Page 51 - Modular design for machine tools

22 Modular Design Guide and Machine Tools Description

1D - Horizontal 1D - Vertical 1D - Universal

2D - Horizontal 2D - Vertical 2D - Universal

3D - Horizontal 3D - Vertical 3D - Universal

Figure 1-12 Unit construction of milling machines (Wanderer Co., about 1930).

The primary concern is that the fundamental feature of the modular
design was established in the 1960s, i.e., its first developing phase, to
a larger extent. To understand quickly what is the essential feature of
the modular design, it is better to touch on the most representative
applications in the 1960s. Figures 1-12 and 1-13 show two typical exam-
ples of the unit construction at the earlier stage. The former was that
of Wanderer Co., where the horizontal and vertical milling machines of
knee type were manufactured. The marked feature was that the body
structural components varied according to the power capacity, although
the feed driving unit and its control device were practically identical
across the whole types and sizes as represented, for instance, by the
hatched line in Fig. 1-12 [6]. Actually, the following preconditions were
employed in this application.

1. The ratio between the feed power and cutting power in most machine
tools is relatively small. As a result, the wastage due to having more
feed drive power than necessary is not serious in smaller machines.
2. There is not such a great necessity to change the control unit, gear
change mechanism, and so on.

In contrast, the latter was that of Newton Co., where the planomiller
and milling machine of various configurations and types were manu-
factured gathering various units across the entire United States. This