The present invention relates to a method for drilling at least one hole into a workpiece.
Drilling into a workpiece is difficult, among other things, when the same has one or more cavities or, generally speaking, wall sections, which are arranged offset behind one another. The rear wall section, as seen looking in the drilling direction, for example, impairs drilling in the front wall section. In addition, measures must be taken which prevent damage to this wall section when the penetration is made in the front wall section. Workpieces that are this difficult to drill exist in the form of turbine blades, for example, in which a plurality of holes are to be provided for cooling.
It is known to drill holes into such workpieces by way of laser or electrical discharge machining (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,933 B1). These methods have the disadvantage that the material ablation takes place by heat development, which may result in undesirable damage to sensitive layers. Electrical discharge machining has the further disadvantage that it can only be used for conductive workpieces.
A known alternative is that of using liquid machining jets for drilling. This type of machining has the advantage that no heat develops during drilling and non-conductive workpieces can also be machined. It is known from EP 1 408 196 A2 to introduce the machining head, from which the machining jet exits during drilling, into a cavity of the workpiece and to drill the hole from the inside out. This method has the disadvantage that it can only be used for special geometries of workpieces and holes. Drilling is in particular not possible when the cavity is not accessible to the machining head and/or the drilling direction is oriented perpendicularly to the workpiece surface, for example.
From U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,164 a method for drilling a hole by means of an abrasive jet acting permanently on the workpiece is known. Thus, it is difficult to stop the impact of the jet precisely when it penetrates the workpiece.
A method is disclosed in WO 92/13679 A1, wherein an ultrasonic generator is used to produce cavitation bubbles in a machining jet formed from pure water. The disclosed method is not suitable to drill holes in a workpiece such that undesirable damages are prevented.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a machining arrangement for drilling at least one hole into a workpiece having wall sections disposed behind one another by way of a liquid machining jet, wherein the method and the machining arrangement can be used for a variety of workpiece geometries and substantially prevent undesirable wall damage.
This object is achieved by a method and a machining arrangement, wherein the hole is drilled at least partially by the machining jet impinging on the front wall section in a pulsed manner.
This allows economical drilling of the hole. If the penetration is made by way of a pulsed machining jet, the drilling can be terminated in a timely fashion, and damage to the wall section arranged behind the drilled wall section, as seen looking in the drilling direction, can be substantially avoided. Moreover, a drilling direction is possible which points from the outer side of the workpiece to the inside, so that the method can be used for a variety of workpiece geometries and drilling directions.
Preferably, the hole is produced such it is drilled at least partially by using liquid and abrasive material.
So as to reduce the risk of wall damage even further, a free-flowing protective agent, which is for instance also used to generate the machining jet, is preferably used to fill the workpiece and/or a sensor device is used to detect the time at which the machining jet penetrates the front wall section.
The invention will be described hereafter based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures.
In the drawings:
The machining device 1 comprises a machining head 10, from which a machining jet exits during operation, and a holding device 11 for holding a workpiece 12. In the present exemplary embodiment, the machining device 1 is configured to generate a machining jet made of a liquid containing or not containing abrasive material. For example, water is suitable as the liquid, and the abrasive material is sand, for example. Other media are also possible as the liquid, for example oil. Furthermore, it is conceivable to add one or more admixtures to the liquid, for instance polymers, to improve the efficacy of the machining jet.
The machining device 1 further comprises a basin 1b, which is delimited by walls 1a and in which the holding device 11 together with the workpiece 12 is disposed and into which the machining head 10 protrudes.
The operating device 2 comprises units for outputting and/or inputting information, such as a keyboard, monitor and/or pointing device. The control cabinet 3 comprises the controller, which includes means for data processing and for generating control signals for operating the machining device 1. The controller is equipped with a program, during the execution of which the method described below for drilling holes into the workpiece 12 can be carried out. The controller is designed in the form of a CNC controller, for example.
The pump device 4 is configured to conduct the liquid, such as water or another medium, under high pressure to the machining head 10.
The machining head 10 can be moved in several axes; in the present exemplary embodiment it is 5 axes. For this purpose the machining head 10 includes a bridge 13, which can be moved in the Y axis and on which a carrier 15 is disposed. Rails 14, which are disposed on the walls la, are used to displace the bridge 13, for example. The carrier 15 carries the machining head 10 and can be displaced in the X axis, and thus transversely relative to the Y axis, along the bridge 13.
