Apparatus for machining railroad truck bolsters

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for machining the bolster bowl surface, the bolster pocket surfaces, the fulcrum pin hole surface and the bolster gib surfaces of railroad truck bolsters. The apparatus includes a base, a fixture mounted for rotation on the base and clamps on the fixture for clamping the bolster rigidly to the fixture. A locating template is utilized to properly position the bolster on the fixture, and once properly positioned and clamped, the fixture can be rotated and locked in a plurality of different positions to permit machining of the various surfaces. To machine the bolster pocket surfaces, the fulcrum pin hole surface, and the bolster gibs, a first machining (milling) head is provided that is movable along three perpendicular axes. To accomplish machining of the bolster bowl surface, a second machining (boring/facing) head is provided that is pre-aligned so that once the bolster is properly positioned with the locating template, the second machining head need only be moved along one axis to machine the bolster bowl. The second machining head has a combination boring and facing tool mounted thereon which can accomplish both a boring and facing operation simultaneously to machine the bolster bowl in a single operation.