MACHINE TOOL AND MACHINING METHOD

Abstract

A machine tool for machining workpieces comprises at least one tool spindle, at least one workpiece table, at least one first tool magazine, and at least one second tool magazine. The at least one tool spindle and the at least one workpiece table are movable relative to one another along a vertical axis and two horizontal axes to machine a workpiece that is clamped on the workpiece table with a tool that is clamped in the tool spindle. The vertical axis and the two horizontal axes are orthogonal to one another. The at least one first tool magazine, a tool set is provided that comprises a plurality of tools for machining, wherein the tools can be selectively clamped in the tool spindle. The at least one second tool magazine, a tool set is provided that comprises a plurality of tools for machining, wherein the tools can be selectively clamped in the tool spindle. Only one tool magazine of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine is active at a time, so that exclusively the tool set from the respective active tool magazine is used for machining the clamped workpiece. There is also provided a corresponding method of machining workpieces.

Claims

1. A machine tool for machining workpieces, comprising at least one tool spindle, at least one workpiece table, at least one first tool magazine, and at least one second tool magazine, wherein the at least one tool spindle and the at least one workpiece table are movable relative to one another along a vertical axis and two horizontal axes to machine a workpiece that is clamped on the workpiece table with a tool that is clamped in the tool spindle, wherein the vertical axis and the two horizontal axes are orthogonal to one another, wherein in the at least one first tool magazine, a tool set is provided that comprises a plurality of tools for machining, wherein the tools can be selectively clamped in the tool spindle, wherein in the at least one second tool magazine, a tool set is provided that comprises a plurality of tools for machining, wherein the tools can be selectively clamped in the tool spindle, and wherein only one tool magazine of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine is active at a time, so that exclusively the tool set from the respective active tool magazine is used for machining the clamped workpiece.

2. The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine are arranged side by side.

3. The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine are arranged one above the other.

4. The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine comprises a tool change site, and wherein the at least one tool spindle changes at the tool change site tools of the active tool magazine according to a pick-up process.

5. The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine comprises a tool change site, and wherein a tool changer is provided that changes tools between the tool spindle and the tool change site of the active tool magazine.

6. The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine comprises a tool change site, wherein a cover is provided for the tool change site of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine, and wherein the cover is closed at least when the respective tool magazine is not active.

7. The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine comprises a tool fitting site, and wherein tools are exchanged at the tool fitting site to equip the inactive tool magazine completely or partially with new tools for machining.

8. The machine tool as claimed in claim 7, wherein each tool magazine is associated with a loading device, and wherein the loading device is arranged to perform at least one of removing tools from and introducing tools into a non-active tool magazine.

9. The machine tool as claimed in claim 8, wherein a common loading device is provided for each of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine.

10. The machine tool as claimed in claim 7, wherein a cover is provided for the tool fitting site of at least one tool magazine, and wherein the cover is closed at least when the respective tool magazine is active.

11. The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one tool spindle is arranged on a moving column to be movable along the vertical axis with respect to the moving column, and wherein the moving column is movable along at least one of the two horizontal axes.

12. The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool spindle is arranged on a portal beam to be movable along the vertical axis with respect to the portal beam, and wherein the tool spindle is movable along at least one of the two horizontal axes with respect to the portal beam.

13. The machine tool as claimed in claim 12, wherein the portal beam is movable along the other one of the two horizontal axes.

14. The machine tool as claimed in claim 12, wherein the portal beam is immobile, and wherein the workpiece table is movable along the other one of the two horizontal axes.

15. The machine tool as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a machine control unit that is configured for operating the machine tool for machining first workpieces and second workpieces that are different from the first workpieces, wherein the first workpieces are machined with the tool set from the active tool magazine of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine, and wherein at the same time a non-active tool magazine of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine is equipped with a tool set for machining the second workpieces.

16. The machine tool as claimed in claim 15, wherein during the machining with tools from the active tool magazine, the cover of the tool change site of the or each non-active tool magazine is closed.

17. The machine tool as claimed in claim 15, wherein during the machining with tools from the active tool magazine, the cover of the tool fitting site of the active tool magazine is closed.

