JP5621368B2 - Timing adjustment method in machine tool with automatic tool changer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a timing adjustment method for adjusting the timing of the operation of a swivel arm and the operation of a draw bar provided in a spindle of the machine tool in a machine tool including an automatic tool changer having a swivel arm. is there.

  Conventionally, in a general machining center, an automatic tool changer having a swivel arm and a tool magazine storing a plurality of types of tools is provided adjacent to the machine tool main body, and the tool attached to the spindle of the machine tool is changed as appropriate. However, it processes (for example, patent document 1). In recent years, with respect to machining in such a machining center, there is a demand for shortening the machining time, and there is also a demand for shortening the time associated with tool change. Therefore, when shortening the time required for tool change, the stop time at the delivery position of the swivel arm is shortened, that is, the stop time when passing the tool to and from the spindle is shortened. When the part reaches the delivery position for gripping the tool mounted on the spindle, the drawbar inside the spindle moves forward or backward in a timely manner so that the tool mounted on the spindle is unclamped / clamped. The draw bar slide timing with respect to the turning motion is adjusted. If the draw bar slides too early, for example, the draw bar moves forward until the gripping portion of the swivel arm reaches the delivery position, the tool is unclamped, and the tool falls off the spindle. On the other hand, if the timing at which the draw bar slides is too late, for example, the swivel arm starts to move forward before the tool is unclamped.

JP 11-104934 A

  Conventionally, however, the above-described adjustment relies on the visual and auditory sense of a worker who has sufficient experience, which is a very difficult task. Moreover, even if it is an expert, there also exists a problem that it takes time to adjust timing. Furthermore, even if adjustment by an expert is performed, there is no confirmation that the timing is correct, and there is a possibility that a load is applied to the mechanism and the tool inside the spindle when changing the tool.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can easily and accurately adjust the timing of the turning operation of the turning arm and the sliding operation of the draw bar at the time of changing the tool. It is an object of the present invention to provide a timing adjustment method that can realize a reduction in the time required for tool change without imposing a load on the tool.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is an automatic tool changer having a turning arm for changing a tool attached to the spindle by a turning operation and movement of the spindle in the axial direction. A timing adjustment for adjusting a timing between the operation of the swivel arm and the operation of a draw bar that clamps / unclamps the tool by sliding in the axial direction inside the main shaft A first step of installing a first measuring device for measuring the position of the swivel arm and a second measuring device for measuring the position of the draw bar, the first measuring device and the second measuring device. a second step of displaying the measurement results on the display device, the operator, based on a measurement result of the display the first measuring instrument is displayed on device and the second measuring device, wherein The timing for starting the slide rover, and executes a third step of adjusting in accordance with the position of the pivot arm.
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is an automatic tool having a swivel arm for exchanging a tool mounted on the main shaft by a swiveling operation and movement of the main shaft in the axial direction. In a machine tool provided with an exchange device, for adjusting the timing of the operation of the swivel arm and the operation of the draw bar for clamping / unclamping the tool by sliding in the axial direction inside the main shaft A timing adjustment method comprising: a first step of installing a first measuring device that measures the position of the swivel arm; and a second measuring device that measures the position of the draw bar; the first measuring device; and the second measuring device. a second step of displaying the measurement result of the measuring device to the display device, the operator, on the basis of the measurement result of the display the first measuring instrument is displayed on device and the second measuring device A stop time during which the pivoting arm is stopped at the delivery position to pass the tool to and from the main shaft, and executes a third step of adjusting in accordance with the position of the drawbar.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention according to the first or second aspect, the operator sets a tool for starting the slide of the draw bar and the swivel arm between the spindle and the spindle. The stop time for stopping at the transfer position is adjusted so as to be the same regardless of the operation time from the start of operation of the machine tool.

