Live tool having monoblock with fluid channel and fluid driven spindle

Abstract

A live tool system having a live tool and a collar surrounding a rotating shaft or a rotating cutting tool of the live tool. The collar houses at least one sensor capable of monitoring an operating condition proximate to the cutting tool during a cutting operation. Example operating conditions including temperature and vibration. The system also includes a wireless transmitter in communication with the at least one sensor for transmitting a signal for use by a machining center controller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A live tool system comprising:
 a monoblock having a monoblock fluid channel passing therethrough; and   a fluid-driven cutting tool spindle mounted onto the monoblock, the spindle having a spindle shaft configured to rotate a cutting tool, and a spindle fluid channel passing through at least a portion of the spindle; wherein:   the monoblock fluid channel is in fluid communication with the spindle fluid channel; and   a fluid passing through the monoblock fluid channel and into the spindle fluid channel is configured to rotate the spindle shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The live tool system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the monoblock belongs to a tool turret configured to carry a plurality of cutting tools.   
     
     
         3 . The live tool system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the spindle fluid channel passes through the spindle shaft.   
     
     
         4 . The live tool system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cutting tool spindle is devoid of a separate spindle housing provided with a fluid channel.   
     
     
         5 . The live tool system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor module mounted on the monoblock, the sensor module comprising at least one sensor configured to monitor:
 at least one operating condition of the cutting tool spindle, and/or 
 at least one characteristic of the fluid passing though the monoblock and/or the cutting tool spindle. 
   
     
     
         6 . The live tool system according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the sensor module further comprises a power source.   
     
     
         7 . The live tool system according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the monoblock has an opening formed therein;   the at least one sensor of the sensor module is configured to have a direct line-of-sight to the spindle shaft.   
     
     
         8 . The live tool system according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the sensor module is configured to indirectly assesses spindle characteristics by monitoring fluid characteristics passing through the monoblock.   
     
     
         9 . The live tool system according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the monoblock is devoid of an opening providing a line of sight from the sensor of the sensor module to the spindle shaft.   
     
     
         10 . The live tool system according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the at least one sensor comprises a temperature sensor, and   the operating condition comprises a temperature of the live tool system.   
     
     
         11 . The live tool system according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the at least one sensor is a vibration sensor; and   the operating condition comprises vibration caused by the rotation and cutting operation.   
     
     
         12 . The live tool system according to  claim 5 , wherein the sensor module comprises a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly send signals obtained by the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         13 . A machining center having an interior, and comprising:
 the live tool system of  claim 12  installed therein;   a machining center controller; and   a wireless receiver capable of receiving signals sent from the wireless transmitter and providing said signals to the machining center controller, wherein:   in response to said signals, the machining central controller is configured to adjust at least one function of the machining center.   
     
     
         14 . A machining center according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the at least one function of the machining center is locking and/or unlocking of a door latch providing access to the interior of the machining center.   
     
     
         15 . A method of controlling the machining center of  claim 14 , the method comprising:
 determining whether the door latch is locked;   monitoring the spindle shaft to determine whether its rotations-per-minute (RPM) meets a predetermined access criteria; and   if the door latch is locked and the spindle shaft's RPM meets said predetermined access criteria, unlocking the door latch to provide access to the interior of the machining center.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 said predetermined access criteria comprises the spindle shaft's RPM being below a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling the machining center of  claim 13 , the method comprising:
 monitoring the spindle shaft's rotations-per-minute (RPM); and   wirelessly transmitting the spindle shaft's RPM information to the wireless receiver   receiving, at the machining center controller, a signal from the wireless receiver, said signal being based on the spindle shaft's RPM information.   
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling the machining center of  claim 13 , the method comprising:
 monitoring the spindle shaft's 's rotations-per-minute (RPM) and determining whether a change in RPM exceeds a predetermined threshold;   if the change in RPM exceeds the predetermined threshold, and it is determined that the change constitutes a spike, disable spindle operation;   if the change in RPM exceeds the predetermined threshold and it is determined that the change does not constitute a spike, then:
 if the change in RPM is a decrease in RPM, then decreasing translation motion of the cutting tool and/or increasing fluid pressure; and 
 if the change in RPM is an increase in RPM, then increasing translation motion of the cutting tool and/or decreasing fluid pressure. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising:
 wirelessly transmitting the spindle shaft's RPM information to the wireless receiver; and   receiving, at the machining center controller, a signal from the wireless receiver, said signal being based on the spindle shaft's RPM information.