INSTRUMENTED TOOL POST, AND ASSOCIATED TOOL HOLDER

Abstract

The invention relates to a tool post of a machine tool, which tool post is capable of receiving a cutting insert for machining a component, characterised in that it comprises at least one sensor capable of determining a parameter representative of a cutting action between a component to be machined and a cutting insert, and a support housing (9) which is electrically connected to the sensor and comprises a battery (17) and a printed circuit board (19) supplied with current by said battery (17), wherein said printed circuit board (19) supports, at least partially, a radio transmission unit (11) and the housing (9) consists of a base (21) and a cover (23) which can be detached from one another, and in that the battery (17) is supported by the cover (23) and the printed circuit board (19) by the base (21) or vice versa.

Claims

1. A tool post of a machine tool suitable for receiving a cutting insert for machining of a workpiece, comprising: at least one sensor which determines a parameter representing a cutting action between a workpiece to be machined and a cutting insert; and a service case electrically connected to the sensor and including a battery and a printed circuit supplied with current by said battery, said printed circuit bearing, at least in part, a radio transmission unit and the case being formed from a bottom and from a cover which can be separated, wherein the battery is borne by the cover and the printed circuit by the bottom, or vice versa.

2. The tool post as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a joint inserted between the cover and the bottom.

3. The tool post as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery is held against an internal face of the cover by a fixing element.

4. The tool post as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fixing element comprises a bar fixed against the internal face of the cover and sandwiching the battery between the cover and the bar.

5. The tool post as claimed in claim 3, further comprising an elastic material inserted between the fixing element and the battery, and inserted between the battery and the internal face of the cover.

6. The tool post as claimed in claim 5, wherein the elastic material is a foam or a silicone compound.

7. The tool post as claimed in claim 1, further comprising blocks arranged on the bottom of the case and on which the printed circuit board is mounted.

8. The tool post as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool post is formed by an insert holder intended to be mounted in a tool holder of a machine tool and suitable for receiving the cutting insert.

9. A tool holder intended to be mounted on a machine tool, comprising a tool post as claimed in claim 8, the tool post including a cutting insert.

Description

[0023] Other advantages and features will emerge upon reading the description of the invention, and the appended drawings wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic view of a tool holder according to the invention, which is intended to be mounted on a machine tool (not shown), such as a screw machine or a machining center,

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective schematic view of a service case,

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the case of FIG. 2 in the open state,

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the case of FIGS. 2 and 3 according to a cross-section view IV-IV in the closed state,

[0028] FIG. 5 shows the case of FIGS. 2 and 3 according to a longitudinal section view V-V in the closed state.

[0029] In the figures, the identical elements are identified by the same references.

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a tool holder 1 intended. to be mounted on a machine tool (not shown), such as a screw machine or a machining center.

[0031] The tool holder 1 includes an interchangeable insert holder 3, which is suitable for receiving a cutting insert 5 for the machining of a workpiece.

[0032] The insert holder 3 allows the cutting insert 5 to be easily changed when it is worn out or unsuitable without having to change the tool holder assembly 1 in full.

[0033] The cutting insert 5, having in this example a rhombic shape, is preferably made from. sintered material (carbide or ceramics).

[0034] The insert 5 is borne and held fixed relative to the corresponding insert holder 3 via conventional removable mounting.

[0035] The insert holder 3 or the tool holder 1 is referred to as the tool post.

[0036] It is therefore understood that the tool post is formed by an insert holder 3 intended to be mounted in a tool holder of a machine tool and suitable for receiving the cutting insert 5.

[0037] The tool post 3 further includes one or more sensors 7 suitable for determining one or more parameters representing a cutting action between a workpiece to be machined and a cutting insert 5.

[0038] An example of sensors 7 can be, for example, a strain gauge, a vibratory measuring sensor, a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, etc.

[0039] These sensors can be affixed against the tool post 3 or then be incorporated in a housing 8 provided, to this end, inside the tool post 3, close to the cutting insert 5.

[0040] The sensor or sensors 7 are electrically connected by cables 10 to a service case 9 which is intended to be fixed on the machine tool (not shown), for example on a turret.

[0041] The service case 9 contains a radio transmission unit 11 configured to communicate via radio waves 12 with a transceiver 13 arranged remotely from the machine tool and connected to a remote processing unit 15, for example a computer, for utilizing the parameters measured by the sensors 7.

[0042] Reference is now made to FIGS. 2-5 showing the service case 9 in detail.

[0043] The service case 9 includes a preferably rechargeable battery 17 and a printed circuit 19 supplied with current by said battery 17 (the electrical connection, for example via electric cables between the battery 17 and the printed circuit 19, is not shown in the figures).

[0044] The printed circuit 19 bears various electric and electronic components such as, for example, a unit 20 for processing or preprocessing the signals coming from the sensors 7, for example, with processors, at least in part the radio transmission unit 11 with, for example, a transmitting and receiving antenna 11A.

[0045] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the case 9 is formed from a bottom 21 and from a cover 23 that can be separated from one another.

[0046] The battery 17 is borne by the cover 23 and the printed circuit by the bottom 21.

[0047] Thus, the battery 17 is distanced from the printed circuit 19 such as to mechanically isolate the battery 17 from the printed circuit 19 so that there are no mechanical interactions between these two elements due to the vibrations to which the case 9 is subjected.

[0048] Of course, according to an alternative that is not shown, it is possible for the battery 17 to be borne by the bottom 21 and the printed circuit by the cover 23 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0049] This mechanical isolation between the battery 17 and the printed circuit 19 is reinforced by a sealing joint inserted 25 between the cover 23 and the bottom 21. This sealing joint has both the function of preventing the entry of any liquid such as oil, or dusts, but also forms a damping element between the cover 23 and the bottom 21.

[0050] As can be seen clearly in FIGS. 4-6, the battery 17 is held against the internal face 27 of the cover 23 by a fixing element 29 such as, for example, a bar 31 fixed by screwing against the internal face 27 of the cover 23 and sandwiching the battery 17 between the cover 23 and the bar 31.

[0051] To further weaken the vibrations at the battery 17, an elastic material 33 is inserted between the fixing element 29 and the battery 17, firstly, and between the battery 17 and the internal face 27 of the cover 23, secondly.

[0052] The elastic material 33 is, for example, a foam or a silicone compound in the form of a strip stuck firstly on the internal face 27 of the cover 23 and secondly on the fixing bar 31.

[0053] As can be seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the bottom 21 has, in each corner, a block 35 allowing precise positioning of the printed circuit board while holding it at a distance from the bottom.

[0054] Moreover, glands 37 allow the sealed passage of the cables coming from the sensors 9 inside the case.

[0055] Visual indicators 39 connected to the printed circuit board 19 allow the operating state of the case 9 to be indicated to an operator.

[0056] It is therefore understood that the battery 17 and the printed circuit 19 are mechanically separated such as to prevent any harmful interaction due to the vibrations, which lengthens the reliability of the printed circuit 19 and the life of the battery 17.