According to the present invention, to measure the drawbar position and the position of the pivot arm by means of two instruments, and displays the measurement result on the display device, the operation of the swivel arm while based on the measurement result displayed de The timing with the operation of the rover can be adjusted. Therefore, even an operator who does not have sufficient experience in adjusting the timing can easily and quickly adjust the timing.
Also, by displaying the measurement result on the display device, the swivel arm can be operated after the tool has been securely clamped / unclamped, and a load related to timing shift is applied to the tool, the spindle, etc. There is nothing.
Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 3 , the timing for starting the drawbar slide and the stop time of the swivel arm are adjusted so as not to change even during a cold start or during a warm-up operation. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the operation control of the draw bar or the swivel arm with the operation time of the machine tool, which is convenient.

It is explanatory drawing which showed the machining center from the front. It is explanatory drawing which showed the XX cross section in FIG. 1 in the state which installed the measuring device. It is explanatory drawing which showed the YY sectional view in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which showed the cross section of the main axis | shaft of the state with which the tool was mounted | worn. (A) is explanatory drawing which showed the cross section of the main axis | shaft in the state which unclamped the tool, (b) is explanatory drawing which showed the cross section of the main axis | shaft in the state which clamped the tool. It is the flowchart figure which showed the operation | movement which concerns on a tool exchange. It is a wave form diagram which showed the measurement result by a measuring device. It is explanatory drawing which expanded and showed the area | region A in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which expanded and showed the area | region B in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which showed the area | region A at the time of a cold start. It is explanatory drawing which showed the difference between the position where a draw bar is most pushed out, and the position which unclamps a tool. It is explanatory drawing which showed that the position at the time of drawing in the drawbar most varied with whether the tool was mounted | worn. It is explanatory drawing which showed the measurement result in case the timing of operation | movement of a draw bar and operation | movement of a turning arm has shifted | deviated.

  Hereinafter, a timing adjustment method in a machine tool provided with an automatic tool changer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, a machining center 1 which is an example of a machine tool provided with an automatic tool changer will be described.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the machining center 1 from the front. 2 is an explanatory view showing a cross section taken along line XX in FIG. 1 in a state where the measuring devices CH1 and CH2 are installed, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a cross section taken along line YY in FIG. is there. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a cross section of the main shaft 3 with the tool T mounted thereon. FIG. 5A is an explanatory view showing a cross section of the main shaft 3 in a state where the tool T is unclamped, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory view showing a cross section of the main shaft 3 in a state where the tool T is clamped. It is. 2, 4, and 5, only the tool holder constituting the tool T is illustrated, and the blade portion and the like are omitted.

  The machining center 1 is a so-called horizontal machining center, and includes a main shaft 3 that rotates on a bed 2 with the front-rear direction as an axis, and an automatic tool having a swivel arm 4 and a tool magazine 5 above the main shaft 3. An exchange device is provided. A draw bar 6 slidable in the front-rear direction is accommodated in the main shaft 3, and a tool T (specifically, a pull stud protruding from the rear end of the tool holder) is provided at the front end of the draw bar 6. An insertion hole 7 for insertion is provided, and a clamping member 8 that enters into the insertion hole 7 and clamps the tool T while exiting from the insertion hole 7 and unclamps the tool T. Is provided so as to be movable in the radial direction of the draw bar 6. Further, an operation groove 9 for operating the clamping member 8 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the main shaft 3 that supports the draw bar 6. Accordingly, when the draw bar 6 is pulled in, the clamping member 8 is pushed backward by the inner peripheral surface of the main shaft 3 as it is positioned rearward beyond the operating groove 9, and the pull stud of the tool holder is inserted. The tool T is clamped by being locked to (FIG. 5B). On the other hand, when the draw bar 6 is moved forward, the clamping member 8 is retracted from the insertion hole 7 as the gripping member 8 is fitted into the operation groove 9, and the locked state with the pull stud is released, and the tool T is unclamped. (FIG. 5A).

The swivel arm 4 is provided with tool gripping portions 4a and 4b for gripping the tool T at both ends of a long bar member, and is provided so as to be pivotable about the same front-rear direction as the main shaft 3. And is slidable in the front-rear direction. Note that the turning arm 4 is positioned at a standby position extending in the horizontal direction at a position retracted toward the machining center 1 during processing or the like.
Further, an NC device (not shown) is provided inside the machining center 1 to control the slide operation of the draw bar 6 and the turning operation of the turning arm 4 as well as the machining operation by the spindle 3 and the like. For the arm 4, the turning angle of the turning arm 4 can be detected by a sensor (not shown).

