Abstract: An adaptive control system for a machine tool or the like includes a temperature sensor for measuring spindle bearing temperature and two pairs of thrust sensors for measuring radial and axial spindle deflection. Data processing apparatus, typically comprised of a microcomputer, is coupled to the temperature and thrust sensors and regulates the percentage of oil in the oil-air mixture lubrication mist sprayed on bearing contact surfaces in accordance with bearing temperature. The microcomputer simultaneously regulates the spindle bearing preload and spindle axis feedrate in accordance with radial and axial spindle thrust, thereby assuring optimum machine tool performance.

Abstract: An adaptive control system for a machine tool or the like includes two pairs of thrust sensors for measuring radial and axial spindle deflection and a temperature sensor for measuring spindle bearing temperature. Data processing apparatus, typically comprised of a microcomputer, is coupled to the thrust and temperature sensors and regulates the spindle bearing preload and spindle axis feed rate in accordance with the radial and axial spindle thrust. The microcomputer simultaneously regulates the percentage of oil in the oil/air mixture lubrication mist sprayed on bearing contact surfaces in accordance with bearing temperature, thereby assuring optimum machine tool performance.

Abstract: A boring bar adjusting mechanism for automatically correcting an offsize boring cutter. The mechanism includes a measuring gauge and an adjustable boring bar, each mounted in separate tool holders and each stored in the tool storage magazine. The measuring gauge is transferred to the spindle by the machine tool transfer mechanism after a conventional boring operation is completed to measure the work-piece bore. If the bore is inaccurate, the measuring gauge is removed and the boring bar, is loaded into the spindle. The cutting element of the boring bar is adjusted automatically by an adjusting mechanism in response to the bore size measured by the measuring head so that it will machine an accurate bore.

Abstract: An improved ball nut having adjustable preloading comprises a pair of ball nut halves both in threaded engagement with a ball screw. Only one of the nut halves is secured to a movable machine member, the other nut half being movable to the relative fixed nut half. Separating the two nut halves is a pair of concentric sleeves, which are each fabricated from a piezomagnetic material such as nickel or nickel alloy. The sleeves are each keyed to the nut halves to prevent one nut half from rotating independently of the other. Between the sleeves is a magnetic coil which, when energized, causes the sleeves to expand. By varying the coil excitation, the sleeve length, and hence, the force exerted on the ball nut halves by the sleeves can be varied accordingly to vary ball nut preloading.

Abstract: An improved workpiece storage and shuttle apparatus is fabricated of a base into which a carousel is journaled for indexable movement. Located about the periphery of the carousel are a plurality of workpiece storage pedestals, each pedestal having a pair of spaced apart guides thereon, each of the guides being parallel to a carousel radii. Affixed on the carousel is at least one and preferably two pairs of spaced apart guides, each of the guides of each pair of carousel guides extending from the center of the carousel beyond the carousel periphery so as to be parallel to a carousel radii. Between each pair of carousel guides is a pallet shuttle arm which is extendable out from and retractable into the guides by a hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: An improved flexible manufacturing system comprises a plurality of computer numerically controlled machine tools, each controlled by a machine control system which is supplied with a plurality of sets of machine NC part programs and a program map from a supervisory control computer system. Each of the machine tools is located about the perimeter of a track which carries a plurality of pallet-carrying transporters, each moving under the control of a material handling system controller. The supervisory control computer system, coupled to the control system of each machine tool and to the material handling system controller, is provided with input data indicative of production requirements, material resources and system status, that is to say, the type of part carrying pallet carried by each transporter.

Abstract: A voice actuated control system suitable for use on a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tool includes a pair of radio frequency transmitters and a pair of radio frequency receivers, one of the radio frequency receivers and one of the radio frequency transmitters being located at the machine tool site and the other radio frequency receiver and radio frequency transmitter being carried by the human machine tool operator. Operator-spoken commands are transmitted through the operator's transmitter to the machine tool receiver which outputs an audio signal to a voice interpreter that converts the received voice commands into digital signals which are transmitted to the CNC machine tool control system to control machine tool operation.

Abstract: A servo system for the rotary spindle of a machine tool in which the spindle is driven by a drive motor through a gear train having shiftable gears for changing the rate of rotation of the spindle. The transducer for the servo system is mounted directly on the motor drive shaft in order to avoid all backlash between the resolver and the drive motor. However, the transducer is arranged to regulate the angular orientation of the spindle and must therefore be maintained in synchronism with the spindle. This is accomplished by arranging the shiftable gears so that when they are moving into engagement with a new gear, engagement with the previously engaged gear is maintained until initial engagement with the new gear is achieved. Further shifting movement into full engagement with the new gear operates to release the previously engaged gear. Thus, during the initial engagement with the new gear, the shiftable gear is momentarily in engagement with both gears.

Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously changing all of the tools in a multiple spindle machining center is provided with a number of tool carrying devices, each device corresponding to a different one of the spindles. Each tool carrying device is capable of selectively engaging each of a number of tools which are dedicated for use with one of the spindles, and is further capable of carrying engaged tools between one of the spindles and one of a plurality of tool storage magazines. A first linear translation device moves each of the tool carrying devices in parallel relationship with a first axis when the tool carrying devices are carrying tools between the spindles and the magazines, and a second linear translation device moves the tool carrying devices in parallel relationship with a second axis during such tool carrying operations, the first and second axes being in orthogonal relationship.

Abstract: A tool feeding head is provided, which is adapted for rapid attachment to and detachment from a machine spindlehead. The head includes a shaft which is joinable to a machine spindle of the spindlehead for coupling rotary driving motion from the spindle to either a cross-feed or feed-out cutting tool, the shaft being provided with a bore. An actuating rod is mounted in the bore for engaging the tool, the actuating rod feeding the tool when the actuating rod is reciprocated within the bore by a rod reciprocating mechanism. A system or device for controllably driving the rod reciprocating mechanism is immovably fixed to the machine spindlehead, the driving system operating the rod reciprocating mechanism to cause the actuating rod to feed the selected tool at a prespecified rate. Structure supporting the shaft and the reciprocating mechanism enables an automatic tool changer to selectively join the shaft to the spindle, and place the rod reciprocating mechanism in operative relationship with the driving system.

Abstract: An improved multiple spindle toolhead for a machine tool includes a body having at least one tool-carrying spindle journaled into one side thereof and having an input shaft coupled to the spindle and extending from the body side opposite to the spindle for seating in the machine tool spindle. A plurality of threaded studs extends rearwardly from the body for mating engagement with a plurality of threaded elements seated in the machine tool adjacent to the spindle. Means are provided in the machine tool for rotatably driving the threaded elements relative to the threaded studs on the toolhead body to secure the toolhead against the machine tool.

Abstract: A high speed machine tool spindle assembly for firmly retaining a cutting tool therein, notwithstanding machine tool vibration, includes a spindle having an axially extending bore therethrough. Integrated to each end of the spindle is a tool gripping collet, each collet being urged radially inward against the shank of a cutting tool disposed in the spindle bore by a respective one of a pair of collet nuts which each threadedly engage the spindle adjacent to a separate one of collets at each spindle end. Each of a pair of collet nut drivers is carried by the spindle adjacent to a separate one of the pair of collet nuts and each is slidable along the axis spindle to jointly engage a separate one of the pair of collet nuts and the spindle.

Abstract: The spindle of a machine tool has a drawbar disposed therein for threaded engagement into and out of the toolholder inserted into the spindle bore to releaseably secure the toolholder within the spindle. Splined on the rearward end of the drawbar distal from the spindle is a spur gear which is shiftable into and out of engagement with a cluster gear driven by the spindle drive motor. When the spur gear on the rearward drawbar end is shifted into engagement with the cluster gear driven by the spindle drive motor, the drawbar will be rotatably threaded either into or out of the toolholder shank by the spindle drive motor and thus, the need for a separate motor to rotatably drive the drawbar is eliminated.

Abstract: A machine tool operative as both a chucking type lathe and as a horizontal spindle machine center comprises a rotatable spindle horizontally journaled to a spindlehead vertically reciprocal on a machine tool upright, the upright being slidably mounted for movement on one leg of an "L" shaped bed. A saddle, mounted for movement along the other leg of the bed, carries a table rotatably journaled therein. Affixed to the table is a tailstock which carries both toolholders and workpiece holders. A changer arm, journaled to the spindle for rotation about, and linear movement along, an axis parallel to the axis of spindle rotation is operative, when the upright is moved along the bed to a first changer position, to transfer toolholders and workpiece holders between the spindle and a storage drum journaled to the bed for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of spindle rotation.

Abstract: A machining center for machining the interior of an elongate tubular workpiece includes a bed on which a rotatably indexable member is slidably mounted for movement on the bed along a first axis. Removably fastened on the indexable member in spaced parallelism are a first and second hollow bore spindles each engaging the exterior surface of a tubular workpiece whose interior is to be machined. The first spindle is rotatably driven to rotate the tubular workpiece about its axis responsive to machine tool control system commands slidably mounted on the bed for movement thereon along a path perpendicular to the path of member movement in an upright. Extending from the upright parallel to the axis of upright movement for insertion into the workpiece bore is an arm which is movable along the upright along a vertical direction. At the distal end of the arm is a right angle, high speed rotary driven cutting tool carrying spindle.

Abstract: Pressurized hydraulic fluid for energizing the collet unclamping mechanism of a machining center is supplied through a first solenoid valve from an accumulator which is charged by a piston pump. The piston pump is attached to the machining center between the Z axis slide and the Z bed so that as the Z axis slide is moved to a home position at the outset of a tool change cycle, the pump charges the accumulator, allowing pressurized hydraulic fluid to be admitted into the collet unclamping cylinder through the solenoid control valve in response to machining center control system commands. Following pressurization of the unclamping mechanism from the accumulator, both the unclamping mechanism and the piston pump drain to the oil sump to reduce any drag on the Z axis slide or on the unclamping mechanism itself.

Abstract: An unmanned diagnostic communications system for analyzing the operation of a remotely situated computer controlled machine tool and for diagnosing any abnormalities disclosed during machine tool operation includes an auto dialer and MODEM coupled between the computer controlled machine tool and one end of a communications channel and an auto answer MODEM coupled between the other end of the communications channel and a diagnostic computer. In response to a test command entered by an operator to the remotely situated computer controlled machine tool or a machine tool initiated test command, the auto dialer automatically establishes a communications link with the diagnostic computer through the auto answer MODEM. Thereafter, the diagnostic computer determines the identity of the remotely situated computer controlled machine and then transmits instructions to the computer controlled machine tool to direct its operation.

Abstract: Remote control of a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tool is facilitated by an intelligent portable control box coupled to the CNC machine tool through a radio frequency link, typically taking the form of a single conductor coaxial cable. The portable control box includes a transmit/receive circuit and a plurality of input devices and output devices, the transmit/receive circuit, the input devices and output devices all being coupled to, and controlled by a microcomputer. Information from the CNC machine tool indicative of machine tool operating conditions is transmitted across the RF link in the form of carrier keyed radio frequency signals to the portable control box. The transmit/receive circuit demodulates the carrier keyed signals and in accordance with the demodulated signals supplied thereto from the output transmit/receive circuit, the microcomputer renders the output devices operative to display machine tool operating characteristics.

Abstract: An electronic control system for a machine tool employs a monitoring system for monitoring the absolute position of a reversibly (and linearly or rotationally) movable moving member in the machine tool. The monitoring system includes a clock, a digital feedback position counter having a predetermined count range, an exciter, a feedback device responsive to movement of the movable member, a digital position storage device, a zero crossing detector, and a zero position counter. The feedback position counter, which operates at a clock frequency, controls the exciter which provides a pulsed exciter signal to the feedback device. The feedback position counter also provides a position count Nc to the position storage device and to the zero position counter.

Abstract: A diagnostic communication system for machine tools interlinks a computer controlled machine tool with diagnostic and analysis equipment located at a location remote from the machine tool. The computer associated with the machine tool is connected with the diagnostic apparatus over a telephone line, and the machine tool is caused to execute a predetermined routine as a result of instructions transmitted to the computer from the diagnostic apparatus. The operating characteristics of the machine are monitored during the operation of the machine, and are communicated to the diagnostic apparatus, where they are compared with corresponding characteristics previously collected for the same machine, and with design limit parameters. Such comparisons furnish an indication of the present operating condition of the machine tool, and establish trends, which are useful in identifying the nature and location of incipient faults or failures before they occur.