Machine tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10926367-B2
Application number	US-201515758490-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2015
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

This machine tool has a tool changing device, and sequentially changes tools to machine a workpiece. The machine tool comprises: an input unit which receives a machining program output from a CAM system and tool basic data; a storage unit which stores the tool basic data received from the input unit for each tool number; a tool measuring device which measures the size of a tool loaded into a tool magazine of the tool changing device; and a determination unit which compares the tool basic data stored in the storage unit and the actual data measured by the measuring device, and determines that the measured tool is different from a desired tool if the difference between the two tool sizes is beyond a preset allowable range.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine tool having a tool changer and sequentially changing tools to machine a workpiece, the machine tool comprising:
a computing device comprising a CPU and receiving a machining program output from a CAM system and basic data of the tools;
memory storing the basic data of the tools input for each tool no;
a tool measuring device comprising an image-capturing device and measuring dimensions of the tools loaded in a tool magazine of the tool changer, and
a display displaying information on the tools,
the computing device comparing the basic data of the tools stored in the memory with actual measurement data measured by the tool measuring device and judging that a measured tool differs from a desired tool if a difference in dimensions between the measured and desired tools exceeds a predetermined allowable range,
wherein the tool measuring device measures the tools in a first time period after they are loaded in the tool magazine and before they are used for machining,
the computing device determines that a measured tool measured in the first time period is a mistakenly loaded improper tool and sends a first warning signal to the display if the difference in dimensions between the measured tool measured in the first time period and the desired tool exceeds the allowable range,
the tool measuring device measures the tools in a second time period after they are used for machining and before they are returned to the tool magazine,
the computing device determines that a measured tool measured in the second time period is a damaged tool and sends a second warning signal to the display if the difference in dimensions between the measured tool measured in the second time period and the desired tool exceeds the allowable range,
the display displays a first status of the measured tool, presenting that the measured tool is an improper tool, based on the first warning signal and displays a second status of the measured tool, presenting that the measured tool is a damaged tool, based on the second warning signal, and
the display displays the first status and the second status of the measured tool together with reference dimensions of the desired tool.

2. The machine tool of claim 1 , wherein the machine tool suspends machining before the machining is performed by the improper tool when the machining program is executed regardless of the first warning signal being issued.

3. The machine tool of claim 1 , wherein the machine tool automatically changes the tool judged to be a damaged tool to a spare tool loaded in the tool magazine in advance and executes the machining program when the second warning signal is issued.

4. The machine tool of claim 1 , wherein the machine tool cumulatively adds and stores a machining time or distance of movement for each of the tools when the tool is used for machining and issues a third warning signal indicating the tool has reached the end of its service life when the machining time or the distance of movement exceeds a predetermined value.

5. The machine tool of claim 4 , wherein
the image-capturing device is arranged inside a tool storage chamber of the machine tool and together with the tool changer and captures an image of the workpiece.

Assignees

• Makino Milling Machine

Inventors

• Kasahara Tadashi

Classifications

• B23Q17/2461

  Length · CPC title

• B23Q2003/1553

  by rectilinear projection · CPC title

• B23Q3/15513

  the tool being taken from a storage device and transferred to a tool holder by means of transfer devices · CPC title

• B23Q17/0909 Primary

  Detection of broken tools · CPC title

• B23Q3/15546

  Devices for recognizing tools in a storage device, e.g. coding devices · CPC title