Next, tool replacement in the machining center 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation related to tool change.
In starting the tool change, the turning arm 4 at the standby position is turned 90 degrees to be located at the tool delivery position, and the tool T1 attached to the spindle 3 by one tool gripping portion 4a is used as the other tool. Each of the tools T2 to be mounted on the main spindle 3 that has been indexed by the tool magazine 5 by the grip portion 4b is gripped (S1). Further, the draw bar 6 is slid forward at a predetermined timing, and immediately after the tool gripping portion 4a reaches the transfer position for gripping the tool T1, the clamping member 8 is inserted into the operation groove 9 to unclamp the tool T1. (S2). Then, the swivel arm 4 is moved forward, the tool T1 is removed from the spindle 3 and the tool T2 is removed from the tool pot of the tool magazine 5 (S3), and then the swivel arm 4 is swung 180 degrees (S4). The tool T2 (that is, the tool gripping portion 4b) is positioned in front of the main shaft 3, and the tool T1 is positioned in front of the tool magazine 5.

Further, this time, the swivel arm 4 is retracted, and the tool T2 is inserted into the insertion hole 7 of the main shaft 3 (drawbar 6), and the tool T1 is inserted into an empty tool pot (S5). The draw bar 6 is slid rearward at a predetermined timing, and immediately after the tool gripping portion 4b reaches the delivery position where the tool T2 is fully inserted into the insertion hole 7, the clamping member 8 is moved backward from the operation groove 9. Then, the tool T2 is clamped (S6). Then, the turning arm 4 is turned 90 degrees and moved to the standby position (S7).
In the machining center 1, tool change is performed as described above.

  Here, when shortening the time required for tool change when trying to shorten the stop time at the delivery position of the swing arm 4, the time from S1 to S2 and the time from S5 to S6 are shortened. . In other words, the time from when the turning arm 4 is stopped to when the tool is unclamped or clamped must be shortened. For this purpose, the timing for operating the draw bar 6 forward or backward in accordance with the turning operation of the turning arm 4 may be adjusted to shorten the stop time of the turning arm 4 at the delivery position.

  Therefore, the timing adjustment method, which is a main part of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a waveform diagram showing measurement results obtained by the measuring instruments CH1 and CH2. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the area A in FIG. 7 in an enlarged manner, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the area B in FIG. 7 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the area A at the cold start. FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a difference between a position where the draw bar 6 is most pushed out and a position where the tool T is unclamped, and FIG. 12 shows that the draw bar 6 is drawn most depending on whether or not the tool T is attached. It is explanatory drawing which showed that the position at the time differs. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a measurement result when the timing of the operation of the draw bar 6 and the operation of the swing arm 4 is shifted.

  First, a measuring instrument CH2 (shown in FIG. 2) for measuring the position of the draw bar 6 in the front-rear direction is installed in front of the main shaft 3, and the position of the swivel arm 4 is measured behind the swivel arm 4. Measuring device CH1 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) is installed (first step). Each measuring instrument CH1, CH2 is a laser displacement measuring instrument, and is connected to a digital oscilloscope (display device), and when the measuring instrument CH1, CH2 measures the position of the swivel arm 4 and the front and rear position of the draw bar 6. For example, a waveform as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the monitor of the digital oscilloscope (second step). Then, the operator adjusts the timing of the operation of the draw bar 6 and the operation of the swivel arm based on the waveform shown in FIG. 7 (third process).

  The waveform shown by the measuring instrument CH1 in FIG. 7 indicates the position of the swing arm 4. When the position of the swing arm 4 is tracked in time series from the left side in FIG. 7, the swing operation is performed from the standby position (lower limit position at the left end). To reach the delivery position (upper left position) and move forward from there (lowering period on the left). Then, after turning 180 degrees (center lower limit position), moving rearward (right ascending period), reaching the delivery position (right upper limit position), finally moving to the standby position by the turning operation ( Lower limit position on the right end).

