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EP-4739454-A1 - MACHINE TOOL, PARTICULARLY FOR MACHINING METAL STRUCTURAL BEAMS OR PROFILES AND THE LIKE

EP4739454A1EP 4739454 A1EP4739454 A1EP 4739454A1EP-4739454-A1

Abstract

A machine tool (1), particularly for machining metal structural beams or profiles and the like, which comprises a fixed part (2), with a shape that is elongated substantially along a first main axis (3) and defines a worktable above which a workpiece (4) is to be placed in a non-removable manner and in a resting arrangement, and a movable part (5), which is slideably associated with the fixed part (2) along the first main axis (3) and supports a machining head (6) for machining the workpiece (4); the movable part (5) comprises: - a two-column post (10), which is slideably associated with the fixed part (2) along the first main axis (3) and extends, height-wise, along a second main axis (11) which is substantially perpendicular to the first main axis (3), and arranged laterally with respect to the worktable; - a cantilever cross-member (13), which is slideably associated with and accommodated between the columns of the two-column post (10) along the second main axis (11), and extends and protrudes from the two-column post (10) along a third main axis (14) which is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the first and second main axes (3, 11), in such a way as to be arranged above the worktable; and - a slider (15), which supports the machining head (6) and is slideably associated with the cantilever cross-member (13) along the third main axis (14). In this way, the machining head (6) is movable along the main axes (3, 11, 14) with respect to the fixed part (2) so as to define a working volume that is at least lateral to and greater than the workpiece (4).

Inventors

  • Fongaro, Stefano
  • COLOMBO, CHRISTIAN

Assignees

  • FICEP S.P.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240614

Claims (13)

  1. 1. A machine tool (1), particularly for machining metal structural beams or profiles and the like, which comprises a fixed part (2), with a shape that is elongated substantially along a first main axis (3) and defines a worktable above which a workpiece (4) is to be placed in a non-removable manner and in a resting arrangement, and a movable part (5), which is slideably associated with said fixed part (2) along said first main axis (3) and supports a machining head (6) for machining said workpiece (4); characterized in that said movable part (5) comprises: - a two-column post (10), which is slideably associated with said fixed part (2) along said first main axis (3) and extends along a second main axis (11) which is substantially perpendicular to said first main axis (3), said two-column post (10) being arranged laterally with respect to said worktable; - a cantilever cross-member (13), which is slideably associated with and accommodated between the columns of said two-column post (10) along said second main axis (11), said cantilever cross-member (13) extending and protruding from said two-column post (10) along a third main axis (14) which is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by said first and second main axes (3, 11), in such a way as to be arranged above said worktable; and - a slider (15), which supports said machining head (6) and is slideably associated with said cantilever cross-member (13) along said third main axis (14); said machining head (6) being movable along said main axes (3, 11, 14) with respect to said fixed part (2) so as to define a working volume that is at least lateral to and greater than said workpiece (4).
  2. 2. The machine tool (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said machining head (6) is rotatably associated with said slider (15) by means of two rotating wrists (16, 17) so as to allow rotations of said machining head (6) with respect to said slider (15), respectively about a first rotation axis (18) which is substantially parallel to said second main axis (11) and about a second rotation axis (19) which is inclined substantially by 45° with respect to said first rotation axis (18).
  3. 3. The machine tool (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said machining head (6) comprises a motorized spindle which supports the tool with which said workpiece (4) is to be machined.
  4. 4. The machine tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a tool magazine (22) installed on board said fixed part (2).
  5. 5. The machine tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cutting unit which can be engaged selectively by said machining head (6) for cutting operations adapted to separate said workpiece (4).
  6. 6. The machine tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movable part (5) is enclosed in a box-like body (23) provided with acoustic and luminous signaling means which are adapted to indicate the operating steps of said movable part (5).
  7. 7. The machine tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a chip collection chute which is integral in translation with said movable part (5) along said first main axis (3) and can be arranged below said workpiece (4) so as to convey the chips produced by machining into at least one collection tray (24) arranged below said worktable.
  8. 8. The machine tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said workpiece (4) is configured to be associated in a non-removable manner with said worktable by means of a plurality of locking clamps (9) which are slideably associated with said fixed part (2) along said first main axis (3) and are provided with anchoring devices (26) which can be activated selectively for their clamping to said workpiece (4), and with a block (27) for their locking to said fixed part (2).
  9. 9. The machine tool (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that each one of said locking clamps (9) is shaped and configured in such a way that, when said anchoring device (26) is deactivated, said clamp is intercepted and moved by said two-column post (10) during its movement along said first main axis (3) with consequent positioning thereof along said first main axis (3).
  10. 10. The machine tool (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that said anchoring devices (26) comprise a locking system of the pneumatic type.
  11. 11. The machine tool (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said locking clamps (9) are fitted with independent movement devices and are configured to be moved selectively along said first main axis (3) independently of said movable part (5).
  12. 12. The machine tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises physical barriers (28) which delimit said fixed part (2) and the work area of said movable part (5).
  13. 13. The machine tool (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises virtual barriers (29) which are configured to be arranged selectively along said first main axis (3) in order to reduce the work area of said movable part (5) and define a second service area adjacent to said work area.

