Unit – II

Tooling for CNC machines

Dept Of Mechanical Engineering MRCET 12

Preset Tools
The setting of tools in advance at a place away from the machine tool or offline, in
special holders is known as preset tools. A presetting device is used to preset axial and
radial positions of the tool tip on the tool holder. Once this is done, the tool holder is
ready to be mounted on the machine and produce a known dimension. Presetting
devices to various levels of sophistication are available like optical projector. Tool
length and tool diameter compensation facilities available in the present day CNC
machines have brought down the importance of presetting. Since the generation of
actual geometry is taken care of by the CNC part program, which is essentially the
coordinates through which the cutting tool tip moves, it is important to know the actual
dimensions of the tool when it is placed in the spindle. The relationship of the tool with
reference to the tool holding mechanism requires a special attention during CNC
machining process. The actual point to be programmed in a CNC part program is the tip
of the tool whereas the axes will be moving with respect to a known point in the
spindle, e.g. the centre of the spindle in case of machining centres. It becomes therefore
necessary to know precisely the deviation of the tool tip from the gauge point on the
spindle.

Qualified Tools

Dept Of Mechanical Engineering MRCET 13

 Tool which fits into a location on the machine, where its cutting edge is accurately
positioned within close limits relative to a specified datum on the tool holder or slide, is
known as qualified tool. The cutting tools satisfy the following requirements:
(a) Tools need not be measured individually.

(b) No presetting device is used.

(c) The dimensions of the tool holder which are fixed and known.

(d) Set up time is reduced.

(e) Control dimensions of the tool are nominal and fixed.

(f) Higher control on resharpening e.g. drills, reamers.

(g) Cutter for better size control e.g. end mills, teamers.

(h) Chip breaking facilities incorporated in tool.

(i) Impoved designs.

The qualified tool with holder shown in Figure 5.1

A modular fixturing system is composted of standardized components that allow for

flexible arrangement and interchangeability between different applications. The versatility
of the components makes it a viable alternative to traditional fixturing methods because a
single modular fixture system is capable of doing the same work as numerous dedicated
fixturing systems.
Modular Fixturing Components Tooling Plates and Blocks

As stated above, a modular fixturing system is made up of many flexible and

interchangeable components. Likely the most fundamental and important component is
the tooling plate or tooling block. These are also commonly known as fixturing plates,
tooling columns, and tombstones.

Modular tooling plates feature a grid of locating holes which are used to attach clamping

Dept Of Mechanical Engineering MRCET 14

devices, work supports, stops, and any other components necessary to correctly position the
work piece for the application. The tooling plate's multipurpose holes provide increased
flexibility for other modular components because they can be located or positioned
anywhere on the grid. This allows for many different set ups to be created on a single
fixturing plate.
Quick-Change Tooling System
Insert the collet or tool holder in the spindle. Push back on the quill handle. You’ve turned
Minutes into seconds!
Change Tools in Seconds!
Install the patented Mach-1 mechanical drawbar system in your Bridgeport or other knee
mill to reduce job setup and increase accuracy and repeatability. A ground pull stud snaps
the collet or tool holder in place with a short push of the quill handle. A collet closer will
secure the tool in the collet so that when the collet is removed from the spindle, the tool
will maintain the Z-axis position or length characteristics when needed. The Mach-1
Tooling System will pay for itself in a matter of days!

Dept Of Mechanical Engineering MRCET 15

Automatic head changers:-

An automatic tool changer in a machine tool for automatically changing a tool. The
machine tool includes a main frame, a main spindle head movably provided to the main
frame, a main spindle rotatably disposed in the main spindle head, the main spindle head
being movable in an axial direction of the main spindle, and a tool magazine provided with
a rotatable magazine base for holding a plurality of tool holders and for rotationally
indexing one of the tool holders, whereby the one of rotationally indexed tool holder is
changed by a tool holder provided at the main spindle. The automatic tool changer
comprises; a plurality of tool holder gripping means radially arranged on and pivotably
supported to the magazine base, the tool magazine being secured to a stationary portion of
the main frame, and means for pivotting one of the tool holder gripping means rotationally
indexed independent of remaining tool holder gripping means. The pivotting means moves
the one of tool holder gripping...

