Abstract: A method for compensating for the deflection of a milling cutter during the machining of a workpiece by a numerically controlled machine tool having a plurality of axes includes: executing a learning cut on a test workpiece having a known geometry by the milling cutter mounted on a tool spindle in a climb milling mode, and in doing so, ascertaining a correlation between a quantity that is proportional to the torque of the drive of the tool spindle and the deflection of the milling cutter normal to a surface of the test workpiece, the deflection being determined by comparing the actual contour of the test workpiece to a setpoint contour. This is followed by storing of the correlation for the milling cutter and machining of the workpiece by the milling cutter in a climb milling mode, while utilizing the stored correlation for compensating for the deflection of the milling cutter by applying a positional correction that is proportional to the quantity to a setpoint position of the axes of the machine tool.

Abstract: A milling machine has a carriage, a main spindle seat extending along an axis, and a motor operable to drive displacement of the main spindle seat relative to the carriage along the axis. A deflection correction system includes a control unit, a displacement sensor, at least one pressure cylinder, and a pressure sensor. The pressure cylinder includes a cylinder body, and a control rod extended retractably into the cylinder body. The control unit is configured to determine a pressure range as a function of displacement detected by the displacement sensor, and to maintain fluid pressure in the pressure cylinder within a pressure range, thereby controlling the control rod via the cylinder body to position the second end portion of the main spindle seat relative to the axis.

Abstract: Spindle inclination detectors (41A, 41B) are equipped in columns (32A, 32B) of a portal bridge (24) of a machine tool (21). Each spindle inclination detector includes: a string (43) which hangs vertically with an upper end fixed to the column (reinforcement (32b)) and a lower end attached to a weight (45); a gap sensor (44) which is attached to the string to measure a distance to a front face plate (32a) of the column; and an oil damper (46). Moreover, a spindle inclination correction controller provided to the machine tool controls a Peltier device (42A, 42B) attached to a rear face plate (32d) of the column, on a basis of an average distance measured by the gap sensor, and thus corrects an inclination of a spindle (28) due to the thermal deformation of the column by correcting thermal deformation of the column.

Abstract: A fixing structure of a spindle balancer for a machine tool is described as having a flange member having a supported surface and provided fixedly to a cylinder body of a gas spring, a supporting member having a flange receiving surface and a fixing hole, and secured to the spindle head of a machine tool, and a plurality of fastening members for fastening the flange member to the supporting member so as to allow the supported surface of the flange member to abut against the flange receiving surface of the support member.

Abstract: A spindle unit has a working spindle, which is mounted, so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, in its own bearing housing and in which there is provided a receiver for tools for machining workpieces. Via a repositioning unit, the working spindle is repositioned automatically and controllably in relation to the bearing housing when in operation (FIG. 1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compensation system for compensating for the drop of the ram in a machine tool, comprising a vertical translation carriage (1) incorporating the application ram, at least one and preferably two perforated plates (2) being arranged on said carriage (1), on each of which there is incorporated a fixed sliding block (3) and movable sliding blocks (4), which blocks are linked with a guide for the transverse movement of the ram, such that the drop of the ram is compensated for by means of the controlled bending of the plates (2).

Abstract: Machine tool (11) comprises spindle supporting side structure (13) erected on a floor surface for supporting spindle (15) having tool (T) mounted thereon and work supporting side structure (17) erected on the floor surface in opposition to spindle supporting side structure (13) for supporting work (W), and is used to machine the work by relative motion of tool (T) and work (W). An upper end of spindle supporting side structure (13) and an upper end of work supporting side structure (17) are connected to interconnection member (4).

Abstract: A reference block 30 attached to a housing 20a is moved together with a main spindle 20 to a measurement start position A1, and the reference block 30 is so moved in a Z-axis direction as to across air injected from an air injection nozzle 25, so that a thermal displacement of the main spindle 20 is calculated based on change in pressure measured in the movement. The outer circumference of a tool mounted on the main spindle 20 is brought close to a leading end face of the air injection nozzle 25, and the air is injected to the outer circumference of the tool while rotating the tool at a predetermined position, and the air pressure is measured so that the rotational deflection of the tool is calculated based on the change in the measured pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a machine tool capable of reducing residual vibration occurring at the location time, thereby achieving responsiveness to a recent demand for higher acceleration/deceleration speed. The machine tool is configured such that a column 3 is fixed on a bed 2, a spindle head 6 for supporting a spindle 7 is disposed on a front face 3b? of the column 3 to be movable in a Z-axis direction, and a pair of right and left Z-axis ball screws (spindle drive shafts) 22 for driving the vicinity of the gravity center of the spindle head 6 is disposed on the front face 3b? of the column 3 to be symmetrical to each other with respect to a plane that includes an axis C of the spindle head 6 and is parallel to a Y axis, thereby driving the vicinity of the gravity center of the spindle head 6.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of toolings for high-accuracy finishing through-holes and non-through-holes, such as for example for calibration, lapping operations. More precisely the invention refers to a tool-holding system for high-accuracy calibration of the type comprising a driving shaft (2) and a driven shaft (3) mutually connected by two cardan joints (5) and that provides an external cylindrical body (6) supported through bearings (8) by said driving shaft (2). The cylindrical body or liner (6) is closed on its bottom side by a driving bush oscillating in a plane perpendicular to the driven shaft rotation axis; said oscillations being compensated by elastic means. Axial compensation means for driven shaft movements are also provided. The liner (6) forms a chamber (7) that is kept full of oil.

