WO2019215762A1

WO2019215762A1 - Anti-vibration twin spindle cnc machine

Info

Publication number: WO2019215762A1
Application number: PCT/IN2019/050374
Authority: WO
Inventors: Siddhant Sarup; Gaurav Sarup; Prashant Sarup
Original assignee: SARUP Siddhant
Priority date: 2018-05-11
Filing date: 2019-05-10
Publication date: 2019-11-14

Abstract

The present invention provides a CNC machine with two spindles which prevents vibration generating from working of one spindle to affect the working of the other spindle. The CNC machine has a common base which is filled with anti-vibration material. The common base is mounted with two identical bed structures, facing each other as mirror images. Each bed has a head mounted on it, with a spindle. The spindles are facing each other and have their axes aligned with each other in-line. Since, the common bed is filled with anti-vibration material; the bed prevents vibration occurring at one spindle operation from travelling to the other spindle and affects its operation. Hence, the machine may allow operations at high parameters, such as speed, without affecting the end shapes of the jobs. And the two spindles with common axis in heads facing each other allow easy automation of the machine.

Description

ANTI-VIBRATION TWIN SPINDLE CNC MACHINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is generally related to CNC machines. More particularly, the present invention is related to a system for twin spindles CNC lathe machine, where vibration due to operation of one of the twin spindles do not affect working of the other spindle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] CNC machines are widely used for manufacturing parts or components, since these machines automate the manufacturing process by implementing computer generated design and directives. The machines need raw jobs to be loaded and finished jobs to be unloaded from them to continue the process without any interruptions. The CNC machines with one spindle involve longer time durations for machining, and are restricted to machining only one job. While, the CNC lathe machines with twin spindles lead to shorter time durations for machining and more number of jobs can be worked on at a time.

[0003] However, the problem that may arise with a twin spindle twin turret/Gang tooling CNC lathe machine is, while one half of the machine, having one spindle, is working, it may cause vibrations, which may in turn affect the working of the other half of the machine having the other spindle. For example, there may be heavy roughing operation running at one spindle, and finish turning operation running at the other spindle. In such a scenario, heavy roughing may cause vibrations and affect the finish turning operation, leading inaccurate shapes of the jobs being worked on.

[0004] Therefore, there exists a need for an improved system for a twin CNC machine that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0005] It is an objective of the present invention to develop a system for twin spindle twin turret CNC machine that prevents vibration, and/or any other disturbing force generating at one side of the machine, from travelling from one side of the machine with one spindle to the other side of the machine having the other spindle.

[0006] It is further an objective of the present invention to have the twin spindle CNC machine stacked on a common base.

[0007] It is yet another objective of the present invention to have axes of the two spindles aligned with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] For a better understanding of the embodiments of the systems and methods described herein, and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, references will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements/components throughout and wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an exemplary CNC machine with two spindles with an anti-vibration foundation/bed, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0010] This patent describes the subject matter for patenting with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The principles described herein may be embodied in many different forms.

[0011] Illustrative embodiments of the invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0012] The present invention provides an apparatus and a system of twin spindle CNC machine which does not allow vibrations, causing due to operation of one spindle, to travel to the other spindle and affect its operation. For this, the system has an anti vibration bed, over which the twin spindle CNC machine is mounted. The anti vibration bed may be termed as‘base platform’. The CNC machine, preferably a lathe machine comprises of two independent bed structures which are mirror images of each other. The two bed structures are abutting each other, each have a head mounted on the bed, where the heads are facing each other and are positioned at the two opposite ends of each bed. Further, each of the heads has one spindle, where both the spindles lie in the same horizontal axis, which means the axes of both the spindles are aligned in one line.

[0013] The Base Platform, which is common to both the bed structures, is anti vibration, since the base is filled with a vibration dampening material. Because of the anti- vibration material filled in the base, vibrations occurring due to the operation of one spindle at one bed do not travel across the other bed with the other spindle and affect the operation of the other spindle.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an exemplary CNC machine with twin spindles and anti-vibration bed, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The CNC machine 100 has a bed or a Base Platform 102, which is filled with an anti-vibration material, such as an elastomeric material for vibration isolation. In an embodiment, the bed 102 may also be supported on vibration dampening pads. For example, nitrile, neoprene and the like. The machine 100 has two identical bed structures 104 and 104’ mounted on the anti-vibration Base Platform 102, in a fashion that the two bed structures 104 and 104’ act as mirror images of each other. Each of the bed structures 104 and 104’ has a head 106 and 106’ mounted on it. The heads 106 and 106’, mounted on each mono-block (beds 104 and 104’) are facing each other and are positioned at far opposite ends of the beds 104 and 104’. Both the heads 106 and 106’ are also mirror images each other and each has a spindle assembly 108 and 108’, where both the spindle assemblies 108 and 108’ lie in the same horizontal axis, which means the spindles in the spindle assemblies 108 and 108’ are co-axial that further ensures easy automation. This means that the axes of both the spindles 108 and 108’ lie on the same line. Spindle assembly or spindle may be used as inter exchangeable terms throughout the disclosure of the invention.