As the detailed view in
Moreover, a feed device 40 for adding abrasive material and a measuring device 19 are disposed on the carrier 15.
The measuring device 19 is used to measure the workpiece 12 and includes a measuring laser, for example. The measuring device 19 includes a measuring head 19a, which here is disposed on the carrier 15 in such a way that it can be displaced along an axis Z1, which is parallel to the Z axis, and rotated about a rotational axis A disposed transversely relative thereto.
Prior to processing, the exact position of the workpiece surface may be still undefined, for example due to the manufacturing type of the workpiece 12, for example if the same is produced as a casting, and/or as a result of chucking. Using the measuring device 19, the contours of the workpiece 12 can be detected so that the machining head 10 can be precisely positioned in relation to the workpiece surface and the holes can be drilled in the desired locations of the workpiece 12.
The holding device 11 here includes a chuck 21, in which an adapter part 22 for holding the workpiece 12 is chucked. The holding device 11 has a rotational axis D, about which the workpiece 12 can be rotated.
The arrangement here is designed specifically for drilling holes into the workpiece 12, which comprises one or more cavities or, generally speaking, wall sections, which are disposed offset behind one another. The holding device 11 includes a port 26 for introducing a liquid as the protective agent, with which the workpiece 12 is to be filled during machining. Preferably the same liquid, such as water, is used for the machining jet and for the protective agent. For sealing purposes, the free end of the workpiece 12 is provided with a flange 27, which comprises suitable seals. Valve means 28 are provided, for example on the flange 27, which allow the workpiece 12 to be vented when the same is filled with the protective agent. Moreover, the valve means 28 can be designed so that the protective agent can escape from the workpiece 12 when the pressure p of the protective agent exceeds a certain threshold. For this purpose the valve means 28 include a pressure control valve.
Sensor means 7, 8, 9 are provided for monitoring the process. These are designed in such a way that in particular the time can be detected when the machining jet penetrates the wall of the workpiece 12.
The sensor means used here include a pressure sensor 7 for measuring the pressure p of the protective agent in the workpiece 12, and an acoustic transducer 9, by way of which sound propagating in the liquid protective agent can be detected. If the protective agent used is water, the acoustic transducer 9 is designed in the form of an underwater microphone, for example. According to
The sensor means further include a sensor 8 which is located outside the workpiece 12, for example on the holding device 11, as shown in
During machining, structure-borne noise is created in the machine elements, which results in oscillations. An acoustic emission sensor is thus suited as sensor 8, for example. Since the machining jet exits the machining head 10 at high speed, measurable sound is likewise generated, which propagates in the air. It is thus also possible, either additionally or alternatively, to use a microphone as the sensor 8.
When the machining jet penetrates the wall of the workpiece 12 during drilling, the measurement signals supplied by the sensor means 7, 8, 9 change noticeably (see the explanation regarding
As is also shown in
The machining head 10 is rotatably mounted in this example. The high-pressure line is coupled to the inlet 32 by way of conventional components, such as helical high-pressure lines and rotational joints, which allow the machining head 10 to be pivoted relative to the stationary pump device 4.
So as to form the machining jet, the machining head 10 further comprises a collimation tube 35, which is used to guide the introduced liquid and to steady the flow thereof and which is connected to the focusing tube 37 by way of an intermediate part 36. A nozzle for converting the pressure energy into kinetic energy and a mixing chamber, into which an inlet connector 38 leads for supplying abrasive material, are located in the intermediate part 36. The focusing tube 37 is used to accelerate the abrasive material and to align and concentrate the liquid or the liquid/abrasive mixture.
The feed device 40 is also apparent from
The metering device 42 is configured to allow the quantity QA of abrasive material (for example, in units of grams per minute) exiting the feed outlet 42a to be set in a controlled manner. In this example, the metering device 42 is designed in such a way that a switch can be made between the two states, QA equal to zero and QA greater than zero, in a short time tU. The metering device 42 is in particular configured so that abrasive material exits the feed outlet 42a in a constant QA in the state QA>0. The switching time tU is typically in the range of 10 to 200 milliseconds, and preferably in the range of 20 to 100 milliseconds.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the metering device 42 includes a conveyor belt 48, which is shown in dotted fashion in
The sliding part 46 can be displaced back and forth relative to the inlet 45 between two displacement positions, as is indicated by the arrow 47. The displacement of the sliding part 46 is carried out by way of an electric drive or compressed air, for example.
