Machine Tool Tool Changer Parallel Door and Body Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine tools require a longer period of time to change tools due to sequential operations of opening and closing the door and moving parts, which can be optimized for faster tool exchange.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool design that includes a controller to move the body and door in parallel with the operation of opening or closing, and starting the rotation of the changing arm before these movements are completed, allowing simultaneous execution of these actions to reduce the overall tool change time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the door is opened and closed sequentially before tool change operation, then chips and coolant are effectively shielded, but the tool change time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The door is opened in advance before the tool change operation begins, allowing the tool changer body to move into position while the door is already open, rather than waiting for the door to be closed first. This preliminary action eliminates the sequential waiting time while maintaining chip and coolant shielding through the body's movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The door remains in the open state continuously during the tool change operation, eliminating the back-and-forth opening and closing actions. The body moves into position and performs the tool change without interruption, maintaining continuous useful action while the door stays open throughout the process.
2Ease of operation
If the body moves sequentially after door operation completes, then operational simplicity is maintained, but the overall operation time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The body moves into position in advance while the door is being opened or is already open, rather than waiting for door operation to complete. This preliminary movement of the body overlaps with the door operation, reducing total time while maintaining simple sequential control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from strictly sequential operation to a dynamic arrangement where the body's movement timing is flexible and can occur during door operation. This dynamic adjustment allows time overlap while keeping the control system relatively simple.
3Loss of time
If multiple operations are performed in parallel, then tool change time is reduced, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door is opened in advance before the tool change operation, creating a time window during which the body can move and perform tool change operations. This preliminary door opening enables parallel execution of multiple operations without requiring complex synchronized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses flexible timing where the body's movement and tool change operations can occur during the door's open state, allowing parallel operations with relatively simple control logic that doesn't require precise synchronization of multiple moving parts.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine tool includes a bed, a column, a rotary main spindle, a tool magazine, a tool changer, and a controller. The tool changer includes a body provided on the bed so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to a movement direction of the column, a changing arm rotatably provided on the body, and a door provided on the body to open or close an opening formed in the body, and configured to partition an area on the column side from an area on the tool magazine side by closing the opening. The controller is configured to move the body in parallel with at least one of an operation of opening the door and an operation of closing the door.