ECM SYSTEM, HAVING A HOLDER AND A MACHINING PLATFORM

Abstract

The invention relates to an ECM system comprising a holder for the arranging of at least one component to be machined and at least one machining station for the electrochemical machining of the at least one component at at least one machining position. The ECM system has a positioning apparatus, which is designed to mount, in a predefined position, a machining platform arranged on the positioning apparatus, and the machining platform comprises at least one machining station having at least one electrode arranged thereon, which electrode can be moved along a machining path in order to machine the at least one component that can be arranged on the holder.

Claims

1. An ECM system having a holder for arranging at least one component to be machined and having at least one machining station for the electrochemical machining of the at least one component at at least one machining position, wherein the ECM system has a spatially adjustable positioning apparatus which, after the setting up of the positioning apparatus, is designed to mount a machining platform arranged thereon in a position defined in advance, wherein the machining platform has at least one machining station having at least one electrode arranged thereon, which is movable along a machining path in order to machine the at least one component that is arranged on the holder.

2. The ECM system according to claim 1, wherein the spatial position of the holder is adjusted opposite the positioning apparatus.

3. The ECM system according to claim 1, wherein several machining platforms are arranged interchangeably at the positioning apparatus.

4. The ECM system according to claim 1, wherein a clamping apparatus for at least one component to be machined, on which clamping apparatus the at least one component is arranged in a position defined in advance and which clamping apparatus, together with the at least one component, is arranged in a predefined position at the holder.

5. The ECM system according to claim 1, wherein a positionable electrode carrier is arranged at the at least one machining station, and at least one electrode is arranged in a predetermined position on said electrode carrier.

6. The ECM system according to claim 1, wherein the holder is defined as movable around an axis of rotation and/or along at least one movement path, in order to move at least one component arranged thereon, into a machining position.

7. The ECM system according to claim 1, wherein the positioning apparatus has a zero-point clamping system for positioning the machining platform and/or the holder and/or the electrode carrier of the machining station.

8. The ECM system according to claim 1, wherein supply connections for power and/or media including electrolyte, compressed air, and/or hydraulic fluid, are arranged at the machining platform.

9. The ECM system according to claim 1, wherein several machining stations operated in parallel are arranged at the machining platform, so that a machining can be carried out that is parallel in time and at several positions that are locally distanced from one another and arranged on the component.

10. The ECM system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one machining station arranged at the machining platform has a drive apparatus for driving the electrode or the electrode carrier on a fixed predefined movement path.

11. The ECM system according to claim 1, wherein an adjusting device having a first adjusting apparatus is arranged at the positioning apparatus to set up the position of the positioning apparatus by additionally having a second adjusting apparatus that is arranged at the first adjusting apparatus for setting up the position of the holder, wherein the adjusting apparatus has a third adjusting apparatus that is arranged on the holder for setting up the position of the at least one electrode carrier and/or for setting up the position of the at least one electrode.

12. A method for preparing the ECM system in advance according to claim 1 for holding and machining at least one component, wherein the ECM system has a positioning apparatus for positioning a machining platform (20) and a holder for arranging a clamping apparatus and at least one component comprises the following steps: a) arranging an adjusting device at the positioning apparatus; b) adjusting the positioning apparatus; d) arranging the machining platform at the adjusted positioning apparatus; and f) arranging the clamping apparatus at the holder.

13. The method for preparing in advance an ECM system according to claim 12, wherein, prior to step d), the following step is carried out; c) adjusting the holder opposite the adjusting device.

14. The method for preparing in advance an ECM system according to claim 12, wherein, prior to step f), the following steps are carried out: e1) arranging a third adjusting apparatus at the holder; and e2) adjusting an electrode carrier that is arranged at a machining station or an electrode arranged thereon opposite the holder by the third adjusting apparatus, wherein the step e2) is may be or may not be executed repeatedly after a repeated carrying out of step e1), corresponding to the number of machining stations arranged at the machining platform.

15. An arrangement of several ECM systems according to claim 1 for the flexible machining of identical and/or different components, wherein a component arranged at a clamping apparatus, after a machining in a machining platform of a first EMC system, together with the clamping apparatus, is arranged in a holder of a second ECM system, in which the component is held in precise position, and, is machined as positioned without additional positioning relative to the machining platform of the second ECM system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0039] Further features, advantages and application possibilities of the invention result from the following description in connection with the figures. Herein:

