FACETING METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SUCH A METHOD

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for faceting at least one workpiece edge (6) on at least one workpiece side (3, 4, 5) of at least one workpiece (2) by means of a device (1), comprising at least one workpiece holder (10), at least one measuring apparatus (30) and at least one faceting tool (40), which is movable relative to the workpiece holder (10), having the following method steps: —providing the at least one workpiece (2), —positioning and securing the at least one workpiece (2) on the workpiece holder (10), —determining the position of the at least one workpiece edge (6) of the at least one workpiece (2) relative to the workpiece holder (10), and—moving along the at least one workpiece edge (6) with the at least one faceting tool (40) and processing the facet.

Claims

1. A method for faceting at least one workpiece edge (6) on at least one workpiece side (3, 4, 5) of at least one workpiece (2) by means of a device (1) comprising at least one workpiece holder (10), at least one measuring apparatus (30) and at least one powered faceting tool (40) which is movable relative to the workpiece holder (10), having the following method steps: providing the at least one workpiece (2), positioning and securing the at least one workpiece (2) on the workpiece holder (10), determining the position of the at least one workpiece edge (6) relative to the workpiece holder (10), and moving along the at least one workpiece edge (6) with the at least one faceting tool (40) and processing the facet.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece (2) is a metal sheet, in particular a planar metal sheet, which is provided by a punching process, laser cutting or a nibbling process.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece (2) is secured on the workpiece holder (10) magnetically, by negative pressure and/or by force tension.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the position of the at least one workpiece edge (6) on the at least one workpiece side (3, 4, 5) on the workpiece holder (10) is determined by an optical measurement method using the at least one measuring apparatus (30).

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning of the at least one workpiece edge (6) on the at least one workpiece side (3, 4, 5) is carried out by a machine-guided or handheld probe.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one workpiece edge (6) is traversed by the at least one faceting tool (40) using a machine-controlled arm (20) or a machine-controlled gantry.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the faceting tool (40) produces an edge fillet or a chamfer on the workpiece edge (6).

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece (2) on the workpiece holder (10) is turned mechanically by at least one gripper (50) or manually.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the position of the at least one workpiece edge (6) on a second workpiece side (4) is calculated after turning.

10. A device (1) for faceting at least one workpiece edge (6) of at least one workpiece (2) in accordance with a method according to claim 1, comprising: at least one workpiece holder (10) for positioning and securing the at least one workpiece (2), at least one measuring apparatus (30) for determining the position of the at least one workpiece edge (6) of the at least one workpiece (2), at least one powered faceting tool (40) which can move along the at least one workpiece edge (6) to produce the facet.

11. The device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one holder (10) comprises a magnetic clamp, a negative pressure clamp and/or a force clamp.

12. The device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the measuring apparatus (30) detects the at least one workpiece edge (6) of the at least one workpiece (2) with an optical measurement method, in particular by means of a laser.

13. The device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one measuring apparatus (30) comprises a machine-guided or handheld probe which can detect the at least one workpiece edge (6) of the at least one workpiece (2).

14. The device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that a machine-operated arm (20) or machine-operated gantry is provided, which has the faceting tool (40) and guides the faceting tool (40) along the at least one workpiece edge (6) of the workpiece (2).

15. The device (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the machine-operated arm (20) or the machine-operated gantry has a swivel head, wherein the swivel head can hold the at least one measuring apparatus (30), the at least one faceting tool (40) and/or at least one gripper (50).

16. The device (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the machine-operated arm (20) or the machine-operated gantry has a swivel head (25), wherein the swivel head (25) comprises the at least one measuring apparatus (30) and/or the at least one faceting tool (40) and/or at least one gripper (50).

17. The device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one faceting tool (40) comprises a milling spindle (42) and a milling tool (44).

