Design of an Automatic Tool Changer System for Milling Machining Centers

Abstract:

In the field of manufacturing processes it is observed that the trend is to produce more and more fast, efficiently parts with high complexity, which involves using a high number of tools in the machining process. One of the main solutions for high speed and efficient manufacturing is based on the full automation of the entire manufacturing process. The automatic changing of the tools involved in the manufacturing process is carried out by the automatic tool changing mechanism, thus the auxiliary non-productive time consumed with the tool change is highly minimized. In this paper we present a novel automatic tool changer which is both simple and compact, and any milling machining center provided with chain or disc tool magazine can be equipped with. Also by adopting the use of this tool changing mechanism other subassemblies of the tool changing system, such as the tool transfer mechanism and the waiting position, are substituted by this changing mechanism. The auxiliary movements needed to bring the tool from the magazine into the waiting position are overlapped with the machining time, so that the total time for exchanging the tool in the spindle with the tool from the magazine is minimized.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 371)
• Pages: 69-73
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.371.69
• Online since: August 2013
• Authors: Claudiu Obreja, Gheorghe Stan, Dragoș Andrioaia, Marian Funaru
• Keywords: Automatic Tool Changer, Auxiliary Movements, Auxiliary Time, Mechanical Arm, Milling Machining Center, Tool Magazine

References

[1] J. Fleischer, B. Denkena, B. Winfough & M. Mori, Workpiece and tool handling in metal cutting machines, CIRP Annals-Manufacturing Technology 55 (2006) 817-839.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cirp.2006.10.009

[2] S.H. Yan, C.W. Yiou, C.F. Chen & P. Chang, On the classification of automatic tool changers for machining centers, Proceedings of ASME, Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Boston, 1 (1995) 931-936.

DOI: 10.1115/detc1995-0122

[3] F. Chen, S.H. Yan, Configuration synthesis of machining centres with tool change mechanism, International Journal of Machine Tools & Manufacture 39 (1999) 273-295.

DOI: 10.1016/s0890-6955(98)00030-3

[4] G. Constantin, A. Ghionea, M. Zapciu, Structural configuration methods for machine tools, 7th International Multidisciplinary Conference, Baia Mare, 2007, pp.107-114.

[5] M. Chong, L. Jing, L. Quanpu, A novel dual-cam linkage drive automatic tool changer for horizontal machining center, Intelligent Robotics and Application Part II, (2008) 368-377.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-88518-4_40

[6] M.I. Gokler, M.B. Koc, Design of an automatic tool changer with disc magazine for a CNC horizontal machining center, Int. J. of Machine Tools and Manufacture, 37 (1997) 277-286.

DOI: 10.1016/s0890-6955(96)00066-1

[7] L. Zhang, L. Wang, Machining center automatic ATC analysis and research, ICIII Part 1, China (2010) 686-689.