[0040] FIG. 1a shows a schematic three-dimensional representation of an excerpt from an exemplary ECM system according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 1b shows a schematic view from the top onto the excerpt from an exemplary ECM system according to the invention shown in FIG. 1a;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows the schematic view from the top from FIG. 1b, wherein a first adjusting apparatus of an adjusting device is arranged at the ECM system;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows the schematic view from the top from FIG. 1b, wherein a first adjusting apparatus and a second adjusting apparatus of the adjusting device are arranged at the ECM system;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows the schematic view from the top from FIG. 1b, wherein a machining platform and a third adjusting apparatus of the adjusting device are arranged at the ECM system;

[0045] FIG. 5 shows the schematic view from the top from FIG. 1b, wherein the machining platform and a component arranged at a clamping apparatus are arranged in the ECM system;

[0046] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary three-dimensional representation of the excerpt from another exemplary ECM system according to the invention; and

[0047] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a flow chart of the method according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0048] FIG. 1a shows a schematic three-dimensional representation of an excerpt from an exemplary ECM system 10 according to the invention. The ECM system 10 has a holder 12 arranged on a machine table 8 for arranging at least one component 50 to be machined (see FIG. 5) and with at least one machining station 22 (see FIGS. 4, 5) for the electrochemical machining of at least one component 50 at at least one machining position. The ECM system 10 has a positioning apparatus 11 which can be spatially set up, relative to which the spatial position of the holder can be designed as adjustable. The positioning apparatus 11 is designed to mount a machining platform 20 (see FIGS. 4,5) arranged thereon after said setting up in a predetermined position, wherein the machining platform 20 has at least one machining station 22 having at least one electrode 25 arranged thereon (see FIGS. 4,5), which can move along a machining path in order to machine at least one component 50 that can be arranged at the holder 12. In order to provide the machine table 8 of the ECM system 10, a surrounding housing (not shown) is provided, whereby the machining can be carried out in an encapsulated manner relative to the environment.

[0049] FIG. 1b shows a schematic view from the top onto the excerpt of an exemplary ECM system according to the invention shown in FIG. 1a, wherein identical elements of the ECM system 10 are provided with identical reference numbers. The ECM system 10 has correspondingly at least one positioning apparatus 11 having four adjustable pickups and a holder 12, as well as a supply apparatus 7 with media connections (not shown) as well as a control apparatus 5 for controlling the ECM system 10.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows the schematic view from the top from FIG. 1b, wherein a first adjusting apparatus 31 of an adjusting device 30 is arranged at the ECM system 10. The first adjusting apparatus 31 serves for the spatial setting up of the positioning apparatus 11, the four pickups of which that are arranged in a rectangle or square are applied against the first adjusting apparatus 31 via contact surfaces. In this way, said pickups are moved into or set up in a predetermined position relative to the first adjusting apparatus, and are fixed in place there, for example, by means of a zero-point clamping system.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows the schematic view from the top from FIG. 1b, wherein a first adjusting apparatus 31 and a second adjusting apparatus 32 of the adjusting device 30 are arranged at the ECM system 10. The first adjusting apparatus 31 serves here for positioning the second adjusting apparatus 32 relative to the positioning apparatus 11, which has already been set up and fixed in place. In this way, the spatial position of a spatially adjustable holder 12 can be set up relative to the positioning apparatus 11. Such a second adjusting apparatus 32 can be precisely mounted at the first adjusting apparatus 31 via fitting surfaces 34, so that in one embodiment of the ECM system with a holder 12 arranged on the ECM system 10 in a spatially movable manner in a suitable way, said holder can be exactly adjusted relative to the adjusting device 30. In the example of FIG. 3, the holder 12 is positioned in the set-up position at the ECM system 10, for example, by means of a suitably designed zero-point clamping system. In particular, in the case of the schematically shown exemplary embodiment, all elements of the ECM system 10 to be set up will be adjusted to the axis of rotation A, whereby a flexible arrangement of the elements, particularly interchangeable elements, of the ECM system 10 is possible. Therefore, for example, in the case of a disruption, the latter can be avoided relatively simply on another correspondingly designed ECM system 10.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows the schematic view from the top from FIG. 1b, wherein a machining platform 20 and a third adjusting apparatus 33 of the adjusting device 30 are arranged at the ECM system 10. The machining platform 20 has four machining stations 22, on which electrodes 25 on electrode carriers 24 are arranged. The third adjusting apparatus 33 is positioned at the holder 12 via fitting surfaces and serves for the spatial positioning and thus for the setting up of the electrodes 25 or the electrode carrier 24 relative to the holder 12.

