The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 07, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 06, 2002
Shinji Koike, Kanagawa, JP;
Makino Milling Machine Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The present invention relates to a machine tool ( ) for machining a large-sized workpiece ( ) such as aircraft parts mounted on a workpiece mounting table ( ), by moving a spindle having a tool mounted thereon in directions along the X-axis, the Y-axis and the Z-axis. The machine tool ( ) can provide a highly efficient, high-speed and highly precise machining for a large-sized workpiece ( ) and solve a problem of a compact installation area. In order to solve this problem, according to the present invention, a workpiece support structure ( ) is disposed in opposed relation to a spindle support structure ( ) which a spindle head ( ) movable in the directions along the X-axis, the Y-axis and the Z-axis. The workpiece mounting table ( ) of the workpiece support structure ( ) is provided with pallet securing means on two opposed pallet mounting surfaces thereof and is supported to allow for rotational indexing about a horizontal axis extending in the direction along the X-axis. The workpiece ( ) is machined by setting one of the pallet mounting surfaces in a horizontal state to mount a pallet ( ) thereon and then by positioning the pallet ( ) in a vertical state by rotational indexing means.