Pivoting Tool Unit for Rolling-Edge Machining on Complex Lathe Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lathe machines lack the capability to efficiently machine complex surfaces such as cylinder lateral, flat, truncated conical, and free-form surfaces using a cutting edge that rolls on the surface to be machined, as they are limited by the geometry and movement constraints of traditional tool holders and drive systems.
Innovation Solution
A tool swivel unit is designed to be fastened to a lathe's tool carrier, featuring a drive shaft coupled to a servo motor or the tool carrier's rotary drive, with an output shaft inclined at 90°, allowing a cutting plate to be pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft. This setup enables coordinated movement between the cutting edge and the workpiece surface, allowing the cutting edge to roll and create desired surface profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional tool holder with fixed geometry is used on a standard lathe, then the lathe structure remains simple and cost-effective, but the capability to machine complex surfaces (cylinder lateral, flat, truncated conical, and free-form surfaces) with a rolling cutting edge is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The tool holder is transformed from a static component to a dynamic one by introducing a pivotable tool swivel unit. The cutting insert holder can rotate about a pivot axis, enabling the cutting edge to follow complex contour lines and machine various surface types (cylindrical, conical, free-form) on a standard lathe without modifying the lathe structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool swivel unit with pivotable holder provides multi-functionality, allowing a single tool configuration to machine multiple surface types (cylinder lateral, flat, truncated conical, and free-form surfaces) through coordinated pivoting and feed movements, replacing the need for multiple specialized tools or complex lathe modifications.
2Manufacturing precision
If the cutting insert is rotated about an axis parallel to the workpiece rotation axis, then the cutting edge can move along the surface, but the chip removal point cannot simultaneously move along the cutting edge to create rolling motion
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements coordinated control where the pivoting movement of the tool holder about the pivot axis is synchronized with the feed movement in the feed plane. This coordination ensures that the cutting edge performs a rolling motion on the workpiece surface, with the chip removal point moving both along the surface and along the cutting edge simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting edge motion is extended from simple linear feed movement to a two-dimensional rolling motion by adding pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the feed plane. This dimensional addition allows the cutting edge to follow convex contour lines while maintaining contact with the workpiece surface, creating the desired rolling effect.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a tool swiveling unit (25) that can be attached to a mounting point (24) of a tool carrier (22) of a lathe, comprising a fastening element (13, 21) for attaching the tool swiveling unit (25) to the mounting point (24), a drive shaft (10) that is coupled to a rotary drive (16) of a servomotor (17) or can be coupled to a rotary drive (18) of the tool carrier (22) and can be pivotally driven by means of a rotary movement of the rotary drive (16, 18) about a drive shaft axis (10') and an output shaft (8) driven by the drive shaft (10) for driving a tool (6).A tool holder (5) which is non-rotatably connected to the output shaft (8) holds a cutting insert (6) which can be pivoted by means of the rotary drive (16,18) in a pivot plane (3) extending perpendicular to the output shaft axis (8') and is designed such that at least one cutting edge (4, 4', 4") of the cutting insert (6) lies in the pivot plane (3) for chip-removing action on the workpiece (2).