Adjustable fixture for a multi-spindle machine

摘要

A method and apparatus for processing workpieces to form parts. Tools associated with a multi-spindle machine may be positioned with respect to a plurality of workpieces on a fixture comprising a plurality of platforms and an adjustment system. Each platform may be individually moveable with respect to others in the plurality of platforms about a number of axes. The plurality of platforms may be configured to hold the plurality of workpieces in which each platform may be configured to hold a workpiece in the plurality of workpieces during operations performed by the multi-spindle machine. The adjustment system may be configured to move each of the plurality of platforms about the number of axes independently from the others in the plurality of platforms. The operations may be performed on the plurality of workpieces using the multi-spindle machine and the fixture to form a plurality of parts.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of platforms configured for use with a multi-spindle machine, each platform of the plurality of platforms individually moveable with respect to other platforms of the plurality of platforms along a number of axes, and each platform of the plurality of platforms configured to hold a workpiece of a plurality of workpieces during a number of identical milling operations performed in parallel on the plurality of workpieces by the multi-spindle machine; the multi-spindle machine, wherein the multi-spindle machine has a same number of spindles as a number of platforms of the plurality of platforms; and an adjustment system configured to move each platform of the plurality of platforms along the number of axes independently from the other platforms of the plurality of platforms, wherein for achieving the movements of each platform of the plurality of platforms along the number of axes, the adjustment system comprises:
a plurality of adjustment units connected to the plurality of platforms, wherein each adjustment unit of the plurality of adjustment units is configured to move a platform of the plurality of platforms along an axis of the number of axes, wherein the plurality of adjustment units comprises a plurality of motors, wherein each of the plurality of adjustment units further comprises a respective shaft configured to be received into a respective channel in a respective platform of the plurality of platforms.