Machining Center having Arrangement for Absorbing Thermal Expansion

Abstract

A machining center includes a rectangular base; two walls disposed on two sides of a top of the base respectively; two parallel rails disposed on a top of each wall, the rails extending in X-direction; two sliding members each slidably disposed on the rails on each wall; two parallel rail members disposed on a top of each sliding member, the rail members extending in Y-direction; a transverse beam having a first end secured to one sliding member and a second end slidably disposed on the other sliding member; and a sliding element slidably mounted on a front surface of the transverse beam. The second end of the transverse beam may move relative to one sliding member in response to heat buildup in the transverse beam.

Claims

1. A machining center comprising: a rectangular base; two walls disposed on two sides of a top of the base respectively; two parallel rails disposed on a top of each wall, the rails extending in X-direction; two sliding members each slidably disposed on the rails on each wall; two parallel rail members disposed on a top of each sliding member, the rail members extending in Y-direction; a transverse beam having a first end secured to one sliding member and a second end slidably disposed on the other sliding member; and a sliding element slidably mounted on a front surface of the transverse beam; wherein the second end of the transverse beam is configured to move relative to one sliding member in response to heat buildup in the transverse beam.

2. The machining center of claim 1, wherein the transverse beam includes two parallel sets of at least one grooved member on a bottom of the first end, the parallel set of at least one grooved member being slidably seated on the rail members.

3. The machining center of claim 1, wherein the transverse beam includes two parallel rail elements on the front surface, the sliding element being slidably disposed on the rail elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bridge type machining center according to the invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the machining center;

[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the grooved members to be mounted between the bottom of the transverse beam and the rail members on top of one sliding member;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the mounted grooved members to be further mounted on the rail members;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a top view showing the sliding movements of the transverse beam by means of moving the sliding members along the rails;

[0015] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the central portion of FIG. 5 showing the sliding movements of one end of the transverse beam by means of moving the grooved members along the rail members; and

[0016] FIG. 7 is a top view showing the sliding movements of a transverse beams of a conventional machining center by means of moving along rails on a top of each wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a machining center in accordance with the invention comprises a rectangular base 10; two walls 11 on both sides of a top of the base 10 respectively; two parallel rails 12 on a top of each wall 11, the rails 12 extending in X-direction; two sliding members 20 each slidably disposed on the rails 12 on each wall 11; two parallel rail members 21 on a top of each sliding member 20, the rail members 21 extending in Y-direction; a transverse beam 30 including two parallel sets of a plurality of grooved members 31 on a bottom of one end, the grooved members 31 being slidably seated on the rail members 21, the grooved members 31 being adapted to efficiently transfer heat from the transverse beam 30 to the rail members 21, and two parallel rail elements 32 on a front surface, and a sliding element 40 slidably mounted on the rail elements 32.

[0018] In addition to moving along the rail elements 32 in Y-direction, the sliding element 40 is adapted to move in Z-direction for adjustment purpose.

[0019] In response to heat buildup in the transverse beam 30 in operation, the transverse beam 30 may transfer a substantial portion of heat to the grooved members 31 which in turn expand along the rail members 21 by absorbing the thermal expansion in the transverse beam 30, thereby preventing the transverse beam 30 from being deformed adversely.

[0020] While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.