[0053] FIG. 5 shows the schematic view from the top from FIG. 1b, wherein the machining platform 20 and a component 50 arranged at a clamping apparatus 16 are arranged in the ECM system 10. The component 50 that particularly can be introduced from the top and can be removed again from the top is positioned on the holder 12, so that it can be moved by a predetermined movement of the holder 12 precisely from one machining position to another. The machining is conducted, for example, by a precise electrochemical machining process (PECM process), wherein several recesses are sunk electrochemically and simultaneously for producing the machining at the periphery of the component 50.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary three-dimensional representation of the excerpt from an exemplary ECM system according to the invention from FIG. 5. The ECM system 10 has a holder 12 for arranging at least one component 50 to be machined and a machining platform 20 with four machining stations 22 for the electrochemical machining of the component 50 in at least one machining position. The machining stations 22 of the exemplary machining platform 20 have a drive apparatus 23 for driving the electrodes 25 or the electrode carrier 24 on a fixed movement path defined in advance. The predefined movement path in the case of the embodiment example corresponds each time to the axis of movement of the drive apparatus 23 of the particular machining station 22. Thus, a machining of the component 50 can be carried out parallel in time and at local separation from each other in up to four positions. The component 50 of the exemplary embodiment shown is designed as rotationally symmetric and is machined at its periphery, wherein the machining path in this case corresponds to a straight line, in particular, which is arranged at an inclination to the axis of rotation of the component.

[0055] The ECM system 10 further has a positioning apparatus 11 that can be set up in space and on which the machining platform 20 can be mounted, positioned in a predetermined position at connection receivers 21 of the machining platform 20, after setting up the positioning apparatus 11. The positioning apparatus 11 is designed in this case so that several machining platforms 20 can be arranged interchangeably thereon. The positioning apparatus 11 has a zero-point clamping system, for example, for positioning the machining platform. The spatial position of the holder 12 can be designed as spatially adjustable relative to the positioning apparatus 11, and also the holder 12 can have a zero-point clamping system for simplifying its set-up. In the exemplary embodiment, each of the machining stations 22 has an electrode 25 arranged thereon, which is movable along a machining path for machining the component 50 arranged on the holder 12. For this, a positionable electrode carrier 24 is provided at each machining station 22, and at least one electrode 25 is arranged on this carrier in a predetermined position. The electrode carrier 24 can also be equipped with a zero-point clamping system for the positioning of the electrodes 25. The component 50 to be machined is arranged in a predefined position at a clamping apparatus 16 and the component 50, together with the clamping apparatus 16, is arranged in a predefined position on the holder 12.

[0056] The holder 16 of the exemplary embodiment as defined is designed as movable around the axis of rotation A, in order to move the component 50 arranged thereon into a machining position. Further, supply connections 27 for power and/or media such as, in particular, electrolyte, compressed air, and/or hydraulic fluid are arranged at the machining platform 20. In this case, the electrolyte flow is produced integrally, for example, through the electrode 25 or in a counterflow process, or by means of a pressure chamber (passive or active rinsing chamber) arranged and controlled at the machining platform 20. In the exemplary embodiment, each machining station 22 is operated in stand-alone manner, in particular relative to advance, voltage, electrolyte supply, particularly by means of a control apparatus. Thus, a combination of individual advance is basically also possible with the use of common ECM parameters. Thus, for example, the admissible current load on the component 50 can be determined by selection of the machining parameters and/or by the number of electrodes 25 found in the procedure, so that disruptions can be assigned to the particular machining station 22 causing said disruptions.

[0057] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a flow chart of the method according to the invention for preparing the ECM system in advance for the holding and machining of at least one component 50. The ECM system 10 in this case has a positioning apparatus 11 for positioning a machining platform 20 and a holder 12 for arranging a clamping apparatus 16 to at least one component 50.

[0058] The method according to the invention has the following steps: In a first step a), an adjusting device 30 is arranged at the positioning apparatus 11. In the second step b) an adjusting of the positioning apparatus 11 is then produced. In an optional third step c), depending on the design of the ECM system, the holder 12 can be adjusted relative to the adjusting device 30. For this purpose, for example, a second adjusting apparatus 32 can be employed. In the fourth step d), the machining platform 20 is arranged at the adjusted positioning apparatus 11, and in a fifth step f), the clamping apparatus 16 is arranged at the holder 12.

[0059] Optionally in the method and prior to the fifth step f), the steps e1) and e2) are conducted, wherein in step e1), a second adjusting apparatus 32 is arranged at the holder 12, and in the step e2), an electrode carrier 24 arranged at a machining station 22 or an electrode 25 arranged thereon is adjusted relative to the holder 12 by means of the second adjusting apparatus 32. In this case, the step e2) can optionally be executed repeatedly after a repeated carrying out of step e1), in particular corresponding to the number of machining stations 22 arranged at the machining platform 20.