GB2184679A

GB2184679A - Lathe

Info

Publication number: GB2184679A
Application number: GB08618099A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Miguel A Martinez
Original assignee: Philopatent SA
Current assignee: Philopatent SA
Priority date: 1985-12-30
Filing date: 1986-07-24
Publication date: 1987-07-01
Also published as: ES550565A0; GB8618099D0; ES8704102A1; FR2592327A1

Abstract

The lathe, of the programmable multiple tool head type, has a bed (1) with an inclined V-shaped front surface defining sliding guides for the tailstock (4), a tool post (10) situated to the rear of the tailstock, and an upper directional guide (5), which in conjunction with a rear counter-guide (6), both consisting of roller type elements, support the tool post on the bed and enable it to move longitudinally. The tool post can move towards and away from the tailstock on a guide (8). The tool head has index positions controlled by magnets with micro-switches controlling engagement and disengagement at the positions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lathe The present invention relates to a lathe of the horizontal type particularly but not exclusively having interalia the special characteristic of possessing a multiple tool head, so that machining can be carried out with any of the cutters of which it consists, the machining sequence and the feed and return of the cutters being controlled by the programme ofthe machine, this system being generally known as numerical control.

The present invention provides a lathe, preferably of the programmable multiple tool head type, having a bed with an inclinedV-shapedfrontsurfacedefin- ing sliding guidesforthe tailstock, a tool post situated to the rear of the tailstock, and an upper directional guide, which in conjunction with a rear counter-guide, preferably both consisting of roller type elements, supportthe tool post on the bed and enable itto move longitudinally.

To enable the present invention to be understood more clearly the attached drawing illustrates a pre ferred em bodi ment thereof, given by way of example only which shows in Figure 1 a cross section through a lathe, and in Figure2 a schematic section through the multiple tool post with which the lathe is equipped.

In the general structure of the lathe (see Figure 1 ) may be seen a bed 1 of V-shaped front configuration, thetailstock4sliding on and being guided byitsfront zone and being lockable at points 2 and 3. The bed is provided at the top with an insertable directional guide5 which in conjunction with a rear counterguide 6, both consisting of roller-type elements, support a carriage 7 and enable the latter and consequ entlythe tool post 10 to undergo their longitudinal displacement. The two guides 5 and 6, situated in the most lightened zone of the bed and in the lower rear zone respectively support the carriage 7 via rollertype elements, so thatthankstothe practically negligiblefriction, by comparison with friction-type slideways, the movement is facilitated.

The tool post 10 can also perform a transverse movement, so that the depth of the cutter 9 on the workpiece to be machined can be varied, the said movement is effected via guide 8 situated in the upper part of the carriage and generally of the slideway type, although for the reasons already explained guides of the rollertype are used on lathes employed for the machining of large-size workpieces.

The directional guide 5 occupies the mostfavour- able position, underneath the cutting plane, and is protected bythe structure of the carriage7 from the chips, which can be extracted by any type of exhauster. The vertical plane through the centre of gravity of the carriage 7 is situated between the two guides 5 and 6, so that there is no type of overhang and the machining can be performed at the maximum cutting rate fo r a ny wo rkpiece size.

According to one characteristic of the present invention the guides for the movement of the tailstock 4 are defined by the front part of the bed 1. The lower surface of the carriage of the tailstock4 is V-shaped, in accordance with the bed 1 with which it has an ample area of contact, in order to render it insensitive to any lateral stresses occurring during the cutting process. It is provided with two securing guides 2 and 3 to enable itto be locked in a chosen position.

Both the longitudinal and the transverse movements of the tool post 10, performed on the guides 5, 6 and 8 respectively, are effected by means of spindles associated with independent electric motors controlled by devices ofthe "resolver" type which control their movement, in conjuction with micro-switches for start and end of travel, acting independently thereon and initiating or preventing their operation as required.

The tool post 10 (see Figure 2) comprises a tool chuck 12 mounted on a plate shaft 11 so that it can effect an axial movement. The tool chuck is caused to perform programmed angular movements by a hydraulic motor and/or a worm wheel 13.

The hydraulic motor actuating the tool chuck via the shaft 11 is fed by means of a valve which in its turn may also stop the rotation of the tool chuck 12 when it is balanced by a cam.

The body of the tool post 10 has a number of magnetic contacts 16 forming a circle around the plate shaft, which is equipped in its turn with a magnet 17 which detects the angular position atwhich the plate 12 stops, in accordance with the contact 16 activated by the numerical control system of the machine; this function can also be performed by means of an electrical device with similar characteristics.

The micro-switches 19 and 20 are the elements by which the chuck is disengaged and positioned respectively, the chambers 14 and IS are the elements by which the chuck 12 is caused to move according to which chamber is receiving the pressure; the crowns 18 provide the means for causing the tool chuck 12 to rotate when disengaged.

Lastly, it should be mentioned thatthe operating system ofthetool head includes an automatic speed change gear acting via a conventional hydraulic cylinder and that the tailstock comprises a hydraulic cylinder enabling the bodyto be fed forward and retracted. Both devices are also subject to the numerical control system of the machine.

1. A lathe, preferably of the programmable multiple tool head type, having a bed with an inclined Vshaped front surface defining sliding guidesforthe tailstock, a tool post situated to the rear ofthetailstock, and an upper directional guide, which in conjunction with a rearcounter-guide, preferably both consisting of rollertype elements, supportthetool post on the bed and enable itto move longitudinally.

2. A lathe in accordance with Claim 1 in which the zone of the bed in which a guide forthe movement of the tailstock is situated is inclined forwards and downwards.

