Workpiece holding device and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a workpiece holding device and method, and specifically provides a workpiece holding device for positioning a workpiece on a processing device, comprising: a sacrificial support member, which is used to support the workpiece; a workpiece holding layer, which is formed by a curable material applied to the sacrificial support member, and the workpiece holding layer fixes the workpiece at a predetermined position on the sacrificial support member after curing is completed, and the sacrificial support member and the workpiece holding layer are allowed to be destroyed by the cutting head of the processing device during the processing of the workpiece; a curable material collector, which is arranged below the sacrificial support member and is used to collect the curable material that is separated from the sacrificial support member during the application of the curable material, the curing of the curable material and / or the processing of the workpiece; a curing processing unit, which includes a controller and a curing rate regulator, and the controller controls the curing rate regulator to adjust the curing rate of the curable material by changing at least one factor affecting the curing; and a supporting assembly, which is used to support the sacrificial support member, the curable material collector and the curing processing unit, and the supporting assembly is configured to be removably mounted on the processing device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to workpiece processing, in particular to a device and method for positioning a workpiece on a processing device, and more particularly to a workpiece holding device and method for a milling machine based on cured silicone rubber. Background Art

[0002] Milling machine is a widely used machine tool. The processing method of using a milling cutter as a tool to process the surface of a workpiece can also be called milling. During milling, the workpiece is mounted on a workbench or an accessory such as a dividing head. Usually, the milling cutter mainly moves in rotation, and the movement of the workpiece and the milling cutter is the feed motion. By using a milling cutter with high-speed rotating sharp teeth to gradually remove material from the workpiece, and by feeding the workpiece, the milling cutter is moved relatively on the workpiece in a systematic manner, it is possible to cut off unnecessary material in the workpiece and convert the workpiece into the desired shape. In addition to milling planes, grooves, gear teeth, threads and spline shafts, milling machines can also process more complex surfaces.

[0003] Milling is a process often considered subtractive manufacturing, where unwanted parts are successively cut away from a block of raw material until the desired three-dimensional shape remains. Milling can be performed on almost any material, such as aluminum, copper, steel, brass, titanium, wood, foam, fiberglass, and plastics such as polypropylene and acrylic. Traditionally, milling machines were manually operated. However, modern milling machines are often computer-controlled and are known as CNC (computer numerically controlled) milling machines. The cutting paths of these machines are specified in a computer file and controlled by a computer program. Milling is very useful for rapid prototyping, as product designers can produce prototypes of their creations very quickly and cheaply during the design and development phase without the cost of mass manufacturing techniques such as injection molding. In addition to rapid prototyping, milling can also be used to manufacture final products, and its subtractive manufacturing properties are particularly well suited to materials that are not very hard, such as wood.

[0004] During the milling process, the workpiece needs to be temporarily fixed to the milling machine table, a step called workpiece holding. When the milling cutter rotates and cuts into the workpiece, it exerts a lot of force on the material. If the workpiece is not well fixed to the milling machine table, it is likely to accidentally cause the workpiece to fly out of the milling machine. This is likely to damage the workpiece and even harm the health of the milling machine operator. The following describes several traditional ways to hold the workpiece, but these ways all have some problems to a greater or lesser extent:

[0005] Vertical clamp

[0006] Vertical clamps work by applying pressure vertically on top of the workpiece. Pressing the workpiece down increases the friction between the workpiece and the milling table, which prevents the workpiece from moving. The vertical clamp itself can be fixed to the milling table in a variety of ways, such as screws and other clamps. A major disadvantage of vertical clamps is that the clamp itself takes up space above the workpiece, which will hinder the movement of the rotating tool and limit the processing area of ​​the tool in actual processing. At the same time, if the table needs to feed, the clamp also needs to move synchronously, which makes the structure more complicated. In addition, if a part of the workpiece needs to be completely cut out from the original material, this part of the workpiece will eventually be separated from the original material. Since the vertical clamp only applies pressure on the original material, it may not be able to apply pressure on the final separated part, so the separated part may shift relative to the rotating tool, which can damage the workpiece and even harm the health of the operator.

