Turning-Plate Five-Axis Machining Center for Faster Workpiece Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current horizontal five-axis machining centers face challenges in efficiently and precisely machining large cutting removal rates for aerospace structural parts, particularly aluminum alloy components, due to difficulties in workpiece loading and unloading and reduced production efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A horizontal five-axis turning plate type machining center is designed with a support base, bed, and column connected by a connecting arm, featuring a turning plate device with driving units for position conversion, double lead screws and slideways for rigidity, and an A/B angle milling head for improved machining accuracy and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the workpiece is directly loaded at the machining station, then the structure is simple, but the loading and unloading efficiency is low and production efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading and unloading efficiencyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The machining center is divided into separate functional modules: a turning plate device for workpiece loading/unloading, an X-direction sliding plate for positioning, and a machining area. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each module, improving loading efficiency without compromising overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The turning plate device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the external loading area and the machining station. It mediates the workpiece transfer process, enabling efficient loading/unloading while maintaining a clear separation between the machining area and the workpiece handling area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If double lead screws and slideways are adopted, then the rigidity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproverigidityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple lead screws and slideways into an integrated positioning system. The first and second Y-direction lead screws work together with corresponding slideways to provide enhanced rigidity and stability for the column and milling head assembly, while maintaining a unified structural design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning system extends in multiple dimensions with X-direction sliding plate, Y-direction lead screws, and Z-direction ram. This multi-dimensional arrangement distributes mechanical loads across different axes, improving overall rigidity while organizing complexity spatially.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Manufacturing precision

If an A/B angle milling head is used, then the machining precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachining accuracyVSAvoidmilling head complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The A/B angle milling head incorporates dynamic angle adjustment capabilities, allowing the milling head to be tilted around two axes (A-axis and B-axis). This dynamic positioning enables precise machining of complex angular surfaces while keeping the base milling head structure relatively simple and modular.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3943228B1Horizontal five-axis turning plate type machining center
Publication Date: 2023.07.19 KEDE NUMERICAL CONTROL CO LTD
  • EP3943228B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3943228B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3943228B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The invention discloses a double-station gantry combined machining system allowing automatic overturning of workpieces, which comprises a first mobile gantry machining unit, a second mobile gantry machining unit, an overturning platform, a first workpiece fixing table, a second workpiece fixing table and a guide rail, wherein the overturning platform is positioned between the first gantry machining unit and the second gantry machining unit. According to the invention, the system is highly integrated, continuous machining of a gantry machine tool is completed, the working efficiency is improved, and the machining cost of the system is reduced.