In the one displacement position of the sliding part 46, the channel 46a leading to the feed outlet 42a is connected to the inlet 45. During operation, the abrasive material conveyed by the conveyor belt 48 drops to the inlet 45 as a result of gravitation, where it reaches the machining head 10 via the line 43 and finally is admixed to the liquid. In the other displacement position of the sliding part 46, the channel 46b leading to the drain 42b is connected to the inlet 45, so that the delivered abrasive material reaches the outside via the drain 42b and drops into the basin 1b. The channel 46b thus acts as a bypass channel. Optionally, the drain 42b may be connected to a line so as to conduct the abrasive material to a collection container.
As an alternative to a translational movement of the sliding part 46, it is also conceivable to design the metering device 42 in such a way that the sliding part 46 can be rotated relative to the container 41 back and forth between two positions.
The use of the movable sliding part 46 has the advantage that it is possible to switch back and forth between the two positions in a short time tU and the conveyor belt 48 permanently remains in operation, so that fluctuations in the QA are avoided, and abrasive material, which is to be admixed to the liquid, is conveyed as uniformly as possible to the machining head 10 via the line 43.
In a simpler embodiment, the sliding part 46, together with the drain 42b, may also be dispensed with, so that the supply of abrasive material to the machining head 10 is interrupted, for example by stopping the conveyor belt 48.
Other embodiments of the metering device 42 are also conceivable, so as to selectively allow and interrupt the supply of abrasive material.
For example, the metering device 42 can include a device that allows adjustable volumetric delivery of the abrasive material. For this purpose, a drivable rotating part is provided, for example, which conducts abrasive material through a channel during the rotation. It is also conceivable to draw in and/or redirect abrasive material by way of negative pressure.
In the state of admixing, abrasive material makes its way to the feed inlet 42a from the inlet 45 via the channel 51 and then to the machining head 10 via the line 43. If admixing should be interrupted, a negative pressure is generated in the air duct 52, so that the abrasive material is no longer conducted to the feed inlet 42a, but through the lower end of the air duct 52 to the drain 42b and then is drawn through the line 53b. The air duct 52 thus acts as a bypass channel.
Optionally, measures are taken to prevent the metering device 42 from clogging when liquid from the machining head 10 backs up in the line 43 and the abrasive material is thus wetted.
The process gas supplied via the inlet 62a can be conditioned so as to support the machining operation. For example, the process gas is conditioned in such a way that it has the lowest possible moisture level, thus preventing clogging by abrasive material.
A sensor 63, by way of which liquid flowing back from the machining head 10 can be detected, is also disposed in the auxiliary channel 62. The sensor 63 is designed as a capacitive sensor, for example.
During normal operation, the abrasive material makes its way from the feed device 40 via the inlet 61a and the channels 61 and 62 to the outlet 62b and then to the machining head 10. If a flow back occurs now, liquid thus makes its way through the outlet 62b into the auxiliary channel 62, where it is detected by the sensor 63. In this case, the operation of the arrangement is interrupted, and the user can eliminate the cause of the flow back.
A method for drilling holes into a workpiece is described hereafter.
The workpiece 12 to be machined comprises at least two wall sections, which are disposed at a distance from and, as seen looking in the drilling direction, behind one another. When a hole is drilled into the first wall section, the second wall section is located behind the first wall section, as seen looking in the drilling direction. When the machining jet penetrates the first wall section, it should generally be avoided that the jet impinges on the second wall section, thereby damaging the same.
In the method described hereafter, the holes to be drilled can be designed as shown in
For drilling, the arrangement is operated so that the machining jet selectively acts on the workpiece continuously (hereinafter referred to as “continuous mode”) or in a pulsed manner (hereinafter referred to as “pulsed mode”). In the continuous mode, the machining jet permanently exits the machining head 10 onto the workpiece 12, wherein abrasive material is continuously admixed to the machining jet. An abrasive liquid jet thus acts continuously on the workpiece 12. In the pulsed mode, either the admixing of the abrasive material is interrupted recurrently, so that only a machining jet made solely of liquid impinges on the workpiece, or the impingement of the entire machining jet onto the workpiece is interrupted recurrently.
Different times t0, t1, t2, . . . , t24 are marked on the respective time axis t.
