JP7309563B2 - Machine Tools - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to machine tools.

A machine tool that joins two workpieces by heating them by friction is known. For example, the machine tool described in Patent Document 1 includes a welding tool that rotates in contact with works, and a welding tool that rotates in contact with the boundary between two works and moves along the boundary while generating frictional heat. a control means for controlling the operation of the joining tool so as to join the two works together.

A database is connected via a network to the machine tool body on which the welding tool is mounted. A plurality of joining conditions are stored in the database. Welding conditions are the combination of factors that make up the manner in which the welding tool operates. The welding conditions include a combination of welding tool rotation speed and movement speed. Changing the welding conditions alters the behavior of the welding tool.

Each joining condition is stored in association with the work condition suitable for the joining condition, that is, the combination of elements constituting the properties of both works. Work conditions include a combination of material and thickness of both works. When the user inputs work conditions when joining both works, one joining condition is extracted from a plurality of joining conditions corresponding to the work conditions stored in the database and set. In this way, by inputting work conditions, appropriate joining conditions can be easily set.

Japanese Patent No. 6340466

However, even when work conditions are not determined in advance, it has been desired to reduce the labor involved in inputting and setting joining conditions and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a machine tool capable of frictionally heating and joining two works with less labor.

The machine tool of the present invention comprises two chucks each holding a workpiece, a rotary drive device for relatively rotating both chucks, a movement drive device for moving both chucks, and both workpieces in a predetermined rotating state. a joining means for controlling the rotary drive device and the movement drive device so as to join the two works by bringing them into contact with each other with a predetermined pressing force, wherein the two works are separable. a contact means for controlling the rotary drive device and the movement drive device so as to bring them into contact with each other; a sensor for detecting a state of contact between the two works by the contact means;
A database is provided for storing the joining conditions of the joining means, and the joining means joins the two works according to the joining conditions according to the detection information of the sensor extracted from the database based on the detection information of the sensor. characterized by performing

In the machine tool of the present invention, in the configuration described above, the abutting means or the joining means is arranged such that the number of rotations of the abutment means differs from the number of revolutions of the joining means. Preferably, the rotary drive is controlled.

In the machine tool of the present invention, in the configuration described above, it is preferable that the information detected by the sensor is the torque of the drive source of the rotary drive device or the movement drive device or the amount of change in the correlation value thereof.

In the machine tool of the present invention, in the configuration described above, the database stores a first table in which the plurality of joining conditions are associated with work conditions suitable for each joining condition; and a second table for storing information corresponding to the detection information of the sensor that matches the conditions, and the joining means specifies the at least one work condition based on the second table and the detection information of the sensor. , preferably said at least one joining condition is extracted from said first table and said at least one work condition.

In the machine tool of the present invention, in the configuration described above, it is preferable that the work conditions include at least one of material, shape, length, diameter and joint end area of the two works.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the machine tool which can join two workpiece|works by friction heating can be provided with little trouble.

It is a schematic diagram showing a machine tool which is one embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a first table stored in a database of the machine tool shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a second table stored in a database of the machine tool shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a third table stored in a database of the machine tool shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the machine tool shown in FIG. 1; 2A is a diagram for explaining the operation of the abutting means of the machine tool shown in FIG. 1, where (a) shows a state in which each workpiece W is gripped by both chucks 3 and relatively rotated at a low rotational speed, and (b) shows a state in which each workpiece W is gripped by both chucks 3 and relatively rotated. shows a state in which both works W are moved and brought into contact with each other in this state.

A machine tool that is an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The machine tool 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a function of joining two works W by friction welding and a function of turning a joined work (not shown) obtained by friction welding the two works W together. The machine tool 1 is configured, for example, by adding a friction welding function to a lathe such as a CNC lathe. Note that the machine tool 1 may be configured to perform processing other than turning on the joined work, or may be configured not to perform processing on the joined work.

The machine tool 1 has two work manipulating units 2 for manipulating a work W, respectively. Each work manipulating unit 2 has a chuck 3 for gripping a work W, a main shaft 4 for integrally rotatably supporting the chuck 3, and a rotation drive device 6 for rotating the main shaft 4 with respect to the headstock 5. ing. Each rotary drive device 6 has an ammeter 7 for detecting a current value of an electric motor (not shown) as a drive source. Either one of the work manipulating units 2 may be configured as a clamping device that does not have the rotary drive device 6 .

Each work manipulating section 2 has a movement driving device 9 for moving the headstock 5 with respect to the base 8 in the Z-axis direction Dz, which is the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the main spindle 4 . Each movement drive device 9 has, for example, an electric motor (not shown) as a drive source and a ball screw mechanism (not shown) as a driving force transmission mechanism. Each movement drive device 9 may be configured to be able to move the headstock 5 in directions other than the Z-axis direction Dz. It should be noted that either one of the work manipulating units 2 may be fixed to the base 8 without providing the moving drive device 9 .

