoses whether the evacuation operation is normal. When the evacuation diagnosing unit diagnoses that the evacuation operation is abnormal, the evacuation operation is cancelled.