GB2040203A - Turning machine with angled workpiece carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A turning machine comprises a base 10 in which is mounted a rotatable work spindle 23 having a workpiece carrier 11 secured thereto, the work spindle 23 being mounted at an angle inclined to the horizontal and vertical and the base having tool supports which may include alternative portions 13, 56, 74 or others for carrying tool slides with posts or turrets at angles complementary e.g. parallel, right angles to that of the work spindle axis whereby tooling can be brought to engage a workpiece carried on the carrier 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Turning machines This invention relates to machines for carrying out machining operations on a metal workpiece which is arranged to be rotated on the machine. Primarily the invention concerns machines for carrying out machining operations on relatively large workpieces.

Conventionally, turning machines or lathes are arranged to rotate the workpiece about horizontal or vertical axes. In general for smaller sizes, and for relatively long workpieces,the horizontal axis is more convenient but for larger diameter workpieces, which in general tend often to be of rather short axial length in relation to their diameter, the vertical axis arrangement is adopted.

The vertical axis configuration however introduces several problems. One of these concerns tooling arrangements which are either mounted on one upright column or on a pair of columns and connecting bridge structure. The columns must be very strong and are therefore somewhat cumbersome and obstructive to the view which the operator has of the working area. The vertical axis configuration involves a horizontal working surface from which, in use, swarf and cooling fluid will not readily clear.

Another disadvantage of the vertical axis is that the drive to the main spindle has to include a right angled transmission which is less satisfactory parti cularlyfortheverylarge loadings involved in a big machine.

Many of these problems do not arise in the horizontal axis type of machine but there is a practical limit related to working diameters, above which this configuration is not very convenient.

It is the object of this invention to provide a turning machine which is not subject to the disadvantages enumerated above of the vertical axis configuration but which is not limited as to working diameter to the same extent as the horizontal axis configuration.

According to the present invention a turning machine comprises a base, a rotatable spindle on which is mounted a workpiece carrier, the spindle being mounted in the base at an inclined angle intermediate horizontal and vertical, the base also having mounted thereon tool support means to carry tooling for engagement with a workpiece carried, in use, on said workpiece carrier.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the machine base and a number of separate components securable to the base and identified by suffixes a to e respectively, Figure 2 is a side elevation view of a turning machine constructed in accordance with the invention, Figure 3 is an inclined elevation view thereof, Figure 4 is an inclined elevation view of the same machine, the view being perpendicular to Figure 3, Figures 5, Sand 7 are similar views to Figures 2, 3 and 4 showing an alternative construction, Figure 8 is a side elevation view of the machine shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 with machine guards in place;; Figure 9 is a similar view to Figure 8 showing the construction in Figures 5, 6 and 7 with machine guards in place, Figures 10, 1 and 12 are similar views of a further alternative contruction, Figures 13, 14 and 15 are similar views of a still further alternative construction, and Figure 16 is a side elevation view of another alternative construction.

Referring to the construction shown in Figures la to le, 2,3,4 and 8 there is shown a turning machine which has the following principle features. A base 10 carries a rotatable workpiece carrier 11 which is mounted for rotation about an axis substantially 45 from the horizontal so that the working surface of this carrier is presented upwardly and outwardly.

Opposite to this workpiece carrier 11 is a tool support having a portion 12 (not shown in Figure 1) extending along one side of the machine and a further portion 13 extending along the end of the machine opposite the working face of the workpiece carrier 11. The operator will stand at the side of the machine opposite to the tool support portion 12 and will thus have easy access to the working area though guards 14 shown in Figure 8, which are provided to shield the operator during working.

In more detail, the base 10 is generally rectangular in floor plan and has an upwardly inclined plane 15 upon which the workpiece carrier 11 is mounted. The base has secured to it drive means for the workpiece carrier 11. This comprises an electric motor 16 driving through a belt 17, a gearbox 18. The input 19 of the gearbox is offset from the output 21 thereof.

The output 21 is connected to a coupling 22 which in turn is connected to gearing within the base (not illustrated) which, in turn, drives a spindle 23 on which the workpiece carrier 11 is mounted. By means of this construction the electric motor 16 is arranged to drive the main workpiece carrier spindle 23 without any intervening right angle drives which tend to limit the power transmission in conventional machines in which the axis of rotation of the workpiece carrier is vertical. The gearbox 18 provides for different ratios so that the workpiece carrier 11 can be rotated at any one of a number of speeds as required. Appropriate clutch and brake mechanisms may be provided in the base for controlling rotation and speed changing of the spindle 23 with the workpiece carrier 11. A workpiece W is shown in Figures 2 and 4 in outline mounted on the workpiece carrier 11.The workpiece carrier 11 has appropriate means for securing the workpiece in place. These may be of any conventional kind, being arranged to grip the workpiece either internally or externally as appropriate. The workpiece carrier in this example is a face plate but a chuck may be substituted.

The tool support is, as previously explained, by means of the portions 12 and 13. The portion 12 extends along one side of the machine and is in the form of an upstanding wall connected at one end to the portion 13 which is also connected to the base 10.