The machine tool 1 has a tool 10 for cutting a workpiece W. As shown in FIG. The tool 10 is moved in the cutting direction, that is, in the X-axis direction Dx (vertical direction in FIG. 1) by the tool driving device 11 . In addition, the tool 10 is moved in the feed direction, ie, the Z-axis direction Dz relative to the workpiece W by at least one of the tool drive device 11 and both movement drive devices 9 .

The machine tool 1 has a control section 12 that controls the tool drive device 11 , both chucks 3 , both rotation drive devices 6 and both movement drive devices 9 . The control unit 12 can be configured by, for example, a computer having a processor and memory. The computer that constitutes the control unit 12 may be mounted on the machine tool main body on which both work manipulating units 2 are mounted, or may be connected to the machine tool main body via a network.

The control unit 12 functions as a joining means to operate both rotary drive devices so that the two works W in a predetermined rotating state are brought into contact with each other with a predetermined pressing force to join the two works W according to the set joining conditions. 6 and both displacement drives 9 can be controlled. More specifically, the control unit 12, by functioning as a joining means, presses both workpieces W in a predetermined rotating state, which are gripped by the chucks 3 and rotated relative to each other, with a predetermined pressing force in accordance with the set bonding conditions. Both chucks 3, both rotation drive devices 6, and both movement drive devices 9 can be controlled so that they are joined by pressure contact after friction heating by bringing them into contact with each other. In addition, pressure welding after friction heating is performed in a state in which relative rotation of both works W is stopped. Alternatively, both works W may be joined without pressure welding after friction heating.

Further, the control unit 12 can control both the rotation drive device 6 and the movement drive device 9 so as to bring the two works W into contact with each other in a separable manner by functioning as abutment means.

The control unit 12 has a database 13 that stores a plurality of joining conditions. The welding conditions are a combination of elements that constitute the operating modes of both chucks 3, both rotary drive devices 6 and both movement drive devices 9 for friction welding. As shown in FIG. 2, the welding conditions include, for example, a combination of spindle speed, heating pressing force, heating time, pressing force and pressing time. The spindle rotation speed is the relative rotation speed of both spindles 4 during friction heating, the heating pressing force is the pressing force between the two workpieces W during friction heating, and the heating time is the time during which friction heating is performed. The pressure is the pressing force between the two works W at the time of pressure welding after friction heating, and the pressure welding time is the time during which pressure welding is performed after friction heating. FIG. 2 shows numerical values as an example of combinations of these elements.

The database 13 also stores a plurality of work conditions. The work condition is a combination of elements that constitute the properties of both works W. As shown in FIG. The work conditions include, for example, the materials of both works W, as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows aluminum and aluminum, iron and aluminum, and iron and iron as examples of the materials of both works W. As shown in FIG.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the database 13 has a first table that stores a plurality of joining conditions in association with work conditions that match each joining condition. In the first table shown in FIG. 2, for example, as pattern A, when the combination of materials is aluminum-aluminum, the spindle rotation speed is 1000 rpm, the heating pressing force is 1 MPa, and the heating time is 5 sec. , the pressing force is 10 MPa, and the pressing time is 1 sec. It shows that it is suitable to Note that FIG. 2 shows three patterns, patterns A to C, as an example.

The contact state of the two works W by the function of the control unit 12 as the contact means differs depending on the work conditions. Therefore, it is possible to provide a sensor for detecting the contact state and to specify the work condition based on the information detected by the sensor. The information detected by the sensor is, for example, the amount of change Id in the current value detected by the ammeter 7 . The work condition is not limited to the material of both works W, and may include at least one of the material of both works W, shape (uneven shape, etc.), length, diameter, and joint end area, for example.

The above-mentioned "contact state of both works W" is, for example, the amount of change in the torque acting between the end surfaces at the time of contact when the two works W are brought into contact while rotating relative to each other. It correlates with the amount of change in the torque of the drive source of the rotary drive device 6, and therefore correlates with the amount of change in the current value Id or the amount of change in the voltage value of the drive source of the rotary drive device 6 at the time of contact. Further, the above-mentioned "contact state of both works W" is, for example, the amount of change in the pressing force acting between the end surfaces when the two works W are brought into contact with each other while rotating or not rotating relative to each other. , which correlates with the amount of change in the torque of the driving source of the moving drive device 9 at the time of contact, and therefore the amount of change in the current value or voltage value of the driving source of the moving drive device 9 at the time of contact correlates with Therefore, the above "sensor detection information" is not limited to the amount of change Id in the current value of the drive source of the rotation drive device 6, but is, for example, the torque of the drive source of the rotation drive device 6 or the movement drive device 9 or its correlation value may be the amount of change.

The above-mentioned "contact state of both works W" is not limited to the amount of change in the torque or pressing force acting between the end faces at the time of contact, but may be, for example, vibration or sound caused by contact between the two works W. . Vibration or sound can be detected by a vibration sensor installed at an appropriate location such as the headstock 5 or the base 8 .

