Machining using cryogenic cooling on a cutting tool while heating a work piece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018009058-A1
Application number	US-201615207473-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 11, 2016
Priority date	Jul 11, 2016
Publication date	Jan 11, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention improves machining methods by using cryogenic cooling techniques in combination with a heat source to simultaneously cool a cutting tool while heating a work piece to make the work piece more pliable while increasing efficiency and/or longevity of the cutting tool.

First claim

1 . A machining system comprising:
a cutting tool configured to machine a work piece; a cooling system configured to cool the cutting tool, wherein the cooling system is configured to deliver a cryogenic coolant to the cutting tool, wherein the cooling system comprises one or more channels inside the cutting tool configured to deliver the cryogenic coolant to an internal surface of the cutting tool; and a heat source directed at the work piece, wherein the heat source is positioned with respect to the cutting tool such that the work piece is heated prior to being machined by the cutting tool.

2 - 3 . (canceled)

4 . The system of claim 1 and further comprising a controller connected to the cutting tool and to the heat source, wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to control the operation of both the cutting tool and the heat source.

5 . The system of claim 4 and further comprising a user interface.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the heat source is a laser.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the heat source comprises a heating coil.

8 . A method of machining comprising:
providing instructions to a machining system, wherein the instructions direct the movement and cutting action of a cutting tool and the movement and heating action of a heat source; cooling the cutting tool with a cryogenic coolant, wherein the cryogenic coolant is applied to an internal surface of the cutting tool; applying heat to the work piece using the heat source according to the instructions, wherein a portion of the work piece is heated prior to the portion of the work piece reaching the cutting tool; and cutting the work piece according to the instructions.

9 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the heat source is a laser.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the heat source is a heating coil.

13 . A machining system comprising:
a cutting tool configured to cut a work piece; means for cooling the cutting tool, wherein the wherein the means for cooling the cutting tool comprises one or more channels internal to the cutting tool configured to deliver cryogenic coolant inside the cutting tool; a heat source directed at the work piece, wherein the heat source is positioned with respect to the cutting tool so that a surface of the work piece is heated upstream of the cutting tool, prior to the cutting tool cutting the surface of the work piece.

14 - 15 . (canceled)

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Barnat Krzysztof
• Reed Gordon Miller

Classifications

• B23P25/003 Primary

  immediately preceding a cutting tool · CPC title

• B23K26/0093 Primary

  combined with mechanical machining or metal-working covered by other subclasses than B23K · CPC title

• B23Q11/1053

  using the cutting liquid at specially selected temperatures (controlling the temperature of the cutting liquid for maintaining machine parts at a constant temperature B23Q11/146) · CPC title