Machine Tool Turret Swinging Dynamics Optimization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tool changers that utilize a swinging movement of the turret to change tools in machine tools often result in suboptimal swinging movement speed and increased mechanical impact on the turret, leading to longer tool changing times and potential wear.

Innovation Solution

A tool changer system that calculates and controls the swinging movement pattern of the turret based on gravity, centrifugal, and inertial forces to determine an optimal swing speed, ensuring forces do not exceed preset limits, thereby minimizing impact and maximizing speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the turret swings at high speed to shorten tool changing time, then productivity is improved, but mechanical impact on the turret increases causing wear and potential tool dropout

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool changing timeVSAvoidturret mechanism durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the swinging movement pattern adjustable and optimized based on real-time conditions. The control unit calculates the center of gravity position and determines an optimal swinging pattern that adapts to different tool configurations, allowing high-speed operation while maintaining reliability through dynamic optimization rather than fixed conservative parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes physical parameters by calculating the center of gravity position and using it to determine the optimal swinging movement pattern. By varying the movement parameters (speed, acceleration, trajectory) based on the calculated center of gravity, the system achieves both high productivity and reliability, resolving the contradiction between fast tool changing and mechanical impact reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the turret swings at high speed, then tool changing efficiency is improved, but the impact force on the turret mechanism increases causing wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool changing efficiencyVSAvoidimpact force on turret
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically calculates the center of gravity position and adjusts the swinging movement pattern accordingly. This dynamic optimization allows the turret to swing at high speeds while the control unit ensures impact forces remain within acceptable limits by optimizing the movement trajectory and acceleration profiles based on real-time center of gravity data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by calculating the center of gravity position and using this information to determine the optimal swinging pattern. The control unit continuously optimizes the movement parameters based on the calculated parameters, creating a feedback loop that maintains high efficiency while controlling impact forces through informed parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If a fixed swinging movement pattern is used, then control simplicity is maintained, but tool changing time cannot be sufficiently shortened due to conservative speed limits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system simplicityVSAvoidtool changing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes parameters by calculating the center of gravity position and using it to determine the swinging movement pattern. This parameter-based approach allows the system to optimize speed and time without requiring complex control algorithms, maintaining relative simplicity while achieving significant time reduction through data-driven parameter optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calculation of the center of gravity position before executing the swinging movement. This preliminary action allows the control unit to determine the optimal movement pattern in advance, enabling high-speed operation without requiring complex real-time adjustments during the actual swinging motion, thus maintaining control simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach allows for the highest possible swinging movement speed with reduced mechanical impact, resulting in shorter tool changing times and extended tool changer lifespan.

Implementation Method 1

force applied to a turret mechanism unit based on a sum of gravity force, centrifugal force, and inertial force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity force: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

force applied to a turret mechanism unit based on a sum of gravity force, centrifugal force, and inertial force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

force applied to a turret mechanism unit based on a sum of gravity force, centrifugal force, and inertial force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertial force: Inertia

Data Source

PatentUS9339905B2Tool changer for machine tool
Publication Date: 2016.05.17 FANUC LTD

AI summary

In a tool changer, a turret can move toward and away from a spindle through a swinging movement about a swing shaft. Force applied to a turret mechanism unit at each phase in the swinging movement of the turret is calculated, and a swinging pattern of the turret is determined in accordance with the result of the calculation.