In existing automatic chip-removing machining very large quantities of chips are produced. Even if the actual machining does nor require the supply of cutting fluid for cooling purposes and in order to improve the chip removal, large quantities of cutting fluid are used to carry the chips away.

The cutting fluid has a low surface tension, which means that it easily gets into seals and bearings etc., and is aggressive towards electrical and mechanical components.

During machining chips and cutting fluid are thrown around in an uncontrolled manner, which may upset the machine and reduce its availability. When machining is in progress it is generally impossible to get close to the machine owing to the dispersion of cutting fluid and chips.

Attempts have certainly been made to reduce the dispersion of chips and cutting fluids by arranging a tunnel around the part that is to be machined, clamping devices for the latter and the machining tool. This has admittedly been successful in containing the chips and cutting fluid within a more restricted area, but such a tunnel does not prevent exposure of bearing heels, conveying devices for moving the part, indexing elements, sensors etc.

The chips may interfere with sensors for controlling the clamping and machining, which may lead to false alarms, and can get jammed when clamping the part, which may lead to incorrect machining or production stoppages etc.

The object of the present invention is to produce a method and a device of the above- mentioned type by means of which the use of cutting fluid can be eliminated or at least reduced, bringing economic and environmental improvements together with

fewer and shorter machine stoppages, which gives greater availability and improved economy and more available production time. The object has been achieved by a method and a device having the characteristics specified in claim 1 and claim 6 respectively.

Preferred embodiments of the method and the device moreover have any or some of the characteristics specified in the respective sub-ordinate claims.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings attached, in which: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a device for the enclosure of a machining point with an opening for the evacuation of chips and any cutting fluid.

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of an enclosure with elements designed to produce a flow towards the outlet opening.

Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of an enclosure intended to accommodate and form a seal around a plurality of machining points on one and the same work-piece in a machine with a plurality of tool-carrying arbors.

In figure 1,1 generally denotes an enclosure, designed to be arranged around a cutting tool 2 in a machine 3 for chip-removing machining of a work-piece 4, here represented as an engine block. The cutting tool 2 is capable of rotating with an arbor arranged in a headstock and is axially displaceable along the arbor towards and away from the work-piece 4 for performing a machining operation.

The enclosure 1 in figure 1 is moveable towards and away from the work-piece 4 and has a first wall 5, facing the work-piece and open towards the work-piece 4 around a machining point 6 on the work-piece 4 associated with the tool 2. That part of the enclosure 1 open to the work-piece 4 is designed to bear tightly against the work- piece around the machining point 6. A second wall 7 opposite the first wall 5 has a second opening 8 in the enclosure 1 receiving the tool 2, which second opening 8 allows the tool 2 to be introduced into the enclosure 1 in order to carry out the machining and is designed, during axial displacement of the headstock for machining purposes, to bear tightly against the headstock, so that there is a substantially enclosed space in the area around the machining point 6. The enclosed space is defined radially between the first wall 5 and the second wall 7 of a substantially

cylindrical circumferential surface 9.

The enclosure 1 furthermore has an outlet opening 10 at the bottom, intended for the evacuation from the enclosure 1 of chips that are removed together with any cutting fluid delivered to the machining point. In the set-up shown in the figure any cutting fluid is delivered through an opening made in the work-piece 4 at the machining point 6, but cutting fluid can also be delivered through an opening in the enclosure 1 or through the second opening 8 in connection with the tool 2. A negative pressure source, for example an external chip collecting device such as a suction fan (not shown) to further assist the evacuation of chips and any cutting fluid can be arranged in connection with the outlet opening 10.

Figure 2 shows how elements 11, designed to produce an air flow in the space to transport chips and any cutting fluid towards the outlet opening 10, have been operatively connected to a cutting tool, such as a face milling cutter. The said elements 11 are here shown as fan blades arranged inside the enclosure 1 around the periphery of the tool, which blades cause chips and any cutting fluid to move towards the outlet opening 10 of the enclosure when the face milling cutter rotates. In this embodiment the blades 11 are located right on the outer periphery of the tool. The enclosure 1, as shown here, may be arranged on the headstock and designed to move therewith for application to the work-piece 4. It is also possible to mount a rotating drum with fan blades in the enclosure around the tool, in which case this is driven directly by the arbor or by a separate motor. By means of this method cutting fluid can be eliminated in those cases where cutting fluid is not used for cooling, but only for flushing chips away from the machining point. In the same way as in the embodiment according to figure 1, a negative pressure source, for example an external chip-collecting device such as a suction fan (not shown) to further assist the evacuation of chips and any cutting fluid can be arranged in connection with the outlet opening 10.

Figure 3 shows an enclosure 1 intended to form a seal around a plurality of machining points 6 on one and the same work-piece 4 in a machine 3 with a plurality of tool-carrying arbors. The enclosure 1 is here designed with a first wall 5 facing the work-piece 4, which wall is open towards the work-piece 4 around a machining point 6 associated with each tool 2 and is designed to bear tightly against the work- piece 4 around the machining points 6. An opening 8 in a second wall 7 of the enclosure 1, facing the first wall 5 and accommodating each tool 2, is designed during machining to bear tightly against the arbor or each tool. Between the first

wall 5 and the second wall 7 there is also a side wall (not shown) forming a substantially enclosed space around all machining points 6, or alternatively a separate wall around each machining point 6, so that there is a substantially enclosed space, or a plurality of substantially enclosed spaces in the area around the machining points 6.

The cutting fluid can, if necessary, be delivered to the various machining points 6 in the enclosure 1, in order to entrain and convey chips to a common outlet opening 10 arranged in the bottom edge of the enclosure and optionally coupled to a device for evacuation of chips and any cutting fluid. Any cutting fluid can be delivered by way of directed nozzles at the cutting fluid inlet to the enclosure, by way of ducts in the enclosure direct to the machining points 6 or from the machine 3 by way of ducts (not shown) in each machining tool 2. It is also possible to have the enclosure 1 form part of a fixture for fixing the work-piece during machining, by making the enclosure 1 moveable relative to the machining tool 2 but fixed in relation to the work piece 4.

Where the first wall 5 has an opening that includes all machining points, it is possible to design the enclosure with an interchangeable second wall 7, thereby allowing other machining points to be machined. It is furthermore possible to design the side wall so as to permit a certain relative movement between the first wall 5 and the second wall 7, whilst maintaining a substantially enclosed space around the machining points 6.