Secured on the portion 13 is a support member 24.

This is tilted at an angle of approximately 450 being provided with horizontal dove-tail or other similar guides 25 on a surface presented upwardly and inwardly at right angles to the plane 15 on which the workpiece support 11 is mounted.

The guides 25 carry a slide 26. By means of the guides 25 this slide 26 is capable of horizontal movement in the inclined plane across the machine towards and away from the portion 12 of the tool support. Appropriate drive mechanism is provided for moving the slide. This may include conventional screw and nut type drive indicated generally at 27 or other conventional arrangement.

The slide 26 also has guides 28 on which is engaged a carrier 29. This is arranged for actuation perpendicularly with respect to the direction of movement of the slide 26 on the support member 24.

The direction of movement is thereforeparallel with the axis of the main spindle 23. Mounted on the carrier 29 is a tool holder 31. This may be capable of movement such as indexing in the manner of a turret and it is arranged to carry tool for engaging the workpiece W. Tool changer mechanisms may be included on the tool holder 31. The tooling arrangements may include tools appropriate for external or internal of face machining by turning. It is possible, in particular, to provide for internal and external machining of a cylindrical or generally cylindrical workpiece. The tool holder 31 is, in such a case, provided with means to carry tools for both these machining operations with the tool arranged opposite one another so as to equalise cutting forces. It is possible to provide for adjustment of these two tools relatively to one another.This is accomplished by arranging for drive for the carrier 11 relatively to the slide 26 and also to provide for adjustment of the tool holder 31 relatively to the carrier 29 in the same plane. Subtractive adjustment at the end of each machining cycle brings both tools incrementally towards one another until the appropriate wall thickness of the workpiece is achieved.

The machine may have a control console indicated generally at 32. This comprises an upright cabinet with a control panel 33 situated conveniently to the operator's left hand. Numerical or other control may be used for operation of the machine in known manner.

At the opposite side of the position occupied by the operator at the middle of the machine and at the side remote from the tool support portion 12 is a swarf and coolant system. This forms the subject of our co-pending Patent Application No. 7902732. This comprises a swarf conveyor 34 arranged to collect swarf and coolant falling from the workpiece W above it. The inclination of the workpiece carrier 11 as well as of the workpiece W and of the tooling allows the swarf and coolant to fall naturally onto the swarf conveyor 34 which extends across the machine. Beside the operator the swarf conveyor discharges into a swarf bin 35 underneath which is situated a coolant tank 36.

Figure 8 illustrates how the guards 14 are disposed around the working area to enclose the workpiece and tooling but windows 37 are provided to allow the operator to view working during progress.

The operator has good access to the working area when the guards are removed and can easily carry out operations such as tool changing or workpiece inspection without the necessity for removal thereof from the machine.

Since anti-clockwise rotation of the workpiece on its carrier is usual, machining in general takes place at the side of the workpiece adjacent to the tool support portion 12 so that this component provides strong support against the working loading. Tool attitude and travel can be varied as required and additional supportfor the tools may be provided by means of a column or other structure at the other end, that is the operator's end of the tool support portion 13.

The construction shown in Figures 1b, 5,6,7 and 9 is a similar machine to that shown in Figures 2,3,4 and 8 but having a tool support arrangement of different configuration. In this case the tools are mounted on a structure disposed wholly at the side of the machine opposite to the operator.

In detail, this machine has a base 50 having an inclined plane 51 on which is mounted a workpiece support 52 shown in Figures 5 and 6 carrying a workpiece W. Drive for a main spindle 53 for the workpiece support 52 is from an electric motor 54 driving a gearbox 55. This apparatus for driving the spindle 53 is similar to that shown in the construction in Figures 2,3,4 and 8.

At the side of the machine remote from the operator is a triangulated workpiece support portion 56. On this is formed a tool support 57 having guides 58 on which is mounted a slide 59. The slide, in turn, has guides 61 on which is engaged a carrier 62. This has a tool holder 63 on which tools for engaging the workpiece may be mounted. In this construction a turret is shown but ram type tool holders can be provided and tool changers may be used. This tooling arrangement extends out of the side of the portion 56. The plane of the guides 58 on the tool support 57 is perpendicular to the axis of the main shaft 53 and is offset to one side thereof. The direction of travel of the slide 59 thereon is therefore in a direction substantially parallel with the plane 51 on which the workpiece carrier 52 is mounted. The direction of movement of the carrier 72 on the slide 59 is perpendicular to the slide movement direction and is therefore in a direction parallel with the axis of the shaft 53. This arrangement therefore also provides for the tooling principally at the side of the workpiece which is travelling downwards towards the base as the workpiece rotates in an anticlockwise direction.

The tooling and workpiece in the working area may be enclosed by guards 64 shown in Figure 9 and having windows 65 for observation by the operator during working. A control console 66 and swarf conveyor and removal system are included.

