Automatic machinability measuring and machining methods and apparatus therefor

{
  "publication_number": "US6021682A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Automatic machinability measuring and machining methods and apparatus therefor",
  "abstract": "A method for measuring the machinability of a material which includes piercing a hole through a material to be tested while simultaneously measuring a pierce time duration, T, of the piercing step, and calculating a machinability number from the pierce time duration. Also provided are methods for determining the machining speed of a material and for machining a material which calculate a machining speed for a material based upon the machinability number of the material. The methods used to measure the machinability number and calculate a machining speed for a particular material can include any combination of machining operations, including but not limited to AWJ milling processes. Also provided is an apparatus which detects the time duration a piercing force takes to create a pierce-through condition through a material. The apparatus includes any of a pressure sensor, an acoustic sensor, an optical sensor, a load cell, a mechanical switch, and combinations thereof to measure the pierce-time duration.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for measuring the machinability of a material, comprising the steps of: a) providing a material; b) piercing said material; c) simultaneously measuring a pierce time duration, T, of said piercing step; and d) calculating a machinability number from said pierce time duration, said machinability number being other than a piercing machinability number.",
    "2. A method for measuring the machinability of a material according to claim 1 wherein said piercing step is performed using a concentrated beam energy.",
    "3. A method for measuring the machinability of a material according to claim 2 wherein said concentrated beam energy is a beam energy selected from the group consisting of an abrasive waterjet, a pure waterjet, a laser, a plasma arc, a flame, and an electron beam.",
    "4. A method for measuring the machinability of a material according to claim 1 wherein said piercing step is performed by an abrasive waterjet process.",
    "5. A method for measuring the machinability of a material according to claim 4 wherein said step of calculating a machinability number is according to the following equation to obtain the machinability number, N mm, for a milling process: ##EQU3##",
    "6. A method for measuring the machinability of a material according to claim 5 wherein said milling process is an abrasive waterjet milling process.",
    "7. A method for determining the machining speed of a material, comprising the steps of: a) providing a material; b) piercing said material; c) simultaneously measuring a pierce time duration, T, of said piercing step; d) calculating a machinability number from said pierce time duration, said machinability number being other than a piercing machinability number; and e) calculating a speed at which said material is to be machined from said machinability number.",
    "8. A method for determining the machining speed of a material according to claim 7 wherein said piercing step is performed using a concentrated beam energy.",
    "9. A method for determining the machining speed of a material according to claim 8 wherein said concentrated beam energy is a beam energy selected from the group consisting of an abrasive waterjet, a pure waterjet, a laser, a plasma arc, a flame, and an electron beam.",
    "10. A method for determining the machining speed of a material according to claim 7 wherein said piercing step is performed by an abrasive waterjet process.",
    "11. A method for determining the machining speed of a material according to claim 10 wherein said step of calculating a machinability number is performed to obtain the machinability number, N mm, for a milling process according to the following equation: ##EQU4##",
    "12. A method for determining the machining speed of a material according to claim 11 wherein said step of calculating a speed at which said material is to be machined is according to the following equation to obtain a milling speed, u m, for an abrasive waterjet milling process:",
    "13. A method for machining a material, comprising the steps of: a) providing a sample comprising a material to be machined; b) piercing a hole through said sample; c) simultaneously measuring a pierce time duration, T, of said piercing step; d) calculating a machinability number for said material from said pierce time duration, said machinability number being other than a piercing machinability number; e) calculating a speed at which a workpiece comprising said material is to be machined from said machinability number; and f) machining a workpiece comprising said material at said calculated speed.",
    "14. A method of machining a material according to claim 13 wherein said piercing step is performed using a concentrated beam energy.",
    "15. A method of machining a material according to claim 14 wherein said concentrated beam energy is a beam energy selected from the group consisting of an abrasive waterjet, a pure waterjet, a laser, a plasma arc, a flame, and an electron beam.",
    "16. A method of machining a material according to claim 13 wherein said step of machining is performed using a concentrated beam energy.",
    "17. A method of machining a material according to claim 16 wherein said concentrated beam energy is a beam energy selected from the group consisting of an abrasive waterjet, a pure waterjet, a laser, a plasma arc, a flame, and an electron beam.",
    "18. A method of machining a material according to claim 13 wherein said step of machining is a machining operation selected from the group consisting of a piercing, a drilling, and a turning operation, and combinations thereof.",
    "19. A method for machining a material according to claim 13 wherein said piercing step is performed by an abrasive waterjet process.",
    "20. A method for machining a material according to claim 19 wherein said step of machining comprises a milling process; and said step of calculating a machinability number is according to the following equation to obtain the machinability number, N mm, for said milling process: ##EQU5##",
    "21. A method for machining a material according to claim 20 wherein said step of machining comprises an abrasive waterjet milling process; and said step of calculating a speed at which said workpiece is to be machined is according to the following equation to obtain a milling speed, u m, for said abrasive waterjet milling process: ##EQU6##",
    "22. A method for machining a material according to claim 13 wherein said workpiece which is machined in said machining step comprises said sample which is pierced in said piercing step."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "B24C 7/0053",
    "B24C 1/045",
    "B24C 7/0076",
    "G01N 3/567",
    "G01N 3/58"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "INGERSOLL RAND CO"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1998-08-31",
  "publication_date": "2000-02-08",
  "grant_date": "2000-02-08",
  "priority_date": "1998-08-31",
  "application_number": "US-14382298-A",
  "family_id": "22505815",
  "citations": [
    "US3974678A",
    "US4941955A",
    "US4966059A",
    "US5207533A",
    "US5501104A"
  ]
}