Description

[0024] The method according to the invention and the device according to the invention are explained below with reference to a FIGURE. In the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1: a machine-operated arm with a swivel head, wherein the swivel head comprises a measuring apparatus for detecting the at least one workpiece edge of a workpiece on at least one workpiece side and a faceting tool designed as a milling cutter.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment example of the device 1 according to the invention for carrying out a method according to the invention for faceting at least one workpiece edge 6 of at least one workpiece 2. The device 1 comprises a workpiece holder 10, a machine-operated arm 20, a swivel head 25, a measuring apparatus 30, a faceting tool 40 and a machine control system (not shown).

[0027] The workpiece 2 can have any shape and, in the illustrated embodiment example, is a planar metal sheet with a first workpiece side 3 and a second workpiece side 4 and four end-face workpiece sides 5, the first workpiece side 3 and the second workpiece side 4 being the two opposite main surfaces. The workpiece 2 shown comprises a plurality of workpiece edges 6, which are each arranged at the transition between the workpiece sides 3, 4, 5. Although a rectangular workpiece in the form of a planar metal sheet is shown in the illustrated embodiment example, the workpiece 2 is of course not limited to such an outer contour. Rather, the workpiece 2 can have any outer contour, e.g. a round or oval structure, so that the workpiece edge is then designed as a circular or oval-shaped, circumferential ring. Any other external contours of the workpiece 2 are also possible.

[0028] The workpiece holder 10 is designed as a supporting table 15 (not shown) and is set up to hold and secure at least one workpiece 2. To secure the workpiece 2 on the workpiece holder 10, the device 1 further comprises a negative pressure clamp, a magnetic clamp or a force clamp. The negative pressure apparatus can apply a negative pressure, which acts on the workpiece 2, via a plurality of openings in the side facing the workpiece 2. The workpiece 2 is secured on the workpiece holder 10 in any position, this being preferably actuated by the machine control system.

[0029] The magnetic clamp can be electromagnetic and/or permanent magnetic and can be controlled and regulated by the machine control system. The magnetic clamp is particularly suitable for faceting ferromagnetic workpieces 2, with it also being possible for such a magnetic clamp to fasten non-magnetic workpieces 2 to the workpiece holder 10 by means of suitable magnetic aids.

[0030] The machine-operated arm 20, which is designed as a robotic arm with a plurality of axes of rotation, as illustrated in FIG. 1, can have a swivel head 25, which can be moved and pivoted as desired by the machine-operated arm 20 relative to the workpiece holder. The machine-operated arm 20 can be controlled and regulated by the machine control system.

[0031] The swivel head 25 comprises at least one tool holder, which can hold the measuring apparatus 30 and the faceting tool 40 and which can bring the measuring apparatus 30 or the faceting tool 40 into an engagement position by means of a corresponding swivel movement. The swivel head 25 enables the measuring apparatus 30 or the faceting tool 40 to be brought into an engagement position with respect to the workpiece 2 in order to detect the workpiece 2 by measurement or to machine the workpiece 2 with the faceting tool 40.

[0032] In addition, the swivel head 25 can comprise a gripper 50 (not illustrated), which is set up to lift and turn the workpiece 2.

[0033] The measuring apparatus 30 preferably comprises a line laser designed as an edge detector. To detect the position of the at least one workpiece edge 6 on the first workpiece side 3, the measuring apparatus 30 is guided by the machine-operated arm 20 in parallel with the workpiece holder 10.

[0034] The measuring apparatus 30 can selectively determine the position of the workpiece edge 6 as two-dimensional coordinates (y.sub.1, z.sub.1) or three-dimensional coordinates (x.sub.1, y.sub.1, z.sub.1) in the machine coordinate system using the optical laser measurement method and, on the basis of a plurality of two- or three-dimensional coordinates (x.sub.1, y.sub.1, z.sub.1), and map the position of the workpiece edge 6 in the machine coordinate system for later machining with the faceting tool 40. The calculation of the position of the at least one workpiece edge 6 of the workpiece 2 can be carried out by the machine control system. For example, a vector-based model in the form of CAD data or the like can be exported to an external data carrier via a suitable interface. A continuous course of the entire workpiece edge 6 is determined in a vectorized manner from the plurality of recorded measuring points (“point cloud”).

