Excellon Automation Company

Excellon Automation

Other

Dennis M Pumphrey

Richard Polacek

Robert J Watkinson

In a tool changer system comprising one or more tool grippers together with a pressure foot insert change pod supported on a U-V slide which is independent of the machine work table. The slide services a tool magazine mounted on the machine tool in close proximity to the work table. Because the tool changer is independent of the machine table, the selection and retrieval of the next tool to be used is performed while the machine tool is working in a work cycle. Similarly, the replacement of the used tool back into its storage location is also performed while the machine tool is working. Exchange of the pressure foot insert is also done as part of the tool change process in part during the tool change work cycle. Time is saved because the machine tool work need not be interrupted and the machine tool table need not be moved to accommodate the tool change. In addition, adjustment of tool tip positioning may also be accomplished off line during the machine tool cycle by control of a tool gripper with multiple positions which allows the tool to be dropped to an adjustment pad and gripped at a known distance. When the tool is ultimately inserted into the spindle the position of the tip of the tool is known with precision.

Tool changer method

A tool changer system is disclosed comprising one or more tool grippers together with a pressure foot insert change pod supported on a U-V slide which is independent of the machine work table. The slide services a tool magazine mounted on the machine tool in close proximity to the work table. Because the tool changer is independent of the machine table, the selection and retrieval of the next tool to be used is performed while the machine tool is working. Similarly, the replacement of the tool back into its storage location is done while the machine tool is working. The exchanging of the pressure foot insert is done as part of the tool change process. Time is saved because the work table does not have to be moved to position the tool changer under the spindle. In fact, the work table may be moved to the next work location while the tool changer changes the tool in the spindle. An alternative embodiment of this invention avoids complex adjustment of certain types of tools when loading the same into the machine spindle where the precise location of the tool tip is unknown. Such adjustment occurs whenever tools without positioning collars are stored in the magazine. The instant invention permits such adjustment 'off line' while the machine tool is working on an work piece by including a new dual piston gripper mechanism and a coarse axial adjustment pad thereby saving additional time and increasing the output of the machine. Also shown in the patent is a cartridge for tool magazines which accepts the EURO cassette without the need to separately unload tools from the cassette and load the typical tool cartridge.

Tool change apparatus

A method and apparatus for increasing the speed and efficiency of a drilling machine during the drilling of holes in printed circuit boards includes automatically setting a dwell time according to one or more predefined drilling parameters. A plurality of dwell times which vary in accordance with the predefined parameters are stored in a computer memory device. A drilling machine controller automatically selects an optimal dwell time from the memory device according to the drilling conditions of a particular drilling operation so that the shortest feasible dwell time is used for obtaining a desired degree of hole placement accuracy and hole quality for the drilling operation. The apparatus is a drilling machine system that includes a controller which contains dwell times that vary in accordance with the diameter of a drill tool.

Drilling method and apparatus using variable dwell times

One aspect of the invention is a method of rapidly drilling holes in a workpiece on a drilling machine having first and second spindles holding first and second drill tools, a first and second pressure foot mounted on the first and second spindles and a work table mounted beneath the spindles on which workpieces can be mounted. The method includes selecting a workpiece having a thickness, defining a nominal vertical home position for the first and second spindles, such that in the home position there is a nominal clearance distance between the bottom surface of the spindle's pressure foot and the top surface of the workpiece to be positioned beneath the spindle, measuring a drill tool offset distance for the first and second spindles such that the drill tool offset distance is equal to the distance between the bottom surface of the pressure foot of the spindle and the tip of the drill tool mounted in the spindle, compensating for the drill tool offset distance by designating a vertical upper limit for the first spindle and a vertical upper limit for the second spindle such that when the first and second spindles are at their respective upper limits, the tips of their respective drill tools are positioned in equal distance from the top surface of the work table, and accordingly, the top surface of the workpiece mounted thereon.

Method and apparatus for drill length compensation

A drilling machine and method of operation for drilling through holes in a workpiece while minimizing penetration of the drill tool into a back-up material which supports the workpiece. Before placing the workpiece on the machine, the vertical position of the back-up material is mapped. After selection of the drill site, the mapped position of the backup material proximate the drill site is retrieved. Using this information, a computer controller determines an absolute vertical position for a lower limit of the drill stroke. This lower limit is independent of the top of the workpiece or the thickness of the workpiece, thus eliminating the need to determine either of those values. The drill stroke is terminated once the drill tool reaches the lower limit, which is a nominal depth below the mapped position of the back-up material, insuring that a hole is completely drilled through the workpiece, while minimizing penetration of the back-up material. Also, vertical position sensors used for prior art depth control drilling can be used in the system disclosed.

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Torrance, CA, United States of America

Dennis M Pumphrey