Multifunctional machine tools, processing capacity and construction of its terms , from the traditional constraints turning and machining centers , boring machine tool market to bring strands of sparks. Multifunction machine sales volume increased rapidly in the proportion of all machines , and some people even think that multifunction machine may become the dominant machine in the future .

    The main advantage of multi-functional machine is in the same setting , the machine may be turning, milling, drilling and other operations. Since the same fixing jig , thereby eliminating the generation of tolerance accumulation problem when using a plurality of clamps . Shortening or eliminating the burdensome process , reducing the number of tool changes , so as to increase the profits of the enterprise .

The tool is an important factor multifunction machine , but relatively speaking, it can easily be overlooked. Even if the proportion of the overall cost of the machine it is occupied by small, but the impact of machining , its impact on the proportion of the overall cost compared with the machine and out of proportion. On the whole process , machine tool manufacturers and suppliers tend to design new tools that better reflect the uniqueness of the machine 's advantage .

    Gregory Hyatt Technical Director Kennametal (Kennametal) Company , said: "I personally believe that these potential multi-functional machine has not yet fully played out ," he said , "In fact, in machine design , the new tool should be designed more more consideration in the operation of its original range , based on the inherent ability to be expanded so that more users can take advantage of its use value . "Hyatt has a deep understanding of this , he will split the technology is defined as" any development potential are more productive . when users buy, in practical operation , the feelings it brings significant changes to its production and reflected . " he added ," I personally think that a good argument to make multifunction machine worthy . "

    Mazak (Mazak) the company's product application engineer Michael Finn said: "Tool application to go through a process of continuous improvement which requires constant research and development , and how it applied to the multi-function machines , whether in software or in . machines and tools , the how to make applications more perfect . "Michael Finn also cited the example of a gear cutter , the application requires the development of control software and tools. He said: " This software can enhance both the spindle synchronization tool is a standard roll cutter, which is the same as the tool roll with gear milling machine used by a milling spindle is driven by supporting the roll axis milling . , provided on the turret , and the rotation about the axis B , and we have used in this production is provided a gear , helical gear, external splines . "

    Gear hobbing applications on the machine , it seems that some special new tool has been designed and is currently manufactured by the tool supplier Sandvik Coromant (Sandvik Coromant) trial . According to the company 's tooling systems specialist James Grimes said that this tool used in the multi-purpose machine , compared with ordinary turning and milling , greatly improving productivity. James Grimes said: " Our new 45 °, around the spindle for supporting the tool holder axis B multifunctional tool spindle and the rotary shaft to ensure a 45 ° angle , at which time the tool is designed to avoid this optimum machining position . the generation of the B -axis chuck possible interference , and can be extended operation , we have 80 ° (C -type ), 55 ° (D -type ), 35 ° (V -type ) diamond tools is trimmed , the turning circle and geometric lathe . "

    Gerald Owen Mori Seiki (Mori Seiki) U.S. company's product applications manager , said : "45 ° tool configuration by reducing forces at turret head can effectively increase the hardness of the B-axis cutting force of the tool can be changed again . direction , so that the machine can load a heavier load . "

In addition, Sandvik trial is currently developing a kind of " mini- turret ." The tool holder is used for B-axis machine tools , turning the device into a single unit with multi-functional organization indexable by roll milling spindle , thereby reducing tool change time . " Some customers complain, for example , the length of time mainly depends on the tool change is roughing or finishing ."

    James Grimes said, " so we will drill three different knives into a mini- turret , the user can do continuous operation , such as finishing , drilling and threading , rather than back to the magazine go get another tool , so just 0.2s translocation time instead of 1.5 ~ 2s tool change time . "Gerald Owen said," mini- turret "is also used to process hard workpiece materials , these requires multi-faceted indexable insert machining materials processing . He recalled: "We had a client in their processing 1 ~ 2m long aero engine used Inconel-718 Spindle ghosts know the life of the cutting edge of each blade is 525mm but by using three type ' mini . turret ' , they can be quickly turning and through the' mini- turret ' translocation to a new blade , and then re- cutting . "

    Versatile tool for the multi-functional machine looks very sensitive, Mazak (Mazak) has developed a new knife , this knife can be inserted in different ways fixed operation and rotation operations . Michael Finn explains, " The Flash tool holder insert triangular form of static turning , 80 ° and 55 ° diamond tools diamond tools . Static positioning can be a standard cutting outer and inner bore roughing and finishing , hinge holes and thread cutting when operating , the machine determines the machining direction of the tool , it also can be used for milling and drilling machining.

    Gregory Hyatt believes versatile tool design more unique than Flash Tool tool , so much to accomplish in the future, it will be processed . He said: " In the future, we will see the application of multi-purpose tool and other new tools will be the same as we would like some new products to market within six months, the machine manufacturer did not expect these new products is no longer a distant machine . just outside the toolbox , so we will be with them and some of the CAD / CAM vendors together to support the launch of this new tool in human-computer dialogue on these machines is more typical application of the procedure so that you will support this new tool design . "

    Bob Goulding Seco USA (Seco Carboloy) product manager role of ultrasound applications are considered significant , he said: "We have several patent-pending tool , these tools can be used to operate fixed and rotary operation, so we see the use of these prospects for the development of the machine tool , flexible manufacturing to customer requirements , from which both the tool and the machine itself to decide . "

    Mori Seiki USA 's Gerald Owen noted that users would like to use existing tools to meet the requirements of multi-purpose machine tools and tool change time can be shortened . He said that many companies use the machine through the use of modular boring drill to complete two 80 ° diamond blade or two triangular blade , as these tools can be used with the spindle rotation reverse . Other tools are set up before using the same boring chuck head or after . On the multifunction machine , if effective use of the tool can reduce tool change time . For other types of processing , whether the use of a new tool or the use of new technology , can be applied to these machines.

   Turning on the development of multi-functional machine used is very special, and attracted wide attention. Sandvik has developed a four- chip flute carbide end mill, used to improve the precision machining of the workpiece surface , in the cylindrical milling applications , the C -axis rotation of the machine tool can reduce stress . James Grimes said: "We use this four chip flute carbide end mills groove is formed in which two very small chips 1.5 ° angle ." He explains , " the other two chips can be no centering groove cutting , then returns from the cutting edge of some of the so only two surfaces in contact with the chip flutes , and the chips on both sides of the groove is only a contact which two chip flutes like two sharp sharp slide to improve the machining surface accuracy , two additional does not contact the bottom of the chip groove , thereby alleviating the pressure of the tool , so for a four- slot cutting chips , only two chip flutes is actually involved in surface contact . "

    Mazak 's Michael Finn said, "These five-axis machine tools, they can position the tool in different ways , which means more ways to be able to be processed ." Another example of machine functions are extended , said Michael Finn end milling machine for turning . He said: " We used to replace a face milling cutter for roughing static workpiece diameter, the results took a long time , and the chips were banded ." He explains , " is the first piece in a direction of rotation, milling spindle and rotate in opposite directions . shatter such rotary cutter around the original stacking chips . " Mazak also developed a polishing operation , which utilizes the principle of reverse movement of the spindle, rotating through a variety of buff power applications to achieve the 4140 steel operations .