Comprehensive testing and performance evaluation of chain-type tool magazine and ATC

Considering that the failure of chain-type tool magazine and automatic tool changer (ATC) usually associates with the change of some performance parameters, comprehensive laboratory testing and performance evaluation of chain-type tool magazine and ATC need to be studied. Firstly, the control system of the tool magazine and ATC is designed, including the magazine movement control, ATC motion control and the realisation of NC system. Then, based on the failure data, the authors develop a comprehensive performance testing system for tool magazine and ATC. The system can realise the testing of angular rotation and axial shifts of manipulator, vibration of ATC, positioning error, vibration on the tool oriented part and noise. Finally, the system is applied in the testing of a tool magazine and ATC, and the experimental results show that the developed chain-type tool magazine and ATC comprehensive laboratory testing and performance evaluation system can be realised. [Submitted 3 April 2019; Accepted 9 February 2020]