[0007] Horizontal clamp

[0008] A horizontal clamp is a clamp that applies force in the horizontal direction, which prevents the workpiece from moving by applying pressure horizontally on the side of the workpiece, thereby creating friction. The horizontal clamp itself can be fixed to the milling machine table by various means, such as screws and other clamps. Since the horizontal clamp contacts the workpiece at the side of the workpiece, the milling cutter can process a larger area than a vertical clamp. However, if the workpiece needs to be cut horizontally beyond the edge of the material, the rotary tool may also contact the horizontal clamp itself. This can damage the clamp and the rotary tool, and put the machine operator at risk. Similar to using a vertical clamp, if the workpiece needs to be completely cut out of the raw material to form the final shape, it will eventually be separated from the raw material. Since the horizontal clamp only applies force on the raw material, and not necessarily on the final separated object, the separated part may shift relative to the rotary tool. This can also damage the workpiece and endanger the operator's health.

[0009] Magnetic clamp

[0010] Magnetic clamps use permanent magnets or electromagnets to exert a magnetic force on the workpiece. The magnetic clamp is placed between the top of the milling machine table and the bottom of the workpiece. The magnetic force pulls the workpiece down, and the friction created between the surfaces prevents the workpiece from moving accidentally. The magnetic clamp itself can be secured to the milling machine table using a variety of methods, such as screws and other clamps. Unlike vertical and horizontal clamps, magnetic clamps have the ability to secure the workpiece being cut. However, a major disadvantage of magnetic clamps is that they are only suitable for workpieces made of magnetic materials, such as certain metals.

[0011] Vacuum workbench

[0012] A vacuum table is a device placed between the top of the milling machine table and the bottom of the workpiece. The vacuum table itself can be fixed to the milling machine table using a variety of methods, such as screws and other clamps. The surface of the workpiece that the vacuum table contacts is porous, and the holes lead to the internal vacuum chamber. A vacuum pump is used to evacuate the air in the vacuum chamber and maintain the vacuum chamber below atmospheric pressure. The pressure difference between the vacuum chamber and the outside air holds the workpiece in place. The air pressure in the environment applies a downward force to the workpiece, thereby increasing the friction between the workpiece and the surface of the vacuum table, which is able to prevent the workpiece from accidentally moving. A major disadvantage of the vacuum table is that the pressure applied to the workpiece is proportional to the surface area of ​​the workpiece. For smaller workpieces, this pressure may not be enough to hold the workpiece firmly in place. Also, if the workpiece needs to be completely cut out of the original material to form its final shape, the final cut workpiece will separate from the original material. This separation may cause air to leak back into the vacuum chamber, destroying the air pressure difference between the outside air and the vacuum chamber. This results in the loss of pressure applied to the workpiece to prevent it from accidentally moving. In addition, vacuum tables tend to be expensive. As the vacuum pump pushes air out of the vacuum chamber, it also creates a lot of perceptible noise.

[0013] Adhesives

[0014] Any type of adhesive can be used to temporarily bond the workpiece to the milling machine table to hold it in place. The advantage of using adhesive to hold the workpiece is that it can hold the workpiece after it is cut. However, the disadvantage is that the workpiece cannot be easily removed from the table in all cases. There may be adhesive residue on the workpiece and the table, requiring additional cleanup steps. In addition, if the workpiece needs to be completely cut out of the original material, the rotating tool may come into contact with the adhesive. Since the rotary tool rotates at high speed when cutting the workpiece, the heat generated by the cutting friction may cause the adhesive to melt and stick to the rotating tool, eventually damaging the tool.

[0015] Double-sided tape

[0016] Double-sided tape works similarly to adhesives and has similar drawbacks, including tape residue on the workpiece and on rotating tools.

[0017] Back to back single sided paper tape

[0018] This method places single-sided paper tape on the top of the milling machine table and on the bottom of the workpiece, then adheres the paper tape from the bottom of the workpiece to the paper tape from the top of the milling machine table. This method is better than using only adhesive or double-sided tape because the single-sided paper tape is generally easier to remove from the workpiece and table without leaving residue. However, if it is necessary to cut vertically through the entire workpiece, the rotating tool will still be in contact with the paper tape and the glue in between. Due to the heat generated by friction, the adhesive may melt and stick to the cutting tool, causing damage to the rotating tool.