Abstract: A tool comprising a housing having a handle and a distal end wherein the distal end includes a spindle capable of receiving a bit and defining an axis of rotation. The tool further comprises a quick-release chuck assembly that includes a sleeve and a trigger. The sleeve is disposed about the spindle and spring biased in a locked position wherein the sleeve is capable of being moved axially to an unlocked position to permit insertion of such a bit. The trigger includes a finger receiving portion and an actuator portion where the finger receiving portion extends from the housing in a position that enables the user to actuate the trigger with a finger of the hand holding the handle. The actuator portion is in physical communication with an engagement portion of the sleeve wherein the activation of the trigger causes the sleeve to move axially to the unlocked position.

Abstract: It is provided a support and guide device for small machine tools, in particular for rotating-mass balancing machines, comprising: a base element (2), at least one moving element (3) in engagement with the base element (2), support elements (4) for the moving element (3), and drive members (5) controlling shiftings of the moving element (3), the support elements (4) comprising at least one elastically deformable thin sheet (7) oscillatably supporting the moving element (3), and the drive members (5) being active on the moving element (3) to shaft the latter against the action of the elastically deformable thin sheet (7).

Abstract: A vibration dampened spindle and tool holder assembly for a rotary cutting machine. The assembly includes a spindle and a tool holder retained therewith. The tool holder has an interfacing ledge with a top surface for abutment with a distal spindle surface, and a continuous channel disposed in a proximal portion of the top surface. A resilient dampening member, having a rectangular or a circular cross sectional configuration, resides in the channel for compressed abutment with the spindle surface. Because the dampening member is situated within the channel, the interfacing placement of the spindle surface and tool holder top surface meet as the dampening member is enshrouded in the channel by these abutting surfaces and thereby protected from contaminant entry during dampening action.

Abstract: A chucking device for mounting a tool on a machine tool is provided, having a mounting section for mounting the chucking device on the machine tool and a thermally expandable shrink section which comprises a holding section intended to receive the tool in shrink-fit relationship. A lead-in section is provided at the outer end of the shrink section, whose inner diameter is selected to ensure that the shank of the tool can be placed in the lead-in section and can be centered therein in a cold condition of the shrink section. A suitable rotatably driven mounting intended to receive the chucking device during clamping of the tool is provided, preferably in vertical arrangement, in order to ensure that the shank of the tool will slide into the holding section from above under the action of gravity.

Abstract: A feedrate and travelling distance before the feed orientation of a feed drive axis is obtained by analyzing NC programs when carrying out a machining action, and the lost motion correcting quantity corresponding to said feedrate and travelling distance is calculated by using the relationship obtained in advance by experiments. Furthermore, the lost motion correcting quantity obtained by calculations is overlapped onto the instruction value to a servo motor which drives the feed drive axis, when the feed orientation of said feed drive axis is reversed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating a radial load between relatively axially articulatable inner and outer members, which in the exemplary embodiment are a spindle cartridge and spindle housing of a slip spindle drill assembly. The apparatus includes a strut having a curved inner end seated in a first seat on an outer surface of the inner member, and a curved outer end seated in a second seat supportably retained by a cap disposed adjustably in an opening through the outer member. The strut applies a radial force between the inner and outer members to compensate for the radial load. The strut is also pivotally disposed between the inner and outer members, whereby the strut pivots during relative axial articulation therebetween. The strut is substantially disposed radially relative to a direction of axial articulation when the inner and outer members are relatively axially articulated approximately one-half the axial articulation range.

Abstract: A temperature measuring device measures the temperature of a main shaft as a numerical value based on the outputs from temperature sensors. A temperature recorder stores the value as time series data. When the heat-induced displacement of the main shaft is in a stationary state, a heat-induced displacement estimate computing unit estimates the displacement based on the instantaneous temperature measurement. When the displacement is in a transient state due to a change in the rotation speed of the main shaft, the computing unit estimates the heat-induced displacement of the main shaft by multiplying the elapsed time from the beginning of the transient state by the ratio of the heat-induced displacement time constant to the temperature time constant and estimating the heat-induced displacement based on the time series data of the time preceding the current time by the result of the multiplication.