The machines in Figures 2,3,4 and 8 and in Figures 5,6,7 and 9 may have additional slides of conventional or specialised kinds and the workpiece may be driven continuously or indexed for stationary machining such a cross drilling or the like.

In a still further alternative construction shown in Figures ic, 10, 11 and 12 the basic layout is the same as the construction in Figures 2, 3 and 4. However, whereas the two support means in the construction in Figures 2,3 and 4 has a slide 26 mounted on the tool support member 24 for movement transversely of the length of the machine, the construction in Figures 10, 11 and 12 has a slide 67 mounted for movement on the inclined plane of the tool support member 68. Mounted in turn on the slide 67 is a carriage 69 which is arranged to move in a plane perpendicular to the movement of the slide 67, that is transversely of the machine. Mounted on the carriage 69 is a saddle 70 on which the tool holder 71 is carried.

This arrangement has greater versatility than the construction shown in Figures 2,3 and 4 for tooling arrangements. More than one saddle 70 can be mounted on the slide 69, if required. Figure 10 shows the electric motor 72 for driving the slide 67 and Figure 12 shows the electric motor 72 for driving the carriage 69.

The construction shown in Figures 1d, 13, 14 and 15 have the same basic layout as the construction in Figures 5,6 and 7. In place of the tooling arrangements on that construction, however, the machine in Figures 13,14and 15 has mounted on its tool support member 74 a slide 75 on which, in turn, is mounted a carriage 76 which are arranged to move in mutually perpendicular directions. These directions, furthermore, are opposite those in the construction in Figures 5,6 and 7. On the carriage is a saddle 77 on which the toolholder 78 is mounted. As in the previously described construction of Figures 10, 11 and 12, this arrangement provides a greater degree of versatility.

Figure 16 shows a machine in which the workpiece carrier 79 is mounted on a base 80 at an angle of 35 instead of the 45 angle which is represented in each of the other constructions. This allows a larger workpiece W1 to be accommodated while still exhibiting the advantages of the inclined arrangement including good swarf clearance and easy operator access.

The Figure 16 construction shows a tool support 81 carrying a slide 82 on which is mounted a carriage 83. On this, in turn, is mounted the tool holder 84.

Another feature of this machine which is intended for larger sizes of workpiece is a larger electric drive motor 85.

The tooling arrangements in all the constructions shown and described are by way of example only and other standard universal or specialised types of tooling arrangements can be incorporated. Additional slides may be mounted on the base.or on the tool support means where space permits but in general the tools are mounted so that the load supplied to them during machining are most advantageously supported by the structure of the machine.

Claims (16)

1. Aturning machine comprising a base, a rotatable spindle on which is mounted a workpiece carrier, the spindle being mounted in the base at an inclined angle intermediate horizontal and vertical, the base also having mounted thereon tool support means to carry tooling for engagement with a workpiece carried in use on said workpiece carrier.

2. Aturning machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base carries a motor drive assembly for rotating the work spindle, said motor drive assembly being disposed at a face of the machine presented away from the workpiece carrier.

3. Aturning machine as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the tool support means includes a portion secured to the base at an end thereof towards which the workpiece carrier is presented, said portion having a support member thereon disposed at an angle complementary to that of the work spindle, said support member carrying a slide adjustable in the plane of said angle and on which are mounted means for carrying tools.

4. Aturning machine as claimed in claim 3 in which the support member has horizontal guides for a tool carrier which is arranged for adjustment of the tools carried thereby in a direction in the plane of said inclination of the support member on the said portion.

5. Aturning machine as claimed in claim 3 in which the support member has guides extending in the plane of the inclination of the support member on the said portion the tool carrier is arranged for adjustment horizontally.

6. Aturning machine as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the tool support means includes a portion secured to the side of the base laterally of the axis of the work spindle, said portion having a support member thereon with guides for a support member which is adjustable thereon in an inclined plane complementary to the inclined axis of the work spindle, said support member having means mounted thereon for carrying tools.

7. A turning machine as claimed in claim 6 in which the support member has guides extending parallel to the work spindle axis for a tool carrier which has provision for adjustment of the tools carried thereby in a direction perpendicular to the said work spindle axis.

8. Aturning machine as claimed in claim 6 in which the support member has guides extending perpendicularly to the axis of the work spindle axis for a tool carrier which has provision for adjustment of the tools carried thereby in a direction parallel with the axis of the work spindle.

9. Aturning machine as claimed in anyone of claims 4,5,7 and 8 in which the tool carrier includes a turret for multiple tools and indexable about an axis.

10. Aturning machine as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the angle of inclination of the work spindle is 45".

11. Aturning machine as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 9 in which the angle of inclination of the work spindle is 35 to the horizontal.

12. Aturning machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures it, 2,3,4 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

13. Aturning machine substantially as hereinbe fore described with reference to and as shown in Figures it, 5,67 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A turning machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures it, 10, 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.

15. Aturning machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures id, 13, 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings.

16. Aturning machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 16 of the accompanying drawings.