Description

MACHINE TOOL, PARTICULARLY FOR MACHINING METAL STRUCTURAL BEAMS OR PROFILES AND THE LIKE The present invention relates to a machine tool, particularly for machining metal structural beams or profiles and the like. In the sector of heavy metal structural work, the use is known of machine tools constituted by a straight bench on which a beam is placed, and by a tool-holder turret, which can slide along the straight bench, which makes it possible to operate on a vertical face of the beam, perpendicular to the face resting on the bench. Typically, single machining operations are executed by changing the tools each time, so as to machine the areas of interest of the beam which are located on the perpendicular face. Once the perpendicular face of the beam, i.e. the face directed toward the machining unit, is machined, the beam is rotated by 90° about its own longitudinal axis so as to position a new face and begin a new machining cycle. Such conventional machine tools are not devoid of drawbacks, among which is the fact that, in addition to creating a logistical complication owing to the weight of the beam, the continual repositioning of the beam, necessary to correctly orient the faces upward to be machined, can lead to errors in alignment between the machining of one face with the machining of the adjacent face. At the same time, a major drawback of conventional machine tools consists in that they do not allow cutting operations adapted to separate the beam into multiple portions. This means that, once machining on the beam is finished, the beam needs to be moved to a band saw in order to cut the individual pieces of machined beams. Another drawback of conventional machine tools consists in that, owing to the shape structure of the spindle with which the turret tool-holder is fitted, it is possible to execute a limited number of machining operations, both in terms of type of machining per se and in terms of the angle of attack of the tool. A further drawback of conventional machine tools consists in that, owing to the structure of the tool-holder turret, which typically takes the form of a beam mounted in a cantilevered manner on a vertical post, it is not possible to execute machining operations with high shear stresses without the turret elastically deforming, with consequent loss of precision in machining. Another drawback of conventional machine tools consists in that typically straight benches are dimensioned to receive beams of great dimensions and when these benches are used for smaller beams, part of them remain unused, so reducing the productivity of the machine. A further drawback of conventional machine tools consists in that if the machining of the beam focuses on only a small part of it, so as to ensure the safety of the operator, then the operator cannot enter the work area of the machine, for example, in order to execute operations on parts of the beam outside the main machining operations. The aim of the present invention consists in providing a machine tool, particularly for machining metal structural beams or profiles and the like, that is capable of overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks. Within this aim, an object of the present invention consists in providing a machine tool that is capable of operating on a beam or on a part of a beam on at least five faces without requiring it to be repositioned. Another object of the present invention consists in providing a machine tool with high performance levels, both in terms of machining parameters and in terms of machining precision. This aim and this and other objects which will become better evident hereinafter are achieved by a machine tool, particularly for machining metal structural beams or profiles and the like, which comprises a fixed part, with a shape that is elongated substantially along a first main axis and defines a worktable above which a workpiece is to be placed in a non-removable manner and in a resting arrangement, and a movable part, which is slideably associated with said fixed part along said first main axis and supports a machining head for machining said workpiece; characterized in that said movable part comprises: - a two-column post, which is slideably associated with said fixed part along said first main axis and extends along a second main axis which is substantially perpendicular to said first main axis, said two-column post being arranged laterally with respect to said worktable; - a cantilever cross-member, which is slideably associated with and accommodated between the columns of said two-column post along said second main axis, said cantilever cross-member extending and protruding from said two-column post along a third main axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by said first and second main axes, in such a way as to be arranged above said worktable; and - a slider, which supports said machining head and is slideably associated with said cantilever cross-member along said third main ax