Claims

1. An automatic tool changer for use in a machine tool for automatically changing a tool,
the machine tool including a main frame, a main spindle head movably provided with
respect to the main frame, a main spindle rotatably disposed in the main spindle head with
the main spindle head being movable in an axial direction of the main spindle, and a tool
magazine provided with a rotatable magazine base for holding a plurality of tool holders
and for rotationally indexing one of the tool holders such that one of the rotationally
indexed tool holders may be interchanged with a tool holder provided at the main spindle,
the automatic tool changer comprising:

a plurality of tool holder gripping means radially arranged on and pivotably supported by
said magazine base, said tool magazine being secured to a stationary portion of said main
frame; and,
means for pivoting one of said tool holder gripping means independently of the remaining
tool holder gripping means, said pivoting means including a moving means for moving said
one of said tool holder gripping means toward and away from said main spindle, said
moving means being operative to move said one of said tool holder gripping means away
from said main spindle at times when said main spindle head is moved towards a work
piece for machining.

2. The automatic tool changer as defined in claim 1, wherein said tool magazine further
comprises a plurality of pivot shafts radially arranged with respect to said magazine base,
each of said plurality of tool holder gripping means being pivotally supported by a
respective one of said pivot shafts.

3. The automatic tool changer as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said tool holder
gripping means comprises a first portion, an intermediate portion, and a second portion,
said first portion being in association with said magazine base for normally urging said tool
holder gripping means toward said main spindle head, said intermediate portion being
rotatably supported by said pivot shaft, and said second portion being provided with a
bifurcated portion for gripping said tool holder.

4. The automatic tool changer as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivoting means comprises
a first cam follower provided on each of said tool holder gripping means at a position in
confrontation with said main spindle head; and a first cam surface provided on said main
spindle head and at a position in confrontation with said tool magazine, said first cam

Dept Of Mechanical Engineering MRCET 16

follower being selectively engageable with said first cam surface in response to the
movement of said main spindle head.

5. The automatic tool changer as defined in claim 4, wherein said first portion of said tool
holder gripping means comprises a biasing means for biasing said second portion toward
said main spindle head.

6. The automatic tool changer as defined in claim 4, wherein said pivoting means further
comprises a second cam follower provided at said tool holder gripping means at a position
in confrontation with said main spindle head, and a second cam surface provided at said
main spindle head and at a position in confrontation with said tool magazine, said second
cam follower being selectively engageable with said second cam surface in response to
movement of said main spindle head, said second cam surface being adapted to prevent
said tool holder gripping means from excessive pivotal movement to a direction away from
said main spindle head against biasing force of said biasing means.

7. The automatic tool changer as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said tool holder
gripping means defines a central line along longitudinal direction thereof, said first cam
follower being positioned opposite to said second cam follower with respect to said central
line.

8. The automatic tool changer as defined in claim 3, wherein said tool holder gripping
means comprises a grip arm having said first, intermediate and second portions; and
wherein each of said tool holders has a maximum diameter portion formed with annular V-
shaped groove, and wherein said bifurcated portion comprises two bifurcated members
each formed with a bore extending in a direction perpendicular to said grip arm; retractable
pins disposed in said bores, and spring means disposed in said bores for biasing said pins,
said pins being engageable with said annular V-shaped groove.

9. The automatic tool changer as defined in claim 1, further comprising: clamping and
unclamping means for clamping and unclamping one of said tool holder with respect to said
main spindle synchronously with an operation of said pivotting means and with the
movement of said main spindle head.

Dept Of Mechanical Engineering MRCET 17