The database 13, as shown in FIG. 3, has a second table that stores a plurality of work conditions in association with "sensor detection information" suitable for each work condition. The second table shown in FIG. 3, for example, indicates that in the case of a pattern A in which both workpieces W are made of aluminum-aluminum, the amount of change Id in the current value as the information detected by the sensor is 5A. showing. It should be noted that FIG. 3 shows three patterns A to C in accordance with FIG.

Therefore, the contact state of both works W is detected as the change amount Id of the current value, the material of both works W is specified as a work condition from this detection information and the second table, and the specified material of both works W is determined. The welding conditions can be specified from the first table, and the friction welding can be properly performed under the specified joining conditions.

As long as the control unit 12 functions as a joining means and can join the two works W under the joining conditions according to the sensor detection information extracted from the database based on the sensor detection information, the above-described A configuration other than the configuration using the first table and the second table may be employed. For example, without specifying work conditions such as the materials of both works W, using a third table as shown in FIG. can also

The machine tool 1 can friction-weld the two works W, for example, according to the procedure shown in FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the control unit 12 holds the work W with both chucks 3 (step S1) by functioning as abutment means, and lowers the work W to a temperature lower than that during friction heating. They are rotated relative to each other at the rotational speed (step S2), the current value is measured by the ammeter 7, and as shown in FIG. Both chucks 3, both rotation drive devices 6 and both movement drive devices 9 are controlled as shown in step S3.

Next, the control unit 12 acquires the amount of change Id in the current value detected by the ammeter 7 (step S4), and based on the acquired amount of change Id in the current value and the second table (see FIG. 3), at least One work condition is specified, and at least one joining condition is extracted based on the specified at least one work condition and the first table (see FIG. 2) (step S5). Alternatively, the control unit 12 acquires the amount of change Id in the current value detected by the ammeter 7 (step S4), and based on the acquired amount of change Id in the current value and the third table (see FIG. 4), at least One joining condition is extracted (step S5). Then, the control unit 12 functions as a joining means to perform friction welding according to the joining conditions set based on at least one of the extracted joining conditions (step S6). 6 and both movement drives 9.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the amount of change Id in the current value acquired in step S4 is 5 A, the bonding conditions for pattern A are extracted in step S5a, and friction welding is performed according to the bonding conditions in step S6a. is performed, and if the amount of change Id in the current value obtained in step S4 is 10 A, the welding conditions for pattern B are extracted in step S5b, friction welding is performed in accordance with the welding conditions in step S6b, and friction welding is performed in step S4. When the obtained change amount Id of the current value is 15 A, the joining conditions for pattern C are extracted in step S5c, and friction welding is performed in accordance with the joining conditions in step S6c.

In the case where a plurality of bonding conditions are extracted by specifying a plurality of patterns approximating the state change such as the acquired change amount Id of the current value, for example, the user or according to an appropriate standard It is possible to automatically select one of the extracted bonding conditions and set it as the bonding condition to be actually used. Alternatively, only one bonding condition may be extracted by specifying the pattern that most closely resembles the acquired state change.

In the above-described embodiment, the number of revolutions during contact by the contact means is smaller than the number of revolutions during contact by the joining means. The number of rotations may be greater than the number of rotations at the time of contact by means, or the two number of rotations may be the same.

In addition, even during friction heating and pressure welding, the value detected by the sensor may be read, the database may be referenced, and the welding conditions may be changed as appropriate.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 machine tool 2 work manipulator 3 chuck 4 spindle 5 headstock 6 rotary drive device 7 ammeter (sensor)
8 base 9 movement drive device 10 tool 11 tool drive device 12 control section (joining means, contact means)
13 Database W Workpiece Dx X-axis direction Dz Z-axis direction

Claims (5)

two chucks each holding a workpiece;
a rotary drive device for relatively rotating both chucks;
a movement driving device for moving both chucks;
A machine tool comprising joining means for controlling the rotation drive device and the movement drive device so that the two works in a predetermined rotating state are brought into contact with each other with a predetermined pressing force to join the two works,
contact means for controlling the rotation drive device and the movement drive device so as to bring the two works into contact with each other in a separable manner;
a sensor for detecting the contact state of the two works by the contact means;
a database for storing the joining conditions of the joining means;
A machine tool, wherein the joining means joins the two works according to the joining conditions corresponding to the detection information of the sensor extracted from the database based on the detection information of the sensor. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contact means or the joining means controls the rotation drive device such that the number of revolutions during contact by the contact means differs from the number of revolutions during contact by the joining means. Machine tools as described. 3. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the information detected by said sensor is torque of a drive source of said rotary drive device or said movement drive device or a variation in a correlation value thereof. A first table in which the database stores a plurality of the joining conditions in association with work conditions that match each of the joining conditions , and detection information of the sensor that matches the work conditions with the plurality of work conditions. and a second table stored in association with
The joining means identifies at least one of the work conditions based on the second table and detection information of the sensor, and extracts at least one of the work conditions from the first table and the at least one work condition. A machine tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The machine tool according to claim 4, wherein said work conditions include at least one of material, shape, length, diameter and joint end area of said two works.

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