Method and system for controlling the machining of a part by a portable automatic machining apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10018984-B2
Application number	US-201514685735-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2015
Priority date	Apr 14, 2014
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

A method for controlling the machining of a part by a portable automatic machining apparatus. A machining tool configured to machine the part under the action of a pressurized fluid feeding the apparatus, and following a machining cycle, comprising a number of phases and a machining support equipment item. The machining support equipment item cooperates with the machining tool during the machining of the part. The method comprises the steps of measuring the pressure of the fluid at the outlet of the apparatus, analyzing the measured pressure to detect at least one phase of the cycle of machining of the part by the machining tool from the duly measured pressure, and controlling the machining support equipment item as a function of the phase of the machining cycle which has been detected.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for controlling the machining of a part by a portable automatic machining apparatus, the machining apparatus comprising at least one machining tool configured to machine the part under the action of a pressurized fluid feeding the apparatus and following a machining cycle comprising a number of phases and at least one machining support equipment item, said at least one machining support equipment item cooperating with said at least one machining tool during the machining of the part, the control method comprising the following steps:
measuring a pressure of the fluid at the outlet of the apparatus,
analyzing the measured pressure to detect at least one phase of the cycle of machining of the part by said at least one machining tool from the duly measured pressure,
controlling said at least one machining support equipment item as a function of said at least one detected machining cycle phase,
determining, from the pressure measured over time, a first derivative of the pressure as a function of time, and,
comparing the first derivative of the pressure with a predetermined threshold value and, as a function of the result of the comparison, detecting an end of machining which is characterized by an exiting of the machining tool from the part.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of controlling said at least one machining support equipment item is performed by sending a signal to an actuator which acts on said at least one machining support equipment item.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the pressure measurement step, a no-load cycle step comprising initializing at least one reference value of at least one variable representative of a physical quantity involved in the machining of the part.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said at least one variable is chosen from time and the fluid pressure.

5. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising a step of comparing a machining duration with a threshold value measured during the no-load cycle step and, as a function of the result of the comparison, a step of detecting an end of machining which is characterized by an exiting of the machining tool from the part.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, from the pressure measured over time, a step of determining a second derivative of the pressure as a function of time.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising a step of comparing the second derivative of the pressure with a predetermined threshold value and, as a function of the result of the comparison, a step of detecting a start of machining which is characterized by an entry of the machining tool into the part.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting the end of machining is followed by the step of controlling said at least one machining support equipment item.

9. A system for controlling the machining of a part, comprising:
an automatic machining apparatus comprising at least one machining tool configured to machine the part following a machining cycle comprising a number of phases,
at least one first machining support equipment item which comprises a spindle supporting said at least one machining tool,
a unit for driving the movement of the spindle, a pressurized fluid feed for the apparatus and an output of fluid from said apparatus, the driving unit operating from the pressurized fluid feed of the apparatus,
a pressure measuring unit configured and arranged to measure a pressure of the fluid at an outlet of the apparatus,
a data processing unit configured to: analyze the pressure measured by said pressure measuring unit to detect at least one phase of the cycle of machining of the part by said at least one machining tool from the duly measured pressure; prior to measuring said pressure, initialize a no-load cycle comprising at least one reference value of at least one variable representative of a physical quantity involved in the machining of the part; compare a machining duration with a threshold value measured during the no-load cycle, and, as a function of the result of the comparison, detect an end of machining which is characterized by an exiting of the machining tool from the part; and,
a command/control unit configured to control said at least one machining support equipment item as a function of said at least one detected machining cycle phase.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said at least one first machining support equipment item comprises a lubrication tank.

11. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the control/command unit is incorporated in a mobile multi-axial machine tool.

12. A method for controlling the machining of a part by a portable automatic machining apparatus, the machining apparatus comprising at least one machining tool configured to machine the part under the action of a pressurized fluid feeding the apparatus and following a machining cycle comprising a number of phases and at least one machining support equipment item, said at least one machining support equipment item cooperating with said at least one machining tool during the machining of the part, the control method comprising the following steps:
measuring a pressure of the fluid at the outlet of the apparatus,
analyzing the measured pressure to detect at least one phase of the cycle of machining of the part by said at least one machining tool from the duly measured pressure,
controlling said at least one machining support equipment item as a function of said at least one detected machining cycle phase,
determining, from the pressure measured over time, a derivative of the pressure as a function of time, and,
comparing the derivative of the pressure with a predetermined threshold value and, as a function of the result of the comparison, detecting: an end of machining which is characterized by an exiting of the machining tool from the part; a start of machining which is characterized by an entry of the machining tool into the part; or both.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of controlling said at least one machining support equipment item is performed by sending a signal to an actuator which acts on said at least one machining support equipment item.

14. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising, prior to the pressure measurement step, a no-load cycle comprising initializing at least one reference value of at least one variable representative of a physical quantity involved in the machining of the part.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein said at least one variable is chosen from time and the fluid pressure.

16. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising a step of comparing a machining duration with a threshold value measured during the no-load cycle step and, as a function of the result of the comparison, a step of detecting an end of machining which is characterized by an exiting of the machining tool from the part.

17. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of detecting the end of machining is followed by the step of controlling said at least one machining support equipment item.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Sas
• European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co Eads France
• Airbus Operations Sas

Inventors

• Ramiere Jean-Francois
• Duquesne Julie
• Pinson Bernard
• Buisson Thomas

Classifications

• G05B19/182 Primary

  characterised by the machine tool function, e.g. thread cutting, cam making, tool direction control (G05B19/21 - G05B19/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• B23Q11/121

  with lubricating effect for reducing friction (F16C33/66 and F16H57/04 take precedence) · CPC title

• B23B35/00

  Methods for boring or drilling, or for working essentially requiring the use of boring or drilling machines; Use of auxiliary equipment in connection with such methods · CPC title

• G05B2219/49043

  Control of lubrication · CPC title

• B23B2250/12

  Cooling and lubrication · CPC title