  On the other hand, the waveform shown by the measuring instrument CH2 in FIG. 7 shows the front and rear positions of the tip portion of the draw bar 6 in the state where the tool T is not mounted. Similarly, when traced in time series, it was drawn most backward. From the position (the lower limit position at the left end), it slides forward for unclamping (upward period on the left side) and reaches the position pushed forward (the upper limit position at the center). After that, it slides backward for clamping (lowering period on the right side) and reaches the most retracted position (lower limit position on the right end). Therefore, the location indicated by region A in FIG. 7 is the measurement result at the time of unclamping, and the location indicated by region B in FIG. 7 is the measurement result at the time of clamping.

  Here, when adjusting the timing of the operation of the draw bar 6 and the operation of the swivel arm 4 based on the measurement result shown in FIG. 7, the first point to be noted is the position where the draw bar 6 is pushed out most. The tool T is not clamped / unclamped (Z1 in FIG. 11), and the tool T is clamped / unclamped at the position (Z2 in FIG. 11) where the clamping member 8 enters the operating groove 9. Is a point. Therefore, at the time of clamping as shown in FIG. 9, it is only necessary that the turning arm 4 is stopped when the tip of the draw bar 6 is at Z2.

  The second point is that the extent to which the draw bar 6 is pulled back differs depending on whether or not the tool T is attached to the main shaft 3. That is, in the above measurement stage in which the tool T is not mounted, although it can be retracted to Z4 in FIG. 12, which is the most retracted position, when the tool T is mounted on the spindle 3, Z3 in FIG. The draw bar 6 can only be retracted up to the position. Therefore, assuming the operation of the draw bar 6 when the tool T is mounted, the slide bar starts to slide forward from the position of Z3, and the timing when the tool T reaches the position of Z2 where the tool T is unclamped is the position where the tool T is mounted. This is the timing at which the leading end of the draw bar 6 at the time of the above measurement reaches a position P (shown in FIGS. 8 and 10) that is closer to Z3 and Z4 than Z2. Therefore, at the time of unclamping as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, it is only necessary that the turning arm 4 is stopped when the tip of the draw bar 6 that has started to slide forward from Z4 reaches the position P.

  Furthermore, the third point is that FIG. 8 and FIG. 10 immediately after the start of operation of the machining center 1 (so-called cold start) and after about 30 minutes have elapsed since the start of operation (so-called warm-up operation). As shown, the slide operation of the draw bar 6 is different. Therefore, in either case, it is sufficient that the above condition is satisfied at the time of unclamping and clamping.

Therefore, the worker can determine the timing at which the draw bar 6 is moved back and forth based on the waveform shown in FIG. 7, specifically the turning angle of the turning arm 4 so that the first to third points are satisfied. The sliding of the draw bar 6 may be started at the timing when the angle is reached, or the minimum stop time for stopping the swivel arm 4 at the delivery position may be obtained and adjusted using the NC device.
For example, in the waveform as shown in FIG. 13A, the swing arm 4 is not positioned at the transfer position when the tip of the draw bar 6 reaches the position P, so that the timing for sliding the draw bar 6 forward is fast. I understand that it is too much. Further, in the waveform as shown in FIG. 13B, the swing arm 4 starts to move forward before the tip of the draw bar 6 reaches the position P, and the timing for sliding the draw bar 6 forward is too late. Recognize. Further, when the waveform as shown in FIG. 13C is obtained, the draw bar 6 is moved rearward from the clamp position Z2 before the swing arm 4 reaches the transfer position, and the timing of sliding the draw bar 6 backward is early. I understand that it is too much. In addition, when the waveform as shown in FIG. 13D is obtained, the draw bar 6 finally slides backward after the turning arm 4 reaches the transfer position and then starts turning to the standby position. It can be seen that the slide timing is too late. That is, the operator slides the draw bar 6 and the swivel arm so that the waveforms of the measuring instruments CH1 and CH2 are as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 and all the first to third points are satisfied. The stop time of 4 may be adjusted. As a result of such adjustment, the applicant of the present application was able to reduce the stop time of the swing arm 4 to 50 ms.

