Patent Application
20210023671
The disclosure relates, generally, to the field of live tooling. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a fixture to lock a turret spindle during removal/replacement of live tools in a live tooling computer numerical control (“CNC”) machine.
CNC machines are generally used to cut a component out of a larger piece of material. In addition, live tooling CNC machines allow for secondary features to be machined on the component both around the edge and on surfaces of the component using, for example, drilling and tapping.
The live tools of a live tooling CNC machine can be changed out. Generally, the live tools are secured in a spindle. In order to remove a live tool or insert a new live tool, the spindle must be held in place to prevent the spindle from rotating. Generally, live CNC machines include a two-part tool including a spanner wrench to lock the spindle in place and a second wrench to unlock the live tool. While live CNC machines provide the two-part tool, the two-part tool can be difficult to use because the two-part tool occupies both hands of an operator, thereby making it difficult for the operator to exert the required force to unlock the live tool and pull the live tool from the spindle, if necessary. Furthermore, different factors, such as configuration of the CNC machine, location of the CNC machine, etc., will affect an operator's ability to access the spindle, as well as the gain clearance around the spindle.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the above stated, and other, deficiencies of existing devices used to unlock live tooling from live tooling CNC machines.
To overcome the aforementioned, and other, deficiencies, the present disclosure provides a turret spindle locking fixture.
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a turret spindle locking fixture comprises a base, a flange extending radially inward from the base, and at least one locking structure extending from the flange or the base and adapted to engage a turret spindle.
In accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of removing a living tool from a CNC machine comprises securing a turret spindle locking fixture to a turret spindle including a living tool, causing at least one locking structure of the turret spindle locking fixture to engage a corresponding structure on the turret spindle, thereby preventing rotation of the turret spindle, without a user holding the turret spindle locking fixture in position, and removing the living tool from the turret spindle using a second device while the turret spindle locking fixture is secured to the turret spindle.
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a turret spindle locking fixture comprises a U-shaped base, a U-shaped flange extending radially inward from an upper surface of the U-shaped base, and at least one locking structure extending from an inner surface of the U-shaped flange or the U-shaped base and adapted to engage a corresponding structure of a turret spindle.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following more particular description of embodiments of the disclosure. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the disclosure.
The features of the present disclosure will best be understood from a detailed description of the disclosure and an embodiment thereof selected for the purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:
Although certain preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present disclosure will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as an example of an embodiment. The features and advantages of the present disclosure are illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings.
As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The U-shaped flange 10 can have an inner surface 12 including at least one locking structure 14. Preferably, and in the embodiment shown in
As will be appreciated, the specific design of the locking structures 14 may vary based on the particular machine that the turret spindle locking fixture 100 engages. Other exemplary locking structures include, but are not limited to, any structures having a corresponding mating structure on the turret spindle (e.g., protuberances, recesses, teeth, continually increasing radius, etc.) and other mechanical buttons.
The U-shaped base 20 and U-shaped flange 10 can each have an approximate radius R2 and R1, respectively. Radius R1 of the U-shaped flange 10 can be slightly larger than a radius of the turret spindle so that the turret spindle locking fixture 100 can be easily positioned around at least a portion of the turret spindle, while still causing the locking structures 14 to engage the turret spindle. In the embodiment shown, radius R2 can be larger than radius R1 to fit around contouring of a turret spindle. However, in another embodiment, a difference between radius R1 and radius R2 may be smaller depending on the machine with which the turret spindle locking fixture 100 will be used.
Importantly, the turret spindle locking fixture 100 can omit a handle extending outward from the turret spindle locking fixture 100. Instead, a user can manipulate the turret spindle locking fixture 100 by grasping the U-shaped base 20.
Importantly, the turret spindle locking fixture 100 can secure to the spindle base 201 without a user needing to continually hold the turret spindle locking fixture 100 in position. The turret spindle locking fixture 100 is, essentially, a hands-free fixture as it prevents the turret spindle 200 from spinning without requiring a user to hold the turret spindle locking fixture 100 in place. Because the turret spindle locking fixture 100 is a hands-free fixture, a user can use both hands to remove the living tool 205 from the turret spindle 200.
The turret spindle locking fixture 100 can comprise a metal or metal-based material, a plastic or plastic-based material, or a fiber-reinforced material. Preferably, and in the embodiment shown, the turret spindle locking fixture 100 comprises a metal or metal-based material. Further, in an embodiment, the turret spindle locking fixture 100 can comprise a single molded structure with the locking structures 14 being integrated separately into the U-shaped flange 10 depending on the design of the locking structures 14; however, in further embodiments, the U-shaped flange 10 and U-shaped base 20 can be separately manufactured components and secured to one another through any suitable method known in the art.
The turret spindle locking fixture 100 can have a color which contrasts with the turret spindle 200 to serve as a visual indicator that the turret spindle 200 is locked. This is important to prevent turning on the machine while the turret spindle locking fixture 100 is still in place. Preferably, the turret spindle locking fixture 100 is brightly colored at least on the outer surface of the U-shaped flange 10 and/or the outer surface of the U-shaped base 20. Exemplary suitable colors include, but are not limited to, red, pink, orange, yellow and green.
Also disclosed herein is a method of removing (and, optionally, replacing) a living tool from a CNC machine. The method includes first securing a turret spindle locking fixture, such as one in accordance with any one or more embodiments described herein, to a turret spindle containing a living tool. The user does not hold the turret spindle locking fixture in position because the turret spindle supports the turret spindle locking fixture. In an embodiment, the step of securing the turret spindle locking fixture to the turret spindle comprising placing the turret spindle locking fixture around a portion of the turret spindle such the at least one locking structure physically contacts and engages corresponding structure or devices of the turret spindle. The step of securing the turret spindle locking fixture to the turret spindle may further include engaging the at least one locking structure with a corresponding at least one structure on the turret spindle.
The method further includes removing the living tool using a second device. Because a user does not need to hold the turret spindle locking fixture in place, the user has two hands available to remove the living tool. Generally, a wrench is used to remove the living tool. If the living tool is being replaced, the new tool is then secured in the turret spindle. The turret spindle locking fixture is then removed from the turret spindle prior to using the machine.
The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed or to the materials in which the form may be embodied, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.
It is specifically intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims.