18. A method for machining first workpieces and second workpieces that are different from the first workpieces, comprising the steps of: providing a machine tool, comprising: at least one tool spindle, at least one workpiece table, at least one first tool magazine, and at least one second tool magazine, wherein the at least one tool spindle and the at least one workpiece table are movable relative to one another along a vertical axis and two horizontal axes to machine a workpiece that is clamped on the workpiece table with a tool that is clamped in the tool spindle, wherein the vertical axis and the two horizontal axes are orthogonal to one another, wherein in the at least one first tool magazine, a tool set is provided that comprises a plurality of tools for machining, wherein the tools can be selectively clamped in the tool spindle, wherein in the at least one second tool magazine, a tool set is provided that comprises a plurality of tools for machining, wherein the tools can be selectively clamped in the tool spindle, and wherein only one tool magazine of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine is active at a time, so that exclusively the tool set from the respective active tool magazine is used for machining the clamped workpiece, machining the first workpieces with the tool set from the active tool magazine of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine, and equipping, at the same time, a non-active tool magazine of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine with a tool set for machining the second workpieces.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein during the machining with tools from the active tool magazine of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine, the cover of the tool change site of the non-active tool magazine of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine is closed.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein during the machining with tools from the active tool magazine of the of the at least one first tool magazine and the at least one second tool magazine, the cover of the tool fitting site of the active tool magazine is closed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] Further features and advantages of the disclosure are disclosed by the following description of a plurality of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0056] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a simplified illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of a machine tool;

[0057] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a simplified illustration of the machine tool of FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing a simplified illustration of a second exemplary embodiment of a machine tool having tool magazines that are arranged side by side;

[0059] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing a simplified illustration of an embodiment of a machine tool based on the arrangement of FIG. 2, the machine tool provided with tool magazines that are arranged one above the other; and

[0060] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of a machine tool based on the arrangement of FIG. 3, the machine tool comprising a tool changer and a loading device for each of the tool magazines.

EMBODIMENTS

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view, not drawn to scale, of a machine tool that is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10.

[0062] The machine tool 10 has a moving column 12, which is arranged on a cross member 16 via a first slide guide 14. The moving column 12 can be moved by means of the first slide guide 14 on the cross member 16 in the direction of an axis, which is usually referred to as the y-axis and is symbolically shown here by an arrow 18. It is understood that the moving column 12 is moved on the first slide guide 14 by means of a motor, wherein a corresponding drive unit is not shown here for clarity reasons.

[0063] The cross member 16 is mounted on a machine frame 22 via a second slide guide 20. The second slide guide 20 enables movement of the cross member 16 along a second axis, which is shown here at reference numeral 24. The reference numeral 24 designates the so-called X-axis. It is understood that the movement of the cross member 16 on the second slide guide 20 is also performed with the aid of a suitable drive unit, which is not shown here for clarity reasons.

[0064] A spindle head 25 having a tool spindle 26, which is rotatably mounted therein, is suspended vertically on the moving column 12. At its lower end, the tool spindle 26 comprises a spindle holder 28, in which a tool holder 29 having a tool 30 attached thereto can be clamped in a generally known manner. Typically, the tool holder is standardized and of the steep taper (SK) or hollow shank taper (HSK) type. The tool spindle 26 is configured to rotate the tool 30 about its spindle axis 32, which is shown by an arrow 34. Typically, the tool spindle 26 is capable of rotating the machining tool 30 at several thousand revolutions per minute, for instance for drilling and milling workpieces made from metal material.

[0065] The tool spindle 26 can be moved on the moving column 12 along the direction of an arrow 36, i.e. here in the vertical direction, by means of a drive unit, which is also not shown herein, and which can be arranged as a ball screw or linear direct drive. Accordingly, the tool spindle 26 is mounted on the moving column 12 via a third slide guide 38. The movement of the tool spindle 26 in the direction of the arrow 36 is typically referred to as the Z-axis. Typically, the three slide guides 14, 20 and 38 for the three axes of movement 18, 24, 36 are orthogonal to each other.

[0066] Reference numeral 40 designates a workpiece table that is mounted on the machine frame, on which a workpiece 42 to be machined is clamped. Reference numeral 44 designates a housing which encloses the components of the machine tool 10 described hereinbefore. Further, the reference numeral 46 designates a machine control, by means of which any movement of the machine tool 10 as well as auxiliary units (coolant supply, compressed air, and the tool magazine described below) are controlled.

[0067] Hence, that machine tool 10 is a moving column machine having a vertical tool spindle 26, in which all three axes of movement 18, 24, 36 are implemented in the tool 30. It is also possible to relocate one or both of the horizontal axes of motion 18, 24 in the workpiece table 40 in the machine tool of FIG. 1. In addition, instead of a vertically aligned tool spindle 26, the machine tool 10 can also have a horizontally aligned tool spindle.