As described above, according to the timing adjustment method according to the present embodiment, the front and rear positions of the draw bar 6 and the position of the swing arm 4 are measured using the measuring instruments CH1 and CH2, and the measurement results are displayed on the monitor. The timing of sliding the draw bar 6 can be adjusted based on the measurement result. Therefore, even an operator who does not have sufficient experience in adjusting the timing can easily and quickly adjust the timing.
In addition, the swivel arm 4 can be operated after the tool T has been securely clamped / unclamped, and the tool T, the spindle 3 and the like are not subjected to a load related to timing shift.
Further, since the timing for starting the slide of the draw bar 6 and the stop time of the swivel arm 4 are adjusted so as not to change both during the cold start and during the warm-up operation, the operation time of the machine tool is adjusted. Accordingly, it is not necessary to change the operation control of the draw bar 6 and the swing arm 4, and it is easy to use.

  The configuration related to the timing adjustment method of the present invention is not limited to the aspect of the above embodiment, and the configuration related to the timing adjustment of the measuring instrument as well as the configuration of the machine tool main body is not limited to the configuration of the present invention. Changes can be made as necessary without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the method of adjusting the slide bar slide start timing is adopted. However, although it has an adverse effect on shortening the machining time, the swivel arm is stopped within a range where there is little influence. It is also possible to adjust the timing with the operation of the draw bar by slightly extending the time.
In the above embodiment, the timing adjustment method in the horizontal machining center is used. However, the timing adjustment method according to the present invention is a machine tool (vertical machining center, portal machining center, multi-axis control machining center, etc.) provided with another automatic tool changer. ).
Further, the internal configuration of the main shaft and the configuration related to the clamping / unclamping of the draw bar are not limited to those of the above embodiment, and the position of the swivel arm to be stopped, etc. What is necessary is just to obtain | require suitably according to.

  1 ·· Machining center (machine tool) 2 · · Bed 3 · · Spindle 4 · · Swing arm (automatic tool changer) 5 · · Tool magazine (automatic tool changer) 6 · · Drawbar・ Insertion hole, 8 ・ ・ Clamping member, 9 ・ ・ Operating groove, CH1, CH2 ・ ・ Measuring device.

Claims (3)

In a machine tool comprising an automatic tool changer having a swivel arm for exchanging a tool mounted on a main shaft by a swiveling operation and movement of the main shaft in the axial direction, the operation of the swivel arm and the inside of the main shaft A timing adjustment method for adjusting a timing with an operation of a draw bar for clamping / unclamping the tool by sliding in an axial direction,
A first step of installing a first measuring device for measuring the position of the swivel arm and a second measuring device for measuring the position of the draw bar;
A second step of displaying the measurement results of the first measuring instrument and the second measuring instrument on a display device;
The operator adjusts the timing for starting the slide of the draw bar according to the position of the swivel arm based on the measurement results of the first measuring instrument and the second measuring instrument displayed on the display device. A timing adjustment method in a machine tool provided with an automatic tool changer characterized in that a process is executed. In a machine tool comprising an automatic tool changer having a swivel arm for exchanging a tool mounted on a main shaft by a swiveling operation and movement of the main shaft in the axial direction, the operation of the swivel arm and the inside of the main shaft A timing adjustment method for adjusting a timing with an operation of a draw bar for clamping / unclamping the tool by sliding in an axial direction,
A first step of installing a first measuring device for measuring the position of the swivel arm and a second measuring device for measuring the position of the draw bar;
A second step of displaying the measurement results of the first measuring instrument and the second measuring instrument on a display device;
Based on the measurement results of the first measuring instrument and the second measuring instrument displayed on the display device , the operator stops the stop time at the delivery position where the swivel arm delivers the tool to and from the spindle. And a third step of adjusting according to the position of the draw bar. A timing adjustment method in a machine tool having an automatic tool changer. In the third step, the operator starts the slide of the draw bar and the stop time for stopping the swivel arm at the transfer position for transferring the tool to and from the main shaft from the start of operation of the machine tool. The timing adjustment method for a machine tool provided with the automatic tool changer according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment is performed so that the values are the same regardless of the operation time.

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