Design of Automatic Loading and Unloading Manipulator for CNC Gear Milling Machine

Background: At present, due to the widespread use of robotic arms for the automatic loading and unloading of CNC gear milling machines, there has been an increase in patents related to robotic arms. However, these robotic arms have issues of low efficiency and large space occupation. To solve these problems, a CNC gear milling machine with an automatic loading and unloading manipulator device needs to be designed. Methods: This paper first designs the overall scheme of the automatic loading and unloading manipulator, and then uses Solidworks to establish a three-dimensional model. Finite element analysis software is used to analyze and simulate the deformation, stress distribution, and service life of the key components in the overall device. Finally, a prototype of the robotic arm is created based on the simulation optimization results. Results: This paper designs a new type of automatic loading and unloading manipulator device for CNC gear milling machines, which is different from existing patents in that all its components are installed inside the machine tool protective cover. In production experiments, the operation was found to be stable and reliable, and the loading and unloading process was completed at a speed of 11s/time, consistently exceeding the manual maximum speed of 19s/time. The results indicate that the proposed clamp storage system and core rod perforation feeding method are effective. Conclusion: The new design solves the problems of low efficiency and large space occupation in existing robotic arm patents.