USE OF A MACHINE TOOL

Abstract

A device for machining rolling element pockets in a workpiece includes a workpiece support, a main spindle, a clamping means fastened to the main spindle, a pressure cylinder and a machining tool. The clamping means includes a receiving arrangement for fastening the clamping means to the main spindle and a pressure plate for pressing the workpiece on the workpiece support. The pressure plate has a passage opening. The pressure cylinder connects the receiving arrangement to the pressure plate. The pressure cylinder is arranged to provide a force to adjust a contact pressure of the pressure plate on the workpiece. The machining tool is fastened to the main spindle and guidable through the passage opening to machine the workpiece.

Claims

1. A use of a machine tool for machining pockets for receiving rolling elements on a workpiece in the form of a rolling bearing cage, wherein the machine tool is designed to comprise a workpiece support and a main spindle, wherein a machining tool and a clamping means are fastened to the main spindle, wherein the clamping means is designed to comprise a receiving arrangement for fastening the clamping means to the main spindle of the machine tool and a pressure plate for pressing a workpiece on a workpiece support, wherein the receiving arrangement and the pressure plate are connected via at least one pressure cylinder, wherein a contact pressure of the pressure plate on the workpiece can be adjusted in a defined manner by means of the at least one pressure cylinder, and wherein the machining tool is arranged in such a way that the machining tool can be guided through a passage opening in the pressure plate during the machining of the workpiece pressed against the workpiece support by means of the pressure plate.

2. The use according to claim 1, wherein the pressure plate is annular and forms the passage opening for the machining tool fastened to the spindle.

3. The use according to claim 1, wherein the machining tool is arranged in such a way that the machining tool can be guided centrally through the passage opening in the pressure plate when machining the workpiece pressed against the workpiece support by means of the pressure plate.

4. The use according to claim 1, wherein the machining tool is formed by a drilling device.

5. The use according to claim 1, wherein the machining tool is formed by a milling device.

6. The use according to claim 1, wherein the production of at least one pocket for receiving a rolling element on a workpiece in the form of a rolling bearing cage comprises the following steps: providing the machine tool, fixing a position of the rolling bearing cage on the workpiece support, pressing the rolling bearing cage against the workpiece support using the pressure plate, forming a first pocket using the machining tool, and detaching the pressure plate from the rolling bearing cage.

7. The use according to claim 6, wherein the at least one pocket is drilled or milled.

8. The use according to claim 1, wherein the rolling bearing cage is formed from copper or a copper-based alloy.

9. The use according to claim 1, wherein a spring force of the at least one pressure cylinder can be adjusted via valves.

10. The use according to claim 1, wherein at least one lubricant supply device is provided on the clamping means.

11. A device for machining rolling element pockets in a workpiece, comprising: a workpiece support; a main spindle; a clamping means fastened to the main spindle, the clamping means comprising: a receiving arrangement for fastening the clamping means to the main spindle; and a pressure plate for pressing the workpiece on the workpiece support, the pressure plate comprising a passage opening; and a pressure cylinder connecting the receiving arrangement to the pressure plate, the pressure cylinder being arranged to provide a force to adjust a contact pressure of the pressure plate on the workpiece; and a machining tool fastened to the main spindle and guidable through the passage opening to machine the workpiece.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the pressure plate is annular.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the machining tool is arranged to be guided centrally through the passage opening.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the machining tool is a drilling device or a milling device.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising a valve for adjusting the force provided by the pressure cylinder.

16. The device of claim 11, further comprising a lubricant supply device disposed on the clamping means.

17. A method for producing a pocket for a rolling element on a rolling bearing cage, comprising: providing the device of claim 11; fixing the rolling bearing cage on the workpiece support; pressing the rolling bearing cage against the workpiece support using the pressure plate; forming the pocket using the machining tool; and releasing the pressure plate from the rolling bearing cage.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pocket is drilled or milled using the machining tool.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the rolling bearing cage is formed from copper or a copper-based alloy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIGS. 1 to 3 are intended to explain the disclosure by way of example. In the figures:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a clamping cover according to a conventional manufacturing method according to the prior art;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a clamping means in a machine tool, and

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a clamping means together with a clamping plate in a machine tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] FIG. 1 has already been explained in the BACKGROUND and shows a conventional manufacturing method according to the prior art using a clamping cover 5 with openings 6, which clamps a workpiece 9 in the form of a rolling bearing cage with pockets 8 against a workpiece support 12. A machining tool in the form of a drill, not shown here, is guided through the openings 6 in the clamping cover 5 in order to form the pockets 8.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a clamping means 1 in a machine tool 10. The clamping means 1 includes a receiving arrangement 2 for fastening the clamping means 1 to a spindle 11, here the main spindle, of the machine tool 10. The clamping means 1 also includes a pressure plate 3 for pressing a workpiece 9 in the form of an inclined cage on a workpiece support 12 of the machine tool 10. The inclined cage is shown in sectional view and in half section. The position of the inclined cage is fixed on the workpiece support 12 in the region of its inner diameter by fixing clamps 12a.

[0036] The receiving arrangement 2 and the pressure plate 3 are connected via two pressure cylinders 4 in the present case. By means of the pressure cylinder 4, a contact pressure of the pressure plate 3 on the workpiece 9, in the present case the inclined cage, can be adjusted in a defined manner. The machine tool 10 includes a machining tool 13 in the form of a drilling tool. This plunges through the pressure plate 3 and forms the pocket 8 in the workpiece 9. The spindle 11 is oriented here at a 45° angle to the workpiece support 12 in order to form the pocket 8 in the inclined cage. However, the spindle 11 can also be oriented at a different angle to the workpiece support 12, depending on the type of cage to be machined. The machining of straight cages, as shown in FIG. 1, is carried out by orienting the spindle 11 at a 90° angle to the workpiece support 12.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a clamping means 1 together with a clamping plate 7 in a machine tool 10. The same reference signs as in FIG. 2 indicate identical elements. The clamping plate 7 additionally arranged here enables a central fixation of the position of the rolling bearing cage, for example via a central screw connection (not shown here) of the clamping plate 7 on the workpiece support 12, so the fixing clamps 12a can optionally be omitted.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0038] 1 Clamping means [0039] 2 Receiving arrangement [0040] 3 Pressure plate [0041] 4 Pressure cylinder [0042] 5 Clamping cover [0043] 6 Opening in the clamping cover [0044] 7 Clamping plate [0045] 8 Pocket [0046] 9 Workpiece [0047] 10 Machine tool [0048] 11 Spindle, main spindle [0049] 12 Workpiece support [0050] 12a Fixing clamp [0051] 13 Machining tool