In the field of modern mechanical processing, fully automatic hydraulic lathes have become important equipment in the manufacturing industry due to their efficient and precise processing capabilities. Among them, the automatic tool changing function is the key to achieving efficient production. Its principle integrates mechanical transmission, hydraulic drive, and electrical control technology to ensure that the lathe can quickly and stably switch tools between different machining processes.
The automatic tool changing system mainly consists of four parts: tool magazine, tool changing manipulator, tool recognition device, and control system. The tool magazine is a carrier for storing cutting tools, which can be divided into disc type tool magazines, chain type tool magazines, etc. according to their capacity and structure. The compact structure of the disc type tool magazine is suitable for lathes with a small number of cutting tools; The chain tool magazine has a large capacity and can meet the requirements of complex machining for tool types and quantities. The tool changing robotic arm is responsible for grasping, transporting, and replacing the tool, and its precision and stability directly affect the efficiency and reliability of tool changing.
The workflow of automatic tool changing revolves around instruction execution. After receiving the tool change command, the control system first determines the position of the target tool through the tool recognition device. Common methods for tool recognition include coding ring recognition, barcode recognition, and RFID recognition. Code ring recognition is achieved by installing code rings on the tool handle, with each code corresponding to a different tool. The control system reads the code to determine the tool identity; Barcode recognition and RFID recognition utilize scanning and wireless radio frequency technology to achieve fast and accurate tool identification.
After confirming the target tool, the tool magazine starts to rotate under the drive of hydraulic motor or servo motor, conveying the target tool to the tool changing position. At this point, the tool changing robotic arm, driven by the hydraulic cylinder or air cylinder, performs a gripping action to firmly grasp the target tool. Subsequently, the robotic arm retrieves the tool from the tool magazine and moves it to the spindle position. With the cooperation of the spindle loosening mechanism, the robotic arm accurately installs the tool onto the spindle and completes the tool replacement. After the tool change is completed, the robotic arm returns to its initial position and the tool magazine is reset, waiting for the next tool change command.
The control system plays a core scheduling role throughout the entire tool change process. It precisely controls the rotation angle of the tool magazine, the motion trajectory of the robotic arm, and the pressure and flow of the hydraulic system through PLC or CNC system, ensuring the accurate sequence of tool changing actions. At the same time, the system also has fault detection and safety protection functions. Once there is an abnormality during the tool change process, such as the tool not being clamped or the mechanical arm colliding, the system will immediately stop the action and issue an alarm signal to avoid equipment damage and safety accidents.
The automatic tool changing principle of the fully automatic hydraulic lathe achieves fast and precise tool replacement through the collaborative work of multiple systems, significantly improving the automation level and processing efficiency of the lathe, and providing strong support for efficient production in modern manufacturing industry.