[0068] During the machining of the workpiece 42, different tools 30 are used, which are kept in stock as a tool set 49 in a first tool magazine 50 shown only rather schematically in FIG. 1.

[0069] For the tool change, the moving column moves to the rear in the y-direction 18, i.e. in FIG. 1 to the right. The tool spindle 26 is now above the tool magazine 50, in which a blank slot is provided, into which the tool spindle 26 now places the tool holder 29 with the tool 30 that was previously in use by movement along the vertical movement axis 36. Then the tool magazine 50 advances and moves an equipped magazine slot into the transfer position below the tool spindle 26, in which a tool holder 29 with a tool 30 now intended for use is located.

[0070] In the alternative, after depositing the “old” tool 30, the moving column 12 can also approach an equipped magazine slot of the first tool magazine 50, in which the tool holder 29 with the tool 30 now intended for use is located.

[0071] In both cases, the tool spindle 12 then picks up a new tool 30 by moving again along the vertical axis of motion 36. This type of tool change is referred to as pick-up process.

[0072] Different tools 30 can thus be moved one after the other into a working space that is designated by 48 in order to machine a variety of first workpieces 42 there, one after the other, with the tools 30 from the first tool set 49.

[0073] When second workpieces 42 that are different from the first workpieces 42 are to be machined on the machine tool 10, tools 30 are generally required for this purpose, which are at least partially different from the tools 30 with which the first workpieces 42 were machined.

[0074] With conventional machine tools, then all or some of the tools 30 in the tool set 49 are replaced, resulting in extended production downtime on conventional machine tools as they are converted from machining first workpieces 42 to machining second workpieces 42.

[0075] The machine tool 10 of FIG. 1 is therefore equipped with a second tool magazine 52, in which a second tool set 53 is kept in stock, the tools 30 of which are used to machine the second workpieces 42, as can be seen in the schematic and sectional front view of the machine tool 10 in FIG. 2.

[0076] Consequently, as soon as the machining of the first workpieces 42 is completed, the machining of the second workpieces 42 can be started immediately because the second tool magazine 52 is already ready with a second tool set 53.

[0077] The loading or equipping of the second tool magazine 52 with the second tool set 53 takes place during the period, in which the first workpieces 42 are being machined with the first tool set 49 from the first tool magazine 50, which is active during this period.

[0078] While the second workpieces are now being machined with the tools 30 from the second, now active tool magazine 52, the first tool set 49 in the first, no longer active tool magazine 50 can be renewed. On the one hand, this may involve that all tools 30 of the first tool set 49 are replaced, or that only some tools 30 are replaced.

[0079] In this way, the downtimes of the machine tool 10 are reduced to a considerable extent, because the setting-up of the respective non-active tool magazine 50, 52 can already take place during the machining of workpieces 42 with tools 30 from the active tool magazine 50, 52.

[0080] Of course, it is possible to provide more than two tool magazines 50, 52 in the machine tool 10.

[0081] If more tools 30 are needed to machine a workpiece 40 than can be stored in a tool magazine 50, 52, the tools from both tool magazines 50, 52 can also be accessed.

[0082] FIG. 3 shows another exemplary embodiment of the machine tool, which is designated by the reference number 100 and is arranged as a portal machine. The reference signs from FIGS. 1 and 2 are used for identical components.

[0083] The machine tool 100 of FIG. 3 comprises a portal beam 55 that is arranged on two cheeks 56 and that extends along the direction of the second axis of motion 24. The portal beam 55 is either fixedly mounted on the cheeks 56 or is mounted for movement on the cheeks 56 along the direction of the first axis of movement 18. If the portal beam 55 is fixedly mounted on the cheeks 56, the first axis of movement 18 is implemented in the workpiece table 40.

[0084] The spindle head 25 is mounted on the portal beam 55 for movement along the direction of the vertical axis of movement 36. The spindle head 25 is further movable along the portal beam 55 along the direction of the second axis of movement 24 so that the tool 30 received in the tool spindle 26 and the workpiece 42 can be moved relative to each other angle all three orthogonal spatial axes 18, 24, 36, commonly referred to as X, Y and Z axes.

[0085] Below the portal beam 55, the first tool magazine 50 with the first tool set 49 and the second tool magazine 52 with the second tool set 53 are arranged in the working space 48.

[0086] As with the machine tool 10 from FIGS. 1 and 2, the tool change is also carried out here in accordance with the pick-up method.

