Harmonic Drive
Gantry Milling Machine Tool Changer
Integrated output bearing
Harmonic Drive® gears and actuators are well suited to applications in the peripheral axes of large machine tools, for example in tool or workpiece magazines and changers. This design example shows the electro-mechanical tool changer of a special gantry milling machine, used for the machining of large moulds and dies.
Large tools, weighing up to 75 kg, must be inserted directly into the machine spindle or milling head at various angles. The gear must exhibit a high positioning accuracy to avoid damage to the tool holder. A high stiffness output bearing is also necessary to support the tool gripper assembly.
The HFUC-2UH Unit is so positioned that the line of the centre-of-gravity of the welded housing and tools pass through the plane of the output bearing. This reduces the tilting moment acting on the output bearing as far as possible.
A HPS Planetary gear is used to drive the tool gripper. The individual grippers are moved via a ballscrew which is, in turn, driven via a spur gear arrangement.
