Adjustable fixture for a multi-spindle machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9925593-B2
Application number	US-201414445065-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2014
Priority date	Nov 23, 2009
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A method and apparatus for processing workpieces to form parts. Tools associated with a multi-spindle machine may be positioned with respect to a plurality of workpieces on a fixture comprising a plurality of platforms and an adjustment system. Each platform may be individually moveable with respect to others in the plurality of platforms about a number of axes. The plurality of platforms may be configured to hold the plurality of workpieces in which each platform may be configured to hold a workpiece in the plurality of workpieces during operations performed by the multi-spindle machine. The adjustment system may be configured to move each of the plurality of platforms about the number of axes independently from the others in the plurality of platforms. The operations may be performed on the plurality of workpieces using the multi-spindle machine and the fixture to form a plurality of parts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for processing workpieces to form parts, the method comprising:
positioning a plurality of tools associated with a multi-spindle machine with respect to a plurality of workpieces on a fixture comprising a plurality of platforms, wherein each platform of the plurality of platforms is individually moveable with respect to others of the plurality of platforms along a number of axes, wherein each platform of the plurality of platforms is configured to hold a respective workpiece of the plurality of workpieces during a number of operations performed by the multi-spindle machine, wherein each platform of the plurality of platforms has a respective adjustment system, wherein each respective adjustment system comprises (1) a respective first adjustment unit comprising (a) a respective first threaded shaft inserted inside a respective one of the platforms and (b) a respective first motor as well as (2) a respective second adjustment unit comprising (c) a respective second threaded shaft inserted inside the respective one of the platforms and (d) a respective second motor, wherein the respective first threaded shaft and the respective second threaded shaft have longitudinal axes that are orthogonal to each other for each platform of the plurality of platforms;
moving, using the respective adjustment system, one or more platforms of the plurality of platforms along one or more of the number of axes independently from one or more other platforms of the plurality of platforms, wherein the moving is performed by driving the respective first threaded shaft, by driving the respective second threaded shaft, or a combination thereof; and
performing the number of operations on the plurality of workpieces using the multispindle machine and the fixture to form a plurality of parts.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of performing the number of operations on the plurality of workpieces using the multi-spindle machine and the fixture comprises:
machining first sides of the plurality of workpieces on the plurality of platforms;
turning over the plurality of workpieces after machining the first sides such that second sides of the plurality of workpieces are positioned with respect to the plurality of tools;
machining a respective portion of each of the second sides of each workpiece of the plurality of workpieces;
moving a number of the plurality of platforms using the respective adjustment systems after machining the respective portion of the second sides of the plurality of workpieces; and
finishing machining the second sides of the plurality of workpieces after moving the number of the plurality of platforms.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of performing the number of operations on the plurality of workpieces using the multi-spindle machine and the fixture further comprises:
identifying a number of adjustments for the plurality of workpieces after machining the respective portion of the second sides of the plurality of workpieces and prior to finishing machining the second sides of the plurality of workpieces.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixture further comprises:
a base;
a plurality of guides in the base; and
a plurality of engagement features configured to engage ones of the plurality of guides in the base, wherein the plurality of engagement features is located on the plurality of platforms.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of guides is a plurality of channels in a surface of a base and a plurality of engagement features is a plurality of protrusions protruding from surfaces of the plurality of platforms, wherein the plurality of protrusions is configured to be slidably placed in the plurality of channels.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of adjustment units, acting in combination, move the platforms along two axes simultaneously.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-spindle machine comprises:
a plurality of spindles configured to move together along a plurality of axes and to each receive a respective tool of the plurality of tools; and
a motor system configured to rotate the plurality of spindles with the plurality of tools during a milling operation.

8. A method for processing workpieces from parts, the method comprising:
positioning a plurality of tools associated with a multi-spindle machine with respect to a plurality of workpieces on a fixture, wherein the multi-spindle machine comprises a plurality of spindles configured to move together along a plurality of axes and to each receive a respective tool of the plurality of tools, and wherein the multi-spindle machine further comprises a motor system configured to rotate the plurality of spindles with the plurality of tools during an operation, and wherein the fixture comprises a plurality of platforms, wherein each platform of the plurality of platforms is individually moveable with respect to others of the plurality of platforms along a number of axes, wherein each platform of the plurality of platforms is configured to hold a respective workpiece of the plurality of workpieces during a number of operations performed by the multi-spindle machine; wherein an adjustment system is configured to move each platform of the plurality of platforms along the number of axes independently from the others of the plurality of platforms, wherein the adjustment system comprises a plurality of adjustment units connected to the plurality of platforms, wherein the plurality of adjustment units, acting in concert, is configured to move a platform of the plurality of platforms along the number of axes; wherein a base is provided; wherein a plurality of guides are provided in the base; and wherein a plurality of engagement features are configured to engage the plurality of guides in the base, wherein the plurality of engagement features is located on the plurality of platforms; wherein the adjustment system comprises, for each of the platforms, (I) a respective first adjustment unit comprising (a) a respective first threaded shaft inserted inside a respective one of the platforms and (b) a respective first motor as well as (2) a respective second adjustment unit comprising (c) a respective second threaded shaft inserted inside the respective one of the platforms and (d) a respective second motor, wherein the respective first threaded shaft and the respective second threaded shaft have longitudinal axes that are orthogonal to each other for each platform of the plurality of platforms; and
machining first sides of the plurality of workpieces on the plurality of platforms;
turning over the plurality of workpieces after machining the first sides such that second sides of the plurality of workpieces are positioned with respect to the plurality of tools;
machining a respective portion of each of the second sides of each workpiece of the plurality of workpieces;
identifying a number of adjustments for the plurality of workpieces after machining the respective portions of the second sides of the plurality of workpieces;
moving one or more platforms of the plurality of platforms using the adjustment system after identifying the number of adjustments for the plurality of workpieces, wherein the moving is performed along one or more of the number of axes independently from one or more other platforms of the plurality of platforms, and wherein the moving is further performed by driving the respective first threaded shaft, by driving the respective second threaded shaft, or a combination thereof; and
finishing machining the second sides of the plurality of workpieces after moving the one or more platforms of the plurality of platforms.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Hanks Ryan L
• Waymack Kevin G
• Heck David P

Classifications

• Y10T409/303752

  Process · CPC title

• B23Q1/44

  using particular mechanisms (B23Q1/26 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23C1/08

  with a plurality of vertical working-spindles · CPC title

• Y10T408/03

  Processes · CPC title

• B23Q2039/002

  Machines with twin spindles · CPC title