A machine for grinding a work-piece customized by additive manufacturing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016311022-A1
Application number	US-201415105184-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2013
Publication date	Oct 27, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention provides a machine for grinding a work-piece using a grinding tool. The machine comprises a motor for rotating a spindle having a work-piece holder for holding the work-piece. The machine further provides a tool post for mounting and maneuvering the grinding tool relative to the work-piece. The machine includes a print system for printing printable material to the work-piece via additive manufacturing. The printed material may be used to customize a shape of the work-piece after the work-piece has been grinded or turned in the machine. This combination allows for a reduced machine footprint and increased product accuracy.

First claim

1 . A machine for grinding a work-piece using a grinding tool, the machine comprising:
a motor for rotating a spindle having a work-piece holder for holding the work-piece so as to rotate the work-piece during grinding, the machine provides a tool post for mounting and maneuvering the grinding tool relative to the work-piece, wherein the machine includes a print system for printing printable material to the work-piece via additive manufacturing, wherein the print system is configured and constructed for printing printable material to the work-piece, and wherein the work-piece remains connected to the work-piece holder during use.

2 . The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the machine comprises a positioning arm for positioning at least a part of the print system relative to the work-piece.

3 . The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the tool post is configured and constructed for also mounting and maneuvering at least a part of the print system.

4 . The machine according to claim 3 , wherein at least a part of the print system is removably attached to the tool post.

5 . The machine according to claim 2 , wherein the machine is configured and constructed to position at least a part of the print system vertically above the work-piece for adding the printable material to the work-piece during use.

6 . The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the machine provides a controller ( 270 ) for controlling the motor for controlling a rotating of the work-piece independently of the additive manufacturing process.

7 . The machine according claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the motor for applying a step-wise rotation of the work-piece.

8 . The machine according to claim 6 , wherein the machine further comprises an angular position sensor coupled to the controller ( 270 ) for sensing, in use, an angular position of the work-piece ( 205 , 300 ) in dependence of the additive manufacturing.

9 . The machine according claim 1 , further comprising an absolute positioning system for positioning at least a part of the print system relative to the work-piece.

10 . The machine according claim 1 , further comprising a compartment for generating a controlled environment inside the compartment, in use, at least a part of the print system being located in the compartment for applying the additive manufacturing to the work-piece in the controlled environment.

11 . The machine according claim 1 , further comprising a container containing the printable material, the container being configured and constructed for immersing the work-piece at least partially with the printable material.

12 . The machine according claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured and constructed for controlling the printing of the print system and for controlling the positioning of at least a part of the print system relative to the work-piece.

13 . The machine according claim 1 , further comprising surface treatment means for
cleaning a surface of the work-piece prior to applying the printable material, and/or for roughening the surface of the work-piece prior to applying the printable material to the work-piece, and/or for coating at least a part of the surface of the work-piece prior to applying the printable material.

14 . The machine according claim 1 , further comprising a feed for providing the printable material to the print head.

15 . The machine according claim 1 , wherein the print system is configured for applying the additive manufacturing selected from a list comprising stereo-lithography, selective laser sintering, selective laser melting, laminated object manufacturing, fused deposition modeling, selective binding, laser engineering net shaping, photo polymerization, direct laser deposition (preferred) and selective electron beam sintering.

16 . The machine according claim 1 , wherein the machine is configured and constructed for applying a hard-turning or hard-boring process to the work-piece.

17 . The machine according claim 1 , wherein the print system is configured for printing printable material chosen from a list comprising steel, stainless steel, maraging steel, tool steel, low alloy steel, copper alloys, nickel alloys, cobalt alloys, aluminum, aluminum alloys, titanium, titanium alloys.

Assignees

• Skf Ab

Inventors

• Krebs Philipp
• Ziegler Sebastian

Classifications

• B22F3/24 Primary

  After-treatment of workpieces or articles {(B22F3/1146 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B29C64/227

  Driving means · CPC title

• B29C64/30

  Auxiliary operations or equipment · CPC title

• B29C64/393

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B22F10/32

  of the atmosphere, e.g. composition or pressure in a building chamber · CPC title