I. Robotic tool changer
Generally speaking, CNC machining centre equipped with robotic tool changer machine
tools, they are usually equipped with a tool magazine are disc type tool magazine. So, what is
the robot tool change? As the name suggests, is the machine tool in the need to change the tool
processing time, by the robot to replace the manual completion of the grab knife, select the
knife, tool change operation. Manipulator in the whole process of tool change, responsible for
the tool from the tool magazine and CNC machining centre mutual transfer, to be used
in the tool magazine from the tool installed in the machine tool spindle, at the same time will
not need to use the tool from the spindle to take down and put back to the tool
magazine. CNC machining centre of the main features of robotic tool changing is that
the new tool and the old tool are picked up and operated at the same time, which saves a great
deal of time. Therefore, the robot tool change compared to other ways of tool change, the
advantages of many, fast tool change, the mechanical components of the movement of small
amplitude and so on are the advantages, but also the most mainstream way of tool change.
II, direct tool change
Direct tool change refers to the way in the change, through the tool magazine and the spindle
box to complete the mutual co-ordination, this way of tool change is the most direct way.
Through the judgement in the tool change time, the tool magazine whether there is displacement,
we can also direct tool change way respectively two kinds, the tool magazine shift way and the
tool magazine fixed way. For the tool magazine moving way, the tool magazine can be moved, in
the tool change, the tool magazine into the change to the area, in the tool change work is
completed in the exit of the area. This way of tool change due to more operations in the tool
change, and more requirements in the layout, flexibility, adaptability is poor. In the
stationary mode of tool magazine, the tool selection is mainly carried out through the movement
of the spindle box. The tool magazine can be stationary, or can only be rotated in position. The
former can only be in accordance with the tool sorting tool selection, props less number of CNC
machining centres are more suitable, the latter can be achieved by rotating the tool selection.
This way of selecting tools reduces the tool magazine movement, greatly simplifies the design of
the tool magazine structure, for the tool change time control is also more simple and reliable.
Direct tool change is characterised by slow speed, high failure rate, has been less used.
III, turret head tool change
The so-called turret head tool change is through the rotation of the turret, to allow the need
to use the tool to move the corresponding position of a tool change. Generally it is in
accordance with the sequence of tool change, the advantages of a compact structure, tool change
time is short, the application is mostly in the crankshaft and other long and thin workpieces of
complex processes processing occasions.
Turret head tool change method and direct tool change method has similar advantages, and turret
head tool change can be divided into turret tool holder tool change and turret spindle head tool
change. Turret tool changer is through the turret head rotation to achieve automatic tool
change; turret spindle head tool change method also needs to be equipped with a turret, but
connected to the turret spindle is not a tool holder, but a multi-directional and octopus
tentacles like the distribution of sub-spindle head, and each spindle head will be achieved by
installing the tooling needs to be used in various processes.
When machining on a CNC machining centre, by rotating the turret, each spindle head is rotated
to the machining position in turn according to the set program instructions, thus achieving the
purpose of automatic tool change. As this method is to unify all the sub-spindles in one turret,
it has high requirements for the stiffness of the turret spindle, tool setting.