Apparatus for machining critical surfaces of railroad truck side frames

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for permitting automatic and manual machining of critical wear surfaces of railroad truck side frames. A fixture is rotatably mounted on a base. The railroad truck side frame is mounted on the fixture with the fixture and side frame in a first or vertical position. The side frame is first leveled vertically on the fixture with respect to leveling plates and then aligned horizontally before it is rigidly clamped to the fixture. Pivotably mounted gauges are then used to determine the exact location of the pedestal roof areas of the side frame with respect to the fixture, and this positional information from the gauges is manually transferred to adjustable stop dogs that engage limit switches that control the movement of a machining head. The fixture is then rotated 90.degree. and locked in that position. A machining head is then automatically operated, once AUTO-CYCLE button has been pushed 'in,' to first move parallel to the axis of rotation of the side frame until it is aligned with the pedestal roof area then horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the fixture until it has reached the proper depth for machining. The head then moves vertically across the pedestal roof surface to machine the pedestal roof area to the proper depth, and then back to its original retracted position. The machining head then automatically moves to proper alignment with the other pedestal roof area of the side frame and completes the same machining steps automatically. The apparatus also has manual controls so that the column guide wear surface and the anti-rotation stop surface can also be machined. The fixture is rotated 90.degree. to align these surfaces in proper position for machining by the machine head.