Claims:1) A High Accuracy Quick Change Clamping System on a cross slide of CNC Lathe is characterized by:

(i) A Cross slide (2) provided on the saddle of a CNC Lathe, enabled to effect a quick change of tools comprising plurality of bores in the cross slide (2), each bore characterized by a zero point clamping mechanism (21) inside it, that allows for quick change of tools mounted on a variety of tool holders (22) from a linear tool holder on a T-Slot Plate (3) with a locating repeatability of less than 0.1 mm in all 3 axis when hydraulic or pneumatic pressure is released, having retractable nipples (20) on the bottom of it and carry a linear tool Holder System, Live Driven tool system, Grinding Attachment or any similar attachment to a turret or any combination of tool holders thereof; wherein, the zero point clamping mechanism (21) top surface flush with the top surface of the cross slide (2) to minimize the vertical distance between the tool tip and linear motion guide (19), ensuring that the Linear Tool holder T-Slot Plate (3) has full contact area with cross slide (2), which in turn maximizes rigidity;

2) A High Accuracy Quick Change Clamping System on a cross slide of CNC Lathe as claimed herein above, wherein the linear tool holder T-Slot Plate (3) carries a single or multiple tool holders (22) on its top side

3) A High Accuracy Quick Change Clamping System on a cross slide of CNC Lathe as claimed herein above, wherein the Clamping takes place through springs inside the Zero point clamping system (21) and need air or oil to de-clamp the linear tool holder T-Slot Plate (3), wherein oil lines and pneumatic lines to the zero point systems run within the cross slide (2) and there are no visible external pipes.

4) A High Accuracy Quick Change Clamping System on a cross slide of CNC Lathe as claimed herein in the preceding paragraphs and as substantially explained herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
, Description:Technical Field

This invention relates to a quick change system to change a set of tool holders of a CNC Lathe with high accuracy. This invention particularly relates to a quick change system to change a set of tool holders mounted on a T-slot plate on the cross slide of a CNC lathe by using a zero point clamping element.

Background of the Invention

In the existing systems, normally between every job change, the tool holders have to be shifted along the length of the T-Slot plate towards the operator or away from operator i.e. (in a radial direction towards the centre of the main spindle or away from the centre line of main spindle). Or, the tool holders have to be shifted along the width of the T - Slot plate to the right or left direction of the operator’s view i.e. (in a axial direction to the chuck or collect mounted on main spindle towards chuck or collect mounted on main spindle or away from chuck or collect mounted on main spindle). This is mainly done on CNC lathes with linear tooling system, sometimes also called as ‘gang tooling system’ in certain countries, mainly to avoid collision of the tool holder with chuck jaw or the work piece itself, depending on the diameter and length of the work piece. However, this process requires a lot of time and the presence of skilled operators. Every time, after the shifting of the tool holder positions on the T - slot plate, a fresh work piece offset needs to be taken because of the change in the position.

These drawbacks are overcome in the current invention, wherein the customer can buy a plurality number of T- slot plates and tool holders and dedicate each T - slot plate with the required tool holders at the desired positions axially and radially in such a way that no collision would take place for each type of work piece at once, during initial set up.

Objects of the Invention

The primary object of this invention A High Accuracy Quick Change Clamping System on a cross slide of CNC Lathe is to facilitate a quick change system to change a set of tool holders mounted on a T-slot plate on the cross slide of a CNC lathe by using a zero point clamping element.

A further object of this invention is to prevent collision, which would take place for each type of work piece at once, during the initial set up.

Another object of this invention is to reduce the setup time by means of fast clamping and de-clamping mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to Achieve rigidity and stability by integrating the zero point clamping element inside the cross slide through high precision bores in the top surface of the cross slide.

A further object of this invention is to avoid the presence of a lot of skilled workers for changing the tool holders.

