A METHOD OF UTILIZING A MILLING MACHINE WITH STATIONARY TOOLS AND A MACHINE FOR PERFORMING THE METHOD

Abstract: Lathes are often occupied turning long production series and it is therefore extremely difficult to interrupt the work in order to deal with a short series. The invention aims at utilizing milling machines for shorts production series, wherein the blank (2) is secured in the holder (1) for milling cutters and stationary machining tools (18) are placed on the milling table (3).

Description: A METHOD OF UTILIZING A MILLING MACHINE WITH STATIONARY TOOLS AND \ MACHINE FOR PERFORMING THE METHOD When machining various blanks it is generally advantageous in the turning operation to strive towards production series as long as possible. This means that a long produc¬ tion series cannot be interrupted in order to deal with another product also requiring turning. Short series can¬ not therefore be accepted since the changeover costs would make them unprofitable. Short series must therefore be refused for reasons of economy, when machines are being used for long production series. The object of the present invention is to enable short series to be undertaken without having to change the machines which are engaged in long production series. This is en- abled by using milling cutters in which the blank to be machined is secured to the holder for a cutting tool and that a number of holders are placed on the milling table ^ provided with fixed, stationary tools. The holder with the blank is programmed to be carried to the various holders with stationary tools and the blank is therefore subjected to various turning operations. Some of the hol¬ ders may contain drills, thus enabling even drilling opera¬ tions to be executed. The holders ' for the various stationary tools are suitably applied on a support surface, said surface preferably being provided with two carrying handles. The holders on the support surface can be adjusted to certain desired positions. In this context both the holder and the tool in relation to the holder may be adjusted. The support surface with holders is secured to a milling table, after which machining can be effecred. The milling cutter may preferably consists of a CNC-program- med cutter. Further characteristics of the invention are revealed in the appended claims. The invention will be described in more detail with re¬ ference to the accompanying drawing. The picture shows a rotating holder (1) for a tool. The holder (1) forms part of a conventional milling cutter. Instead of the holder containing a cutting tool, it con¬ tains a blank (2) to be machined. A support surface in the form of a rectangular girder (4) , provided at each end with a handle, (5 and 6) is placed on a milling table (3). The support surface (4) is designed to receive five different holders (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) for stationary tools. Each holder (7) is secured to the support surface by means of two screws (12 and 12) and is adjustable in transverse direction. Each holder (7) is provided at the top with a tool attachment (13, 14, 15, 16, 17). The tool attach- ent in the holder (7) furthest to the left is designed for a cutting tool (18). The tool (18) can be adjusted via the attachment (13), in relation to the holder (7). The drawing shows two more holders, (10 and 11) of the same type as the holder (7). The tool attachments (16, 17) for holders (10 and 11) are designed for supporting tools. Two more holders, (4 and 9), are also shown, each of these being provided at the further end with a chuck (19 and 20) retaining a drill (21) and a tapping tool (22). Here too the tools are adjustable in relation to the holders (8 and 9). The device according to the present invention functions as follows: the holders (7 to 11) are secured in the de¬ sired positions on the support surface. Both holders and attachments are secured. When the tools have been finally positioned, the support surface with the holders is car¬ ried by the two handles (5 and 6) to a milling table (3) , where it is secured in a predetermined manner. The blank (2) in the holder for cutting tools can now be conrrolled in such a manner that the blank is first presented for machining a holder 7 and thereafter in turn to the tools in the holders (8, 9, 10, 11). Obviously the holder with the blank need not move to the holders in the order men¬ tioned. Different seσuences are also feasible.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of utilizing a milling cutter with milling table, preferably a CNC-controlled cutter for machi¬ ning blanks in one operation or several consecutive operations, at least one of which constitutes turning, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the blank (2) is placed in the holder (1) for tools, preferably cutting tools, that one or more holders (7 - 11) are secured on the milling table (3), each with its own machining tool (18 - 22), both the holder (7) and the tool (18) attached to the holder (7) being secured in predetermined positions, that the blank - (2) is caused via its holder (1) to rotate, and that the holder (1) with the blank (2) is moved to the holder (7) containing the desired machining tool (18). 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which more than one holder containing machining tools are used c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the holders (7- 11) with machining tools (18-22) are secured next to each other on a common support surface (4) said surface being preferably portable as a unit, prefe¬ rably also having two carrying handles (5 and 6) and that the support surface (4) is secured to the milling table (3). 3. A milling cutter for performing the method as claimed * in one or both of claims 1 and 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the holder (1) for the cutting tool forms the holder for the blank (2) to be machined and that a number of holders (7- 11) are secured on the milling table (3), each with ' its own stationary machining tool (18 - 22). 4. A milling cutter as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that a number of hol¬ ders (7 - 11) with machining tools (18 - 22) are placed on a common support surface (4) together with said surface, forming a single, preferably movable unit which can be secured to the milling table (3).

Inventors: ELG REINHOLD, JOHANSSON TAGE, SKOOG STEFAN, ELG, REINHOLD, JOHANSSON, TAGE, SKOOG, STEFAN
Applicants: FIXTURTEKNIK AB
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B23C3
IPC codes: B23C1, B23Q39