Multilevel Tube Magazine for Fast, Repeat-Accurate Tool Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current machining centers face challenges in achieving high dynamics during tool changes due to the need for massive, heavy turret heads that require significant swiveling, leading to position deviations and slow cycle times.
Innovation Solution
A rotating multi-level tube magazine with a thin-walled, lightweight tubular magazine body using roller and slide bearings to position tool holders in front of multiple work spindles, allowing for simultaneous tool clamping and driving with repeat accuracy and rapid tool changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a massive, heavy turret head is used to ensure dimensional stability during machining, then position deviations at the tool cutting edge are reduced, but the cycle dynamics and speed of tool changes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a stationary base body with work spindles and a separate, movable tubular magazine body that rotates to present tool holders. This segmentation allows the heavy base body to remain stationary for precision while the lightweight magazine body provides fast tool change dynamics.
Solution Approach 2:
A magnetic coupling mechanism acts as an intermediary to transfer rotational motion from the stationary base body to the movable magazine body without direct mechanical connection. This allows precise positioning of the magazine body while maintaining fast response dynamics.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a massive, heavy turret head is used to ensure dimensional stability, then tool position under machining load is maintained, but the polar mass moment of inertia increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the stationary base body (which requires high dimensional stability) from the movable magazine body (which requires low inertia). The base body remains heavy and stable, while the magazine body is made lightweight using thin-walled tubular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine body uses thin-walled tubular construction to achieve low weight and low moment of inertia while maintaining sufficient structural integrity for its function of holding and rotating tool holders.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional turret heads with multiple tool planes are used, then multiple tools are available for machining, but the tool change time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging tools on multiple radial planes requiring 90-degree swiveling, the invention uses a tubular magazine body with tools arranged along the axial direction. This allows tool changes by simple axial movement and rotation, dramatically reducing tool change time while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple tool holders are pre-loaded in the tubular magazine body in advance. The magazine body can be rotated to position the required tool holder in front of the work spindle before machining begins, enabling rapid tool changes without interrupting the machining process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces the polar mass moment of inertia, enabling faster 360-degree rotation and multiple-fold increases in speed compared to conventional turrets, while allowing for simultaneous tool exchange and machining with reduced material usage.
Implementation Method 1
The central block (10) uses roller and/or slide bearings (25) to move a one-part or multi-part magazine tube carrier (21) transversely to the center line (19) of the central block (10) itself
Implementation Method 2
the polar mass moment of inertia, enabling faster 360-degree rotation and multiple-fold increases in speed compared to conventional turrets
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a revolving multilevel tube magazine which comprises a plurality of tool holder levels and tool holder rows, and in the interior of which a plurality of working spindles, one per tool holder level, is mounted in a dimensionally-stable central block that is arranged secured in place in a machine tool. A magazine tube member is mounted on a central block such that it can be displaced transversely and rotated about its axis. The magazine tube member comprises one storage cover per tool holder row, for mounting a plurality of tool holders. The storage cover, along with the tool holders required for machining workpieces, can be brought into a working position in front of the working spindles both in the circumferential direction of the magazine tube member and in the displacement direction. At least one dynamic tool holder comprises a tool-receiving interface that can be opened by connecting or feeding in external energy. The present invention allows a revolving multilevel tube magazine to be developed which can position, for the purpose of coupling and driving, tool-carrying tool holders simultaneously in front of a plurality of working spindles, with repetitive accuracy and in a short tool changeover period. This should permit a tool changeover even during operation.