METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHANGING OPERATING MODULES ON A COORDINATE POSITIONING MACHINE

摘要

A magazine which retains tools within the working area of a machine tool has a storage port which is mounted to a base via a compliant mount which provides two degrees of rotational freedom, and two degrees of translational freedom. The mount enables the storage port to be brought into register with a chuck on the spindle of the machine as a result of mutual engagement between surfaces on the storage port and the chuck during a tool change operation. The tool is retained within the chuck by using hydraulic pressure chambers in the chuck to deform an interior wall of the chuck cavity, and thereby causing it to grip the sides of the tool. Such a retention mechanism requires a relatively small clearance of the tool within the chuck when the wall is underformed, thereby necessitating the compliantly mounted storage port and alignment surfaces.