Method and apparatus for determining the orientation of eccentric bushings

Abstract

A method of replacing eccentric bushings installed on the gangheads of machine tools for adjusting a machining operation. The machine tools, which are used to machine or otherwise process parts, utilize the eccentric bushings for applying fine adjustments to the machining by adjusting the location of the machining operation in a plane using the orientation and amount of eccentricity of the bushing. Also the apparatuses provided for supporting this method.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of installing a bushing in a device, comprising the steps of:
 determining a desired effect of a bushing on the device;   automatically determining, using a computer executing a software application, a desired parameter of the bushing based on the desired effect;   automatically determining, using the computer executing the software application, a desired installation orientation of the bushing based on the desired effect; and   installing the bushing in the device according to the installation orientation, wherein the device substantially exhibits the desired effect.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining a value of a high point of eccentricity of a previous bushing installed in the device; and   removing the previous bushing from the device, wherein   both of the steps of automatically determining are also based on the determined value of the high point of eccentricity of the previous bushing.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of determining an installation orientation and a position of the high point of eccentricity of the previous bushing, wherein both said automatically determining steps are also based on the determined installation orientation and position of the high point of eccentricity of the previous bushing. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said device is a device for machining a part, and wherein the desired effect is based on a desired location for the device performing machining on the part. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the desired effect is also based on a location of the device performing machining on the part with the previous bushing installed. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the desired parameter includes a value of a high point of eccentricity of the bushing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired parameter includes a value of a high point of eccentricity of the bushing. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said device is a device for machining a part, and wherein the desired effect is based on a desired location for the device performing machining on the part. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of, prior to installing the bushing in the device, marking the bushing to indicate the desired installation orientation of the bushing. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of selecting the bushing from a plurality of bushings based on the desired parameter. 
     
     
         11 . A method of replacing an eccentric bushing in a device, comprising the steps of:
 determining an installation orientation of a current bushing installed in the device;   removing the current bushing from the device;   determining at least one characteristic of the current bushing;   calculating at least one desired characteristic of a replacement bushing;   selecting the replacement bushing based on the at least one desired characteristic of the replacement bushing;   determining an installation orientation of the replacement bushing at least partially based on the at least one characteristic of the current bushing; and   installing the replacement bushing in the device according to the determined installation orientation of the replacement bushing.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said step of determining the installation orientation of the current bushing includes the step of using a level to locate an orientation position on the device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said step of determining the installation orientation of the current bushing also includes the step of providing an installation mark on the current bushing indicating its installation orientation with respect to the located orientation position on the device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said step of determining at least one characteristic of the current bushing includes the steps of:
 determining a position of a high point of eccentricity of the current bushing; and   using a position indicating device to measure a distance between the position of the high point of eccentricity of the current bushing relative to the installation mark on the current bushing, wherein   said step of determining the installation orientation of the replacement bushing is at least partially based on the measured distance.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said step of determining an installation orientation of the replacement bushing includes the steps of:
 determining a position of a high point of eccentricity of the replacement bushing; and   providing a mark indicating the position of the high point of eccentricity on the replacement bushing.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of using the position indicating device to locate an installation orientation of the replacement bushing relative to the mark indicating the position of the high point of eccentricity on the replacement bushing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing a mark indicating the installation orientation of the replacement bushing, wherein said mark indicating the installation orientation is used with the located orientation position on the device for installing the replacement bushing in the device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a desired value for the high point of eccentricity on the replacement bushing and the location of the installation orientation of the replacement bushing are determined based on a data output from a computer program executing on a computer, wherein said data output determined is based on a desired modification of the device and is also based on the installation orientation and the high point of eccentricity of the current bushing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of calculating at least one characteristic of the replacement bushing is automatically accomplished using a computer program executing on a computer, such that the at least one characteristic is based on a desired modification of the device entered into a user interface to the program. 
     
     
         20 . A method of replacing an eccentric bushing in a device, comprising the steps of:
 determining an installation orientation of a current bushing installed in the device;   providing a mark on the device indicating the current installation orientation;   providing a mark on the current bushing indicating the current installation orientation;   removing the current bushing from the device;   determining a value and location of a high point of eccentricity of the current bushing;   providing a mark on the current bushing indicating the location of the high point of eccentricity of the current bushing;   using a position indicating device for determining a relative orientation distance between the mark indicating the high point of eccentricity of the current bushing relative to the mark indicating the current installation orientation of the current bushing;   calculating, using a computer program executing on a computer, a position and desired value of a high point of eccentricity of a replacement bushing based on criteria including:
 the value of the high point of eccentricity of the current bushing, 
 the relative orientation distance of the current bushing, and 
 desired adjustments to be made to the device; 
   providing the replacement bushing that best matches the calculated desired value of the high point of eccentricity of the replacement bushing;   locating and providing a mark of a location of the high point of eccentricity of the replacement bushing;   using the position indicating device for determining an installation orientation for the replacement bushing based on the mark of the location of the high point of eccentricity of the replacement bushing and also based on the calculated position of the high point of eccentricity;   providing a mark on the replacement bushing indicating the installation orientation; and   installing the replacement bushing in the device according to the mark on the replacement bushing indicating the installation orientation and according to the mark on the device indicating the current installation orientation, whereby   the desired adjustments are substantially made to the device.