[0015] Even when the two independent bed structures 104 and 104’ are mirror images of each other, and joined together as one, it is ensured by the present invention that no vibration transmission from each other takes place. The anti-vibration material filled in the base platform 102 acts as vibration isolator for the two independent abutting bed structures 104 and 104’ of the CNC machine 100. Therefore, the anti -vibration bed 102 prevents vibrations generating from the operation of one spindle 108 at one bed 104 from travelling to the second spindle 108’ at the second bed 104’ and affecting the operation of the second spindle 108’. The anti-vibration bed 102 operates vice-versa as well. [0016] Advantageously, the present invention discloses an apparatus that provides two independent CNC machines, with individual bed, head and spindle, packaged into one. Thus, the present apparatus/machine 100 saves space. Since two spindles can work simultaneously with their individual tool posts, therefore the machine 100 saves time of machining as well and produces more number of jobs.

[0017] Further, the machine 100 does not allow vibrations of one spindle to affect the working of the other spindle. Hence, no jobs being machined simultaneously at two different ends of the machine 100 are ruptured. Resultantly, accurate jobs are produced. Further, since two heads are facing each other with spindles in-line on the same axis, therefore it easy to automate the machine with relatively in-expensive methods.

[0018] Also, the CNC machine 100 with twin spindles may be used to perform machining and turning operations at very high cutting parameters, like speed, with an added flexibility of being used for the same operation on two different jobs. This means both the bed structures may allow performing the same function (same tools at both beds) simultaneously at two different jobs. Also, the machine 100 can be used to perform two different operations on the same job. This means the two beds may allow to perform two different functions, and on the same job, where the job can be first operated on the first spindle at the first bed, and afterwards can be transferred to the second bed to be operated at the second spindle. [0019] While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods, devices, and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods, devices, and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

aim:

1) A system for a CNC environment comprising:

a twin spindle CNC machine with two independent bed structures abutting each other, each of the two bed structures, at least, has a head with a spindle, where two spindles of the two bed structures are coaxial with each other;

a base platform supporting both the two independent bed structures across the base platform; and

an anti-vibration material, coupled with the base platform, for dampening vibration forces generating at the two bed structures, and preventing a vibration force, generating at either one of the two bed structures, from travelling to other bed structure, thereby allowing execution of operations, simultaneously, at both the two spindles of the two bed structures, individually, without disturbing and affecting the operations of each other.

2) The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the anti-vibration material is at least one of an elastomeric material, vibration dampening pads, including and not limited to nitrile, neoprene and the like, either individually or in any combination.

3) The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the anti -vibration material is an elastomeric material and is filled inside the base platform. 4) The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the two independent bed structures are mirror images of each other, and each with the two heads, also being mirror images of each other, are mounted on opposite ends of the two bed structures.

5) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two independent bed structures are joined together as a single package, the single package being supported on the base platform, where the base platform with anti -vibration material ensures vibration dampening and avoids vibration travel from one end with one bed structure to another end with other bed structure.

6) An apparatus for a CNC environment comprising:

a base platform with an anti-vibration material; and

a twin spindle CNC machine that includes two bed structures, each having one head assembly with a spindle, the twin spindles being coaxial with each other, the twin spindle CNC machine including the two bed structures is supported on the base platform, and

wherein the anti-vibration material, of the base platform, dampens vibration forces generating due to working of the twin spindles at the two bed structures, and prevents travelling of a vibration force, generating at either one of the twin spindles, to the other spindle for avoiding effects and disturbances on the operations of the other spindle, and

wherein the anti-vibration material ensures vibration isolation environment for the both twin spindles working at the CNC machine. 7) The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the anti-vibration material is at least one of an elastomeric material, vibration dampening pads, including and not limited to nitrile, neoprene and the like, either individually or in any combination.

8) The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the anti -vibration material is an elastomeric material and is filled inside the base platform.

9) The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the anti-vibration material are vibration dampening pads coupled below the base platform.

10) The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base platform is supported on vibration dampening pads and is also filled with an elastomeric material.

11) The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the two bed structures, each with a head, are mirror images of each other, where each of the two heads, also being mirror images, are mounted on opposite ends of the two bed structures.

12) The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the two bed structures are independent bed structures supported on the base platform, where the base platform with anti-vibration material ensures vibration dampening and avoids vibration travel from one end with one bed structure to another end with other bed structure.

13) The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the two bed structures are joined together as a single package, the single package being supported on the base platform, where the base platform with anti-vibration material ensures vibration dampening and avoids vibration travel from one end with one bed structure to another end with other bed structure.

14) A system for a CNC environment comprising:

a base platform;

an anti-vibration material, coupled with the base platform; and a twin spindle CNC machine that includes two bed structures adjacent to each other, each of the two bed structures, at least, has a head with a spindle, the twin spindle CNC machine is mounted on the base platform,

wherein the anti-vibration material, at least in part, dampens vibration forces generating at the two bed structures, and at least in part, prevents a vibration force, generating at one of the two bed structures, from travelling to other bed structure, thereby allowing execution of operations, simultaneously, at both the two spindles of the two bed structures, individually, without disturbing and affecting the operations of each other.

15) The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the anti -vibration material is at least one of an elastomeric material, vibration dampening pads, including and not limited to nitrile, neoprene and the like, either individually or in any combination.

16) The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the two bed structures, each with a head, are mirror images of each other, where each of the two heads are mounted on opposite ends of the two bed structures, and the two spindles are coaxial with each other.

17) The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the two bed structures are independent bed structures supported on the base platform.

18) The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the two bed structures are joined together as a single package, the single package being supported on the base platform.

19) The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the anti-vibration material is an elastomeric material filled inside the base platform, or the anti -vibration material is in form of vibration dampening pads provided below the base platform.

20) The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the base platform is supported on vibration dampening pads and is also filled with an elastomeric material for providing vibration isolation environment to operations at the twin spindle

CNC machine.