[0035] The faceting tool 40 comprises a milling spindle 42 and a milling tool 44, which can be designed, for example, as a beveled cutter, a radius cutter, a double radius cutter, etc. The milling spindle 42 drives the milling tool 44, with the milling spindle 42 being controlled or regulated by the machine control system. The shape of the faceting tool 40 corresponds to the facet to be produced.

[0036] The swivel head 25 can exchange the measuring apparatus 30 for the faceting tool 40 and bring it into the engagement position.

[0037] The device 1 can comprise a magazine (not illustrated) which is set up to hold the measuring apparatus 30, different faceting tools 40 or different grippers 50 in order to provide the particular tool required for the swivel head 25.

[0038] According to the invention it is envisaged, when carrying out the method, that the workpiece 2 is first provided for faceting by laser cutting, punching, nibbling, cutting, sawing or the like and is positioned on the workpiece holder 10 with any orientation. The workpiece 2 is then secured on the workpiece holder 10 by the negative pressure, magnetic and/or force clamp 17.

[0039] The machine-operated arm 20 then moves with the measuring apparatus 30 along the workpiece holder 10 in a predetermined pattern and detects the position of the at least one workpiece edge 6 by measurement. For this purpose, the position (x, y, z) is detected three-dimensionally in the machine coordinate system at at least two points, wherein the position of the workpiece edge 6 corresponds to the vector (X, Y, Z) between at least two adjacent positions (x.sub.i, y.sub.i, z.sub.i) and (x.sub.i+1, y.sub.i+1, z.sub.i+1).

[0040] As soon as the position of the at least one workpiece edge 6 of the at least one workpiece 2 is determined, the tool or the measuring apparatus 30 on the powered arm 20 can be exchanged for the faceting tool 40 and brought into the engagement position.

[0041] The machine control system calculates a travel path for the machine-driven arm 20 with the at least one faceting tool 40 and moves along the at least one workpiece edge 6 of the at least one workpiece 2 with the faceting tool 40 and works the facet into the workpiece 2 with the milling tool 44.

[0042] After the at least one workpiece edge 6 has been traversed by the faceting tool 40, the swivel head 25 can exchange the faceting tool 40 for the gripper 50 and turn the at least one workpiece 2. First, the securing action of the clamping apparatus 16 is released and the gripper 50 can grip the workpiece 2, for example by means of negative pressure, electromagnetically and/or permanent magnetically or mechanically.

[0043] A second gripper (not illustrated) or a suitable auxiliary apparatus (not illustrated) can furthermore be provided to grip the workpiece 2 with the gripper 50 in a different way. To machine the second workpiece side 4, the gripper 50 positions the workpiece 2 with its first workpiece side 3 on the workpiece holder 10. The workpiece 2 is then secured again on the workpiece holder 10 by the clamping apparatus 16.

[0044] The machine control system can furthermore determine the at least one workpiece edge 6 on the second workpiece side 4 by transforming the position of the at least one workpiece edge 6 on the first workpiece side 3, such that the at least one workpiece edge 6 on the second workpiece side 4 can be traversed by the faceting tool 40—without re-determining the position of the at least one workpiece edge 6 on the second workpiece side 4 by means of the measuring apparatus 30.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0045] 1 device [0046] 2 workpiece [0047] 3 first workpiece side [0048] 4 second workpiece side [0049] 5 end face [0050] 6 workpiece edge [0051] 10 workpiece holder [0052] 15 supporting table [0053] 17 clamping apparatus [0054] 20 machine-operated arm [0055] 30 measuring apparatus [0056] 40 faceting tool [0057] 42 milling spindle [0058] 44 milling tool [0059] 50 gripper