MACHINE TOOL PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES

SINGLE SPINDLE SCREW MACHINES HAVE REMAINED ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGED IN DESIGN AND OPERATION SINCE EARLY IN THE CENTURY. CAMS AND LEVERS ARE STILL THE PRINCIPAL MEANS OF OPERATING THE SLIDES. ALTHOUGH VERY PRODUCTIVE ONCE SET UP, THE TREND TOWARD SMALLER LOT SIZES, SETUP TIME REQUIREMENTS, AND SUPPORT SKILLS REQUIREMENTS HAVE COMBINED TO SUPPLANT THE USE OF THESE MACHINES WITH GENERAL PURPOSE CNC MACHINES OF MUCH LONGER PART CYCLE TIMES. VARIOUS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO IMPROVE THE DESIGN: HYBRIDIZATION OF CNC FOR CERTAIN FUNCTIONS WITH CAMS STILL REQUIRED, OR SERVO MOTOR CONTROL OF THE CAM ROTATION. NONE OF THESE SOLUTIONS HAVE PROVEN SATISFACTORY. IT IS OUR OBJECTIVE TO DESIGN A SCREW MACHINE EMPLOYING NEW COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY TO CONTROL SPECIAL HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS FOR SLIDE, SPINDLE, AND TURRET FUNCTIONS. THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT ONLY RESULT IN AN EXTREMELY PRODUCTIVE MACHINE, BUT THE TECHNOLOGY MAY BE APPLIED TO ALL TYPES OF METAL CUTTING MACHINES, ENHANCING THE ABILITY OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS TO COMPETE WITH LOW COST FOREIGN PRODUCERS.