Summary of the invention

In the current invention A High Accuracy Quick Change Clamping System on a cross slide of CNC Lathe, the customer can buy a plurality number of T- slot plates and tool holders and dedicate each T- slot plate with the required tool holders at the desired positions axially and radially in such a way that no collision will take place for each type of work piece one time during initial set up. After a batch of work pieces of a particular type have been completed, the entire T-slot plate with the set of tool holders can be removed by de-clamping the T-slot plate from the zero point clamping system by using hydraulic oil with pressure or pneumatic air pressure and stored. When the same work piece has to be produced again, the entire set needs to be inserted on the zero point clamping system which is mounted integrally into the cross slide and the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure needs to be released for the zero point clamping system to clamp the T-slot plate within a locating repeatability of less than 10 microns .001 mm. This high locating repeatability and fast clamping and de-clamping of the T-slot plate ensures minimum set up time, since there is no need to adjust tool holders for each work piece and obtain a fresh tool offset. Each T-slot plate will carry retractable nipples on the bottom side and the cross slide has the zero point clamping elements integrated inside the cross slide.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. A represents the top view of the current invention.
Fig. B represents the isometric view of the current invention.
Fig. C represents the exploded view of the current invention.
Fig. D represents the air/oil line (23) for zero point clamping elements (21).
Fig. E represents the exploded view of the current invention having 4 bores.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention A High Accuracy Quick Change Clamping System on a cross slide of CNC Lathe concerns a cross slide (2) of a lathe which has bores to mount Zero point clamping elements (21), which in turn can locate and clamp a Linear tool holder plate (3) having retractable nipples (20) on the bottom of it. The linear tool holder plate (3) carries a single or multiple tool holders (22) on its top side. The retractable nipples (20) mounted on the bottom of the linear tool holder plate (3) is the interface for the zero point clamping element (21) positioned inside the cross slide (2) to clamp the Linear tool holder plate (3) with a locating repeatability of less than 0.01mm. This has been done in order to enable quick change of linear tool holder plate (3) with a set of tool holders (22) or a base plate (27) with attachments, thereby reducing the setup time.
The Cross slide (2) is mounted on a linear motion guide ways (19) and the bores in the cross slide (2) carries the Zero point clamping system (21) inside it. The zero point clamping element (21) is present within the cross slide (2). Thus, the vertical distance between the Tool Holder (22) tip and the linear motion guide way block (19) is minimized, which in turn reduces the leverage force produced by the cutting tool tip during turning operation on the linear motion guide way block (19) and thus increases rigidity and tool life. The zero point clamping element (21) is at the same height as that of the top surface of the Cross Slide (2). This ensures that the Linear Tool holder plate (3) has full contact area with cross slide (2), thereby ensuring maximum rigidity. The Zero point clamping elements (21) need air or oil to de-clamp the linear tool holder Plate (3). The oil lines and pneumatic lines to the zero point systems run within the cross slide (2) and there are no visible external pipes. The Clamping takes place thru springs inside the Zero point clamping system (21).

Through this unique combination of turret (24) on end of the cross slide (2), more flexibility is achieved because of less tool interference in larger diameter jobs, where more tools are required but there is less productivity because of its movement to the home position for every tool change, when compared to linear or gang tooling system which can change from one tool to another without travelling to the home position as well as provision of quick change of linear or gang tooling system, thereby enabling productivity as well as flexibility.

Fig.C & Fig.E provide examples of the variations possible with the claimed invention. Fig.C provides a simpler variation which is used for a tool holder with a single tool while Fig.E provides another variation with 4 bores, which can be used for holding a turret with multiple tools.

Reference List

1 - Saddle
2 - Cross Slide
3 - Linear Tool Holder Plate with T-Slots
4 - Stopper Plate
5 - End Bearing Plate
6 - End Bearing
7 - Coupling Housing
8 - Ball Screw
9 - Ball Screw Nut
10 - Ball Screw Nut Housing
11 - Zkln Bearing Block
12 - Zkln Bearing Back Plate
13 - Zkln Bearing
14 - Spacer Bush
15 - Lock Nut
16 - Coupling
17 - Servo Motor Plate
18 - Servo Motor
19 - Linear Motion Guide Ways
20 - Retractable Nipple
21 - Zero Point Clamping Elements
22 - Tool Holder
23 - Oil Line / Air Line
24 - Multi Station Bi Directional Turret
25 - Grinding Spindle
26 - Driven Tool
27 - Base Plate
28 - Handle