3. A lathe in accordance with Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the directional guide is positioned below the cutting plane and protected by the structure of the tool post from the chips, which can be extracted by an exhauster either perpendicular or parallel to

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Lathe The present invention relates to a lathe of the horizontal type particularly but not exclusively having interalia the special characteristic of possessing a multiple tool head, so that machining can be carried out with any of the cutters of which it consists, the machining sequence and the feed and return of the cutters being controlled by the programme ofthe machine, this system being generally known as numerical control. The present invention provides a lathe, preferably of the programmable multiple tool head type, having a bed with an inclinedV-shapedfrontsurfacedefin- ing sliding guidesforthe tailstock, a tool post situated to the rear of the tailstock, and an upper directional guide, which in conjunction with a rear counter-guide, preferably both consisting of roller type elements, supportthe tool post on the bed and enable itto move longitudinally. To enable the present invention to be understood more clearly the attached drawing illustrates a pre ferred em bodi ment thereof, given by way of example only which shows in Figure 1 a cross section through a lathe, and in Figure2 a schematic section through the multiple tool post with which the lathe is equipped. In the general structure of the lathe (see Figure 1 ) may be seen a bed 1 of V-shaped front configuration, thetailstock4sliding on and being guided byitsfront zone and being lockable at points 2 and 3. The bed is provided at the top with an insertable directional guide5 which in conjunction with a rear counterguide 6, both consisting of roller-type elements, support a carriage 7 and enable the latter and consequ entlythe tool post 10 to undergo their longitudinal displacement. The two guides 5 and 6, situated in the most lightened zone of the bed and in the lower rear zone respectively support the carriage 7 via rollertype elements, so thatthankstothe practically negligiblefriction, by comparison with friction-type slideways, the movement is facilitated. The tool post 10 can also perform a transverse movement, so that the depth of the cutter 9 on the workpiece to be machined can be varied, the said movement is effected via guide 8 situated in the upper part of the carriage and generally of the slideway type, although for the reasons already explained guides of the rollertype are used on lathes employed for the machining of large-size workpieces. The directional guide 5 occupies the mostfavour- able position, underneath the cutting plane, and is protected bythe structure of the carriage7 from the chips, which can be extracted by any type of exhauster. The vertical plane through the centre of gravity of the carriage 7 is situated between the two guides 5 and 6, so that there is no type of overhang and the machining can be performed at the maximum cutting rate fo r a ny wo rkpiece size. According to one characteristic of the present invention the guides for the movement of the tailstock 4 are defined by the front part of the bed 1. The lower surface of the carriage of the tailstock4 is V-shaped, in accordance with the bed 1 with which it has an ample area of contact, in order to render it insensitive to any lateral stresses occurring during the cutting process. It is provided with two securing guides 2 and 3 to enable itto be locked in a chosen position. Both the longitudinal and the transverse movements of the tool post 10, performed on the guides 5, 6 and 8 respectively, are effected by means of spindles associated with independent electric motors controlled by devices ofthe "resolver" type which control their movement, in conjuction with micro-switches for start and end of travel, acting independently thereon and initiating or preventing their operation as required. The tool post 10 (see Figure 2) comprises a tool chuck 12 mounted on a plate shaft 11 so that it can effect an axial movement. The tool chuck is caused to perform programmed angular movements by a hydraulic motor and/or a worm wheel 13. The hydraulic motor actuating the tool chuck via the shaft 11 is fed by means of a valve which in its turn may also stop the rotation of the tool chuck 12 when it is balanced by a cam. The body of the tool post 10 has a number of magnetic contacts 16 forming a circle around the plate shaft, which is equipped in its turn with a magnet 17 which detects the angular position atwhich the plate 12 stops, in accordance with the contact 16 activated by the numerical control system of the machine; this function can also be performed by means of an electrical device with similar characteristics. The micro-switches 19 and 20 are the elements by which the chuck is disengaged and positioned respectively, the chambers 14 and IS are the elements by which the chuck 12 is caused to move according to which chamber is receiving the pressure; the crowns 18 provide the means for causing the tool chuck 12 to rotate when disengaged. Lastly, it should be mentioned thatthe operating system ofthetool head includes an automatic speed change gear acting via a conventional hydraulic cylinder and that the tailstock comprises a hydraulic cylinder enabling the bodyto be fed forward and retracted. Both devices are also subject to the numerical control system of the machine. CLAIMS

3. A lathe in accordance with Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the directional guide is positioned below the cutting plane and protected by the structure of the tool post from the chips, which can be extracted by an exhauster either perpendicular or parallel to the bed.

4. A lathe in accordance of any of Claims 1 to 3 in which the vertical plane containing the centre of gravity of the tool post is situated between the toolpost guides.

5. A lathe in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 4 in which the base of thetailstock is inclined similarly totheadjacentfaceofthebed and is of ample cross section to absorb cutting stresses.

6. A lathe in accordance with any preceding Ciaim in which the longitudinal and transverse movements of the tool post are effected by means of spindles associated with independent electric motors controlled by devices ofthe resolver type which control their movements, in conjuction with micro switches for the start and end of travel, which act independently thereon and initiate or prevent their operation.

7. A lathe in accordance with any of the preceding Claims in which the tool post comprises a mult isle tool chuckcapable of performing a rotary movement and assuming various operating positions in orderto operate with any of the tools fixed thereto, the said movement preferably being effected by meansofa hydraulic motorand/oraworm wheel.

8. A lathe in accordance with Claim 7 in which the body of the tool post carries a plurality of magnetic contacts or electrical contacts corresponding in numberto the number oftools on the chuck, the plate shaft being provided with a magnet, the position at which the chuck is broughtto a stop and secured being detected by the magnetic coupling between the aforementioned elements, in accordance with the contact activated by the numerical control system of the machine.

9. A lathe of the programmable multiple tool head type substantially as described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.