Abstract: A thermal displacement correcting apparatus suitable for a machine tool (1) provided with a mechanism for feeding a main spindle (2) is disclosed.

Abstract: A coupling device for high speed rotation applications comprised of a first member about a longitudinal axis having a collar integrally attached to a solid base and a second member about a longitudinal axis having a sleeve which is receivable within the collar. When the first and second members are rotated the sleeve expands within the collar to minimize or eliminate any clearance that may exist between the sleeve and collar. The coupling device may, among other applications, be utilized for machine tools such as milling cutters.

Abstract: A jig assembly for mounting a tool is disclosed in which the tool is held generally stationary in the jig. The jig assembly is used in a machining process in which the workpiece is mounted at the end of a movable robot arm and is manipulated with respect to the generally stationary machine tool. The machine tool, which may be a rotating tool, is rotated about its longitudinal axis and the workpiece is manipulated by the robot arm so as to contact the rotating rool thereby enabling it to perform its machining function. The use of this jig enables the application of a substantially constant force between the workpiece and the rotating tool in order to machine each of the workpieces to very small tolerances. The tool holder is attached to a balance beam having balance weights attached to both ends. The beam pivots about a generally horizontal pivot axis extending generally through its midpoint.

Abstract: An auxiliary bearing apparatus for selective attachment to milling machines of the Bridgeport type, said machines having a head which supports a quill that is longitudinally movable with respect to a fixed housing. A tool-holding spindle is rotatable within the vertically movable quill at all times, both when the auxiliary bearing apparatus is installed and when it has been removed. The auxiliary bearing apparatus includes a support bearing which is adapted to be selectively attached to the housing near the bottom of the head, when the quill is fully retracted into the housing. Installation of the auxiliary bearing support is facilitated by providing a threaded retainer which engages a special extension of the housing, the special extension having threads for the express and singular purpose of accomodating the threaded retainer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating displacements of a machine point due to temperature changes, such as the temperature-related displacement of a work spindle axis of a milling machine relative to a machine reference point. The measurement values of the intended positioning of the work spindle axis are determined by means of a position measuring device which includes at least one first sensing device for sensing a measuring scale. A second sensing device connected to a housing of the work spindle through a push rod of a material having a small coefficient of expansion is used to directly determine the temperature-related displacement with respect to direction and magnitude. The determined value is computed into the measurement value of the intended position by means of an analyzing unit. The result is a compensation of the temperature-related displacement of the work spindle axis.

Abstract: A cam milling machine having a headstock and a tailstock, which are fixed on a bed and are horizontally spaced from each other for carrying at a time two camshafts to be rotatable respectively on their axes which extend horizontally in parallel relation with each other. A tool support carrier is guided on the top of the headstock and is movable by an index feed device in a horizontal direction parallel to the axis of each camshaft. Two tool supports each carrying a milling cutter are carried on the tool support carrier to be vertically movable by respective tool feed devices, each for moving the milling cutter associated thereto toward and away from one of the camshafts. The tool support carrier is moved by an index feed device in the axial direction of the camshafts so that each milling cutter is selectively brought into alignment with one of cams on each camshaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for making the pressure exerted by a machine-tool carriage on its slide uniform. Cams which load springs are used to apply pressure to the carriage in those regions subject to less pressure depending upon the position of the carriage. Distortion of the tool carriage slide surface and resulting inaccuracies in the machine operation are thus reduced.

Abstract: A spindle extension, especially for drilling and milling machines, is required when machining large size workpieces. In order to enable the automatic tool change also when there is mounted the spindle extension with the available tools, the inventive spindle extension is provided with a chucking clamp which possesses a chucking or clamping pin which can be engaged by the chucking clamp of the tool spindle.

Abstract: An improved machine tool includes an extendible ram or tool support arm. As the ram is extended, the outer end portion of the ram deflects downwardly under the influence of gravity. To compensate for the deflection of the ram, the angular orientation of the ram relative to upwardly extending tracks is changed to raise the outer end portion of the ram. This is accomplished by means of gibs or deflection compensation cams which are moved to rotate a carriage or saddle on which the ram is mounted. The extent of deflection of the ram varies as a function of the distance which it extends outwardly from the carriage. Therefore it is necessary to store data indicative of the deflection of the ram at various degrees of extension and to adjust the orientation of the ram in accordance with this data as the ram is extended. The data indicating the extent to which the ram deflects is stored by means of a cam mounted on the carriage. The cam is read by a transducer which moves with the ram.