[0087] While the first tool magazine 50 is active, and first workpieces 52 are being machined with the first tool set 49 kept in stock therein, the second tool set 53 can again be renewed in the second tool magazine 52.

[0088] While FIGS. 1 to 3 show the tool magazines 50, 52 arranged side by side, FIG. 4 shows the machine tool 100 of FIG. 3 in an embodiment with tool magazines 50, 52 that are arranged one above the other.

[0089] As a further modification compared to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the workpiece table 40 is arranged here as a swivel table, which can be swiveled about a direction oriented parallel to the second axis of movement 24. Furthermore, in a generally known manner, it is also further possible to rotate or move the workpiece 42 about a vertical axis, which is parallel to the vertical axis of movement 36.

[0090] The workpiece change also takes place in the two tool magazines 50, 52, which are arranged in terraces one above the other, using the pick-up process. The first tool magazine 50, which is located at the bottom, protrudes with its tool change site 58 at the bottom beyond the upper tool magazine 52, so that the tool spindle 26 can deposit tools 30 in and remove them from both the first and the second tool magazines 50, 52.

[0091] In order to protect the tools 30 in the inactive first tool magazine 50 from the entry of contaminants, a cover 59 is provided at its tool change site 58, which can be opened or closed automatically.

[0092] In the illustrated embodiment, the second tool magazine 52 is active, so that the cover 62 is open at its tool change site 61 so that the tool spindle 25 can exchange tools 30 with the second tool magazine 52, which is currently active. The cover 62 can remain open while the workpieces 42 are being machined, or it can be closed again after each tool change.

[0093] The tool magazines 50, 52 are equipped, i.e. the tool magazines 50, 52 are loaded with a new tool set 49, 53, at the rear side of the tool magazines 50, 52, where they each have a tool fitting site 65, 63 with a cover 66, 64.

[0094] The tool change sites 58, 61 and the tool fitting site 63, 65 are formed by openings in housings of the tool magazines 50, 52, which are closed by the covers 59, 62, 64, 66 and are released when required.

[0095] While the tool fitting site 65 is closed by the cover 66 in the case of the active tool magazine 52, the tool fitting site 63 is open in the case of the non-active tool magazine 50, and the cover 64 has been pushed aside so that the tool set 49 can be renewed.

[0096] The lower tool magazine 50 also projects beyond the upper tool magazine 52 at the tool fitting site 63 at the bottom. Nevertheless, the arrangement is such that both tool magazines 50, 52 can store up to eighty tools 30 in a tool set 49, 53. In general, eighty tools 30 are sufficient to machine the workpieces 42.

[0097] A loading device 67 is provided behind the terraced tool magazines 50, 52, which exchanges tools 30 between the inactive tool magazine 50 and a background magazine 71, which is only shown schematically, by means of a tool gripper 68, which can be moved both horizontally and vertically on a column 69.

[0098] From the background magazine 71, the tool set 49, 53 of the respective non-active tool magazine 50, 52 can in this way be completely or partially renewed by means of the loading device 67, while the tool set 49, 53 of the active tool magazine 50, 52 is used to machine workpieces 42.

[0099] While a common loading device 67 is provided for both tool magazines 50, 52 in FIG. 4, a separate loading device 67 may also be provided for each tool magazine 50, 52, as illustrated in FIG. 5, which shows a schematic top view of the machine tool 100 of FIG. 3.

[0100] Incidentally, the tool magazines 50, 52 are chain magazines with tools 30 that are circulating in a loop, which is schematically indicated in FIG. 5.

[0101] In deviation from FIG. 3, the tool change to the tool spindle 26 is also performed here via tool changer 72, wherein a tool changer 72 is provided for each tool magazine 50, 52. The tool changer 72 is shown only schematically. Like the loading device 67, it may comprise a tool gripper, which moves via a suitable mechanism between the tool change site 58, 61 on the respective tool magazine 50, 52 and a changing position, in which it offers a received tool 30 to the tool spindle 26 or receives a used tool 30 therefrom in order to deposit it in the tool magazine 50, 52.

[0102] In the machining state shown in FIG. 5, the tool magazine 50 is active, the tool fitting site 63 is closed and the tool change site 58 is open. In the case of the inactive tool magazine 52, the tool change site 61 is closed and the tool fitting site 65 is open.

[0103] While in the tool magazines 50, 52 of FIG. 4, the tool change takes place from above, i.e. the covers 59, 62, 64, 66 rest on top of the housing of the tool magazines 50, 52, the tool change according to FIG. 5 takes place via the front sides of the housings.