The drilling process begins at time t0. Machining in the example shown here is first carried out in the continuous mode until the drilled depth has reached a certain portion of the total length L of the hole to be drilled. Machining then continues in the pulsed mode. This is the case in the example according to
It is also conceivable to interrupt the supply of abrasive material within the continuous mode. For example, depending on the depth of the hole to be drilled, it is possible that abrasive material collects on the resulting drilling end which is advanced by the machining jet. This may have a cushioning effect, so that the machining jet impinges on the workpiece with reduced energy. So as to deliver this collected abrasive material out of the drilling end, it is possible to interrupt the supply of abrasive material once or multiple times during the continuous mode, so that the hole drilled up until then is washed out solely with liquid. In
In the pulsed mode, the entire machining jet is switched off intermittently, or only the supply of abrasive material. The latter—as explained above—may be necessary to wash collected abrasive material out of the drilled hole. In the example according to
The pulsed mode during drilling is designed so that the pulse width (for example, interval from t12 to t13) is smaller than the time interval between the pulses (for example, interval from t13 to t14). Typically, the duration of the pulses ranges from 80 to 200 milliseconds, while the duration of the interruption between the pulses ranges from 50 to 120 milliseconds.
When the machining jet now penetrates the wall of the workpiece, the measurement signals supplied by the sensor means 7, 8, 9 change noticeably. In the example according to
In the example according to
So as to be able to carry out the drilling in a controlled manner, a mathematical model is employed, for example, which determines the process parameters, for example from the parameters of the hole to be drilled, such as the depth and shape. Such process parameters are, for example: material sizes such as thickness and composition, the length L of the respective hole to be drilled, the measured values for the position coordinates of the workpiece surface, the amounts of Q and QA as a function of the drilling depth T, the pressure of the liquid delivered by the pump device 4, the time where a transition is made from the continuous to the pulsed mode (in the example according to
The mathematical model can be created based on measurement results, for example, which were gained from drilling test holes into a workpiece.
In one continuation of the method, the cavities of the workpiece are filled with a protective agent in the form a liquid, such as water. When the machining jet now penetrates a wall section, it is cushioned by the liquid protective agent so that it impinges with decreased energy on a wall section disposed behind a hole, as seen looking in the drilling direction. This wall section is thus protected from damage.
The outside openings leading into the cavities are sealed for the filling of the workpiece, so that protective agent can be pumped into the cavities via at least one feed line. In
After the first hole has been drilled, protective agent exits the same. In the example according to
If the hole is reshaped after penetration by way of individual pulses, the respective time interval between the pulses is typically selected to be larger than the lengths of the individual pulse. (In the example according to
In one continuation of the method, the instantaneous flow of the protective agent out of the drilled hole can be used to evaluate the quality of the drilled hole. For example, using the desired dimension of the hole to be drilled, it is possible to determine the flow rate QS of protective agent through the pump that is to be expected (for example, in units of liters per minute). The instantaneous flow can be determined by way of a flowmeter. If this flow rate is considerably different from the expected value QS, in particular considerably smaller, it can be concluded that the hole does not have the desired dimension and thus may have to be reworked. It is also conceivable to evaluate the shape of the jet with which the protective agent exits the hole after penetration, for example optically by way of a laser (for example, that of the measuring device 19) or a camera. For example, if the hole is too small, the jet will not shoot as far out of the workpiece surface as expected.
Quality control based on the flow of the protective agent is particularly helpful when drilling a plurality of holes into the workpiece, since complex measuring of all holes after drilling may thus be dispensed with.
Numerous modifications are available to a person skilled in the art from the above description without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the claims.
In the above-described exemplary embodiment, for example, the machining head 10 can be moved in multiple axes, while the holding device 11 can only be rotated about one rotational axis. Depending on the application purpose, the number of axes about which the machining head and holding device can be moved may be different, so as to allow a relative movement between the machining head and the workpiece. In one variant, for example, the machining head 10 can be arranged in a stationary manner, while the holding device is movable about multiple axes, for example about three translational axes and two rotational axes. The holding device can be designed as a robotic arm, for example.
In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the workpiece 12 is horizontally oriented. The arrangement can also be designed so that the workpiece 12 is held in a different position, for example also extending vertically.
The example according to
In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the flow of the protective agent through the drilled hole is used to assess the quality of the hole. It is also conceivable to use a different medium. For example, air can be conducted through a respective hole, and the flow thereof can be recorded. If deviations from the theoretical value are measured, the shape of the hole, such as the minimum diameter thereof, does not correspond to the desired dimensions. The hole can be appropriately reworked.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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00493/13 | Feb 2013 | CH | national |