Machine tool having onboard measuring device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9409270-B2
Application number	US-201213659160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2012
Priority date	Dec 22, 2011
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

A machine tool having an onboard measuring device automatically carries out various works which include ultra precision machining, washing and onboard measuring, by a numerical controller, without any interposition of a worker. For achieving this, an operation region of drive axes of the machine tool is previously divided into a machining region, a washing region and a measuring region. Positions of the drive axes are always monitored by the numerical controller, and when the drive axes enter each of the regions, a work allocated to each of the regions is automatically started and the work is continuously carried out until drives axes exit the region.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine tool having an onboard measuring device, which has a plurality of drive axes, machines a machining object by controlling the drive axis by a numerical controller so as to relatively move a tool and the machining object, and carries out a measurement of the machining object by relatively moving the onboard measuring device and the machining object, the onboard measuring device having a probe, the machine tool having the onboard measuring device comprising:
a position detector which detects a position of each of the drive axes;
an input unit which inputs a position which is detected by the position detector to the numerical controller;
a work determining unit which determines, based on the positions of the drive axes input by the input unit, whether machining of the machining object is to be carried out, measurement of the machining object is to be carried out by the onboard measuring device, washing of the machining object is to be carried out, or washing of the probe is to be carried out; and
an execution commanding unit which commands, based on the determination of the work determining unit, machining of the machining object, measurement by the onboard measuring device, washing of the machining object or washing of the probe;
wherein
the tool and the onboard measuring device are attached to the same drive axis,
a moving range of the drive axes in which machining of the machining object by the tool is possible is assumed to be an effective machining range, and a moving range of the drive axes in which measurement of the machining object by the onboard measuring device is possible is assumed to be an effective measuring range,
the work determining unit determines:
that the drive axes are in a state where machining of the machining object by the tool is possible if the drive axes are in the effective machining range;
that the drive axes are in a washing standby state if the drive axes are in a range which belongs to neither the effective machining range nor the effective measuring range;
that the drive axes are in a washing effective state if the drives axes enter the effective measuring range from the washing standby state;
that the washing has been finished if the washing is stopped after the washing is actually carried out for a predetermined time from the washing effective state; or
that the drive axes are in a state where measurement of the machining object is possible if the drive axes are in the effective measuring range and also in a state where the washing is finished.

2. The machine tool having an onboard measuring device according to claim 1 , wherein the numerical controller outputs a signal for executing a cutting motion by the tool, actuating a washing liquid nozzle, actuating a washing brush, actuating the onboard measuring device, or opening and closing a cover which protects the onboard measuring device, according to a working state based on the determination of the work determining unit.

3. The machine tool having an onboard measuring device according to claim 2 , wherein
the cover which protects the onboard measuring device is a cover for protecting the onboard measuring device from a cutting liquid and a cut scrap, and
the cover is configured to be opened and closed by an actuator, and is opened by the actuator when the work determining unit determines that the drive axes are in a state where measurement is possible.

Assignees

• Fanuc Corp

Inventors

• Hon Yonpyo

Classifications

• B23Q17/22

  for indicating or measuring existing or desired position of tool or work {(B23Q16/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B23Q11/10 Primary

  Arrangements for cooling or lubricating tools or work · CPC title

• B23Q17/20 Primary

  for indicating or measuring workpiece characteristics, e.g. contour, dimension, hardness · CPC title

• B23Q11/0075

  for removing chips or coolant from the workpiece after machining · CPC title

• Y02P70/171

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic