Abstract: An arrangement for sealing a pressurized coolant system for a drawbar cylinder rod and a spindle drawbar in a machine tool utilizes a stationary mounting plate for supporting a piston plate and a drawbar cylinder rod. A pulley is mounted on the spindle for driving the spindle and a rotary seal that rotates with the spindle is mounted to the spindle. A non-rotating seal is mounted on the mounting plate. A planar sealing surface is formed by the contact between the non-rotating seal and the rotary seal, whereby a reliable fluid seal is formed between the rotating and the non-rotating structures of the pressurized coolant system.

Abstract: A composites lamination system uses a six-axis positioner and multiple removable heads for applying composite material to a tool. The six-axis positioner has a gantry and a wrist. The gantry has two spaced uprights that support a crossbeam that is movable in the X-axis. A workzone containing a tool is positioned between the two spaced uprights. A movable column is supported on the crossbeam, and is movable relative to the crossbeam in the Y-axis and the Z-axis. A wrist mounted on the column rotates around an I-axis parallel to the X-axis, around a J-axis parallel to the Y-axis, and around a K-axis parallel to the Z-axis. A replaceable head is mounted on the wrist so that the gantry and the wrist provide six axis of motion for the replaceable head, and removal of the head from the wrist allows the six axis of motion to remain with the positioner.

Abstract: A gantry mounted fiber placement machine has a creel and a head with a compaction roller for applying fiber to a mold or tool. The fiber placement machine has 6 axes of motion and 5 axes of motion between the creel and the head. The machine has a gantry that moves in the X-axis, a horizontal gantry beam that is parallel to the Y-axis, and a creel that moves with the gantry in the X-axis. The machine has a head that moves in the Y-axis parallel to the floor and across the gantry beam, and in the Z-axis perpendicular to the X and Y-axes. The head swivels in the I-axis as it rotates about the X-axis, in the J-axis as it rotates about the Y-axis, and in the K-axis as it rotates about the Z-axis.

Abstract: A tuned mass damper is designed for a machine tool head that moves in the X, Y, and Z directions and rotates around a C-axis that is coincident with the axis of an arm that supports the head. The damper comprises a pair of damper masses symmetrically arranged around the head. Each damper mass has a center of gravity which is approximately in the geometric center of the mass. A resilient mounting is provided for each of the damper masses allowing the damper masses to damp out vibration in the X and Y directions regardless of the orientation of the head.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading spools into a creel of a fiber placement machine that is used to charge a mold includes a creel loader and a spool magazine carried by the creel loader. At least one loader mandrel in the spool magazine receives full spools and transfers the full spools to the creel of the fiber placement machine.

Abstract: A motorized head for applying fiber composite material to an application surface includes a drive roll assembly for applying fiber composite material to an application surface. The drive roll assembly includes a drive roll and a backup roll and a drive roll nip formed between the drive roll and the backup roll. At least one cutter is mounted on the drive roll for cutting fiber composite material, and an ejector mechanism is mounted on the drive roll behind the cutter mechanism. The ejector mechanism positively displaces the leading end of the cut tow material away from the surface of the drive roll to ensure that the cut tow material does not misfeed as it approaches the fiber path chute downstream from the cutter.

Abstract: A fiber placement machine has a fiber placement head and a K-axis housing that is supplied with fiber tow from a creel. The fiber placement head is mounted on the front of the K-axis housing. The fiber placement head has a compaction roller and a cut, clamp, and restart mechanism positioned adjacent to the compaction roller that receives fiber tow from the K-axis housing. A separable coupling connects the fiber placement head to the K-axis housing, whereby the fiber placement head may be disconnected from the K-axis housing for docking purposes.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for charging molds used to mold wind turbine blades in which the molds have a root end and a tip end. The apparatus includes a first and second gantries located at the root end of the mold and capable of moving to the tip end of the mold. A layup end effector on the first gantry receives a length of reinforcing ply material and temporarily stores the ply material on the layup end effector. A clamping end effector mounted on the second gantry has a clamping board that is shaped to fit the root end of the mold. The clamping end effector grips the end of the ply material temporarily stored on the layup end effector secures the end of the ply material to the root end of the mold while the first gantry lays the ply material in the mold.

Abstract: A compliant cover is placed over a part being molded in a molding process. The compliant cover is formed from a plurality of longitudinal cells positioned next to one another. At least one communication port is coupled to each longitudinal cell, and a source of fluid media at a preselected temperature is coupled to the communication ports whereby the longitudinal cells may be filled with the fluid media at the preselected temperature. The compliant cover may thus be used to selectively heat and cool the part being molded to decrease the time required by the part to rise to the temperature required to cure the resin in the part and to cool the part so that it can be removed from the mold.

Abstract: A pallet load stand and manipulator allows a pallet to receive a workpiece and the workpiece to be clamped to the pallet while the pallet is in a horizontal position. Once the workpiece has been clamped to the pallet, the pallet may be rotated to a vertical position so that the pallet may be loaded onto a machine tool that operates on a workpiece with the pallet in the vertical position. The pallet may also be rotated to an intermediate position, similar to an artist's easel, in which the pallet is held in an inclined position, between the horizontal and vertical positions by positive locating assemblies and positive stops.

Abstract: A workpiece processing plant comprises several machine tools which are arranged in opposite rows. The rows define a free space between each other. A loading and unloading device is provided which comprises a girder above the machine tools and above the free space. Rails are provided on the upper side of the girder. A loading and unloading unit configured as a multiple-axis robot is displaceable along the rails, the loading and unloading unit comprising several arms which are articulated to one another.

Abstract: A method of controlling a multiple spindle machine includes measuring the motor currents provided to a first spindle and a second spindle over a period of time, establishing an amount of time between impacts on a workpiece of a cutting tooth of the first spindle relative to a cutting tooth of the second spindle based on the measured motor currents of the first spindle and the second spindle, determining an angle to shift the second spindle relative to the first spindle, and increasing or decreasing the amount of time between impacts to obtain the determined shift angle for the second spindle.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a fiber composite underbody panel for a vehicle begins by laying-up a first fiber composite sheet on a suitable form or tool. Current carrying wiring that is normally carried by the floor is laid in place on the first sheet, with the ends of the wires extending beyond the edges of the sheet. The wires are shielded to prevent the radiation of fields therefrom into the interior of the vehicle. Fiber optic cable is used to carry signals. A second fiber composite sheet is then laid-up on the first sheet. The two sheets with the embedded wires are placed in a heated mold to form the sheets into the desired finished shape and configuration. The ends of the copper wires and the fiber optic cables are then terminated by connectors so that they may be later coupled to the circuitry of the vehicle.

Abstract: A machining center is designed for machining a hub having faces that are spaced one hundred and twenty degrees from one another around the hub. The machining center includes a table for supporting the hub when it is being machined and three vertical gantries arranged around the table that are spaced one hundred and twenty degrees from one another. The gantries have X and Z axis drives for moving the gantries parallel to the faces of the hub and toward and away from the hub. At least one machining member is mounted on each of the gantries for vertical movement on the gantry and stroke drives are provided for the machining members for driving the machining members toward the center axis of the hub, allowing the three faces of the hub to be machined simultaneously by the machining center.