[0019] Bridges and lugs

[0020] Bridges and lugs are small design features that are not cut from the original material and therefore do not usually leave the workpiece during the milling process. This method can be used in conjunction with the other workpiece clamping methods mentioned above to prevent the workpiece from separating and moving during the milling operation. After the milling work is completed, the bridge is manually disconnected from the lug. The disadvantage of using this method is that subsequent processing is required to grind off the lug, which adds process steps and costs. Summary of the invention

[0021] In order to solve the above problems or at least partially solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a workpiece holding device for positioning a workpiece on a processing device, comprising: a sacrificial support member, which is used to support the workpiece; a workpiece holding layer, which is formed by a curable material applied to the sacrificial support member, and after curing, the workpiece holding layer fixes the workpiece at a predetermined position on the sacrificial support member, and during the processing of the workpiece, the sacrificial support member and the workpiece holding layer are allowed to be destroyed by the cutting head of the processing equipment; a curable material collector, which is arranged below the sacrificial support member, and is used to collect the curable material that is separated from the sacrificial support member during the application of the curable material, the curing of the curable material and / or the processing of the workpiece; a curing processing unit, which includes a controller and a curing rate regulator, and the controller controls the curing rate regulator to adjust the curing rate of the curable material by changing at least one factor affecting curing; and a support assembly, which is used to support the sacrificial support member, the curable material collector and the curing processing unit, and the support assembly is configured to be removably mounted on the processing equipment.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the sacrificial support member is plate-shaped and includes a flat surface that contacts the workpiece via the workpiece holding layer, and at least one through hole penetrating the sacrificial support member is formed on the flat surface. A plurality of through holes may be formed on the flat surface, and at least one of the plurality of through holes is suitable for installing a workpiece fixture.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the curable material is a viscous liquid when uncured, and is an elastic solid after curing, and the melting point of the solid is above 1000 degrees Celsius. One curable material is silicone rubber.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the factors affecting curing include temperature, the curing rate regulator includes a heating pad, and the controller controls the heating pad to adjust the curing rate of the curable material by changing the curing temperature. The heating pad is close to the curable material collector, and the curable material collector is made of a thermally conductive material.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the factors affecting curing include ultraviolet rays, the curing rate regulator includes an ultraviolet light source, and the controller controls the ultraviolet light source to adjust the curing rate of the curable material by changing ultraviolet irradiation parameters. The ultraviolet light source is located below the curable material collector, and the curable material collector is made of ultraviolet transparent material.

[0026] On the other hand, the present invention provides a method for positioning a workpiece on a processing device, comprising: providing a sacrificial support member, wherein the sacrificial support member is allowed to be destroyed by a cutting head of the processing device during processing of the workpiece; applying a curable material to the sacrificial support member; placing the workpiece on the sacrificial support member when the curable material is not cured; curing the curable material to form a workpiece retaining layer, fixing the workpiece at a predetermined position on the sacrificial support member; providing a curing processing unit, which includes a controller and a curing rate regulator, wherein the controller controls the curing rate regulator to adjust the curing rate of the curable material by changing at least one factor affecting the curing; providing a curable material collector, wherein the curable material collector is used to collect the curable material that detaches from the sacrificial support member during application of the curable material, during curing of the curable material and / or during processing of the workpiece; and providing a supporting assembly, wherein the supporting assembly is used to support the sacrificial support member, the curable material collector and the curing processing unit, and the supporting assembly is removably mounted on the processing device.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the workpiece holding device provided by the embodiment of the present application has many advantages. For example, compared with vertical clamps and horizontal clamps, silicone rubber does not occupy the space of the workpiece in all directions, and can be better processed in multiple directions. Compared with magnetic clamps, the workpiece holding device provided by the embodiment of the present application has no special requirements for the material of the workpiece. Compared with vacuum tables, silicone rubber is low in cost, no noise, and can be competent for separating a whole piece of workpiece from the original material. Compared with adhesive fixation, silicone rubber is resistant to high temperatures and will not have an adverse effect on the milling cutter. And the workpiece holding device provided by the embodiment of the present application fixes the workpiece with the help of atmospheric pressure, so it is easy to separate the workpiece and no residue is generated. Compared with the design of bridges and lugs, the workpiece holding device provided by the embodiment of the present application has many advantages such as fewer process steps, low cost, and higher yield. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to more clearly illustrate the implementation methods of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for the implementation methods or the prior art descriptions. Obviously, the drawings described below are only used to illustrate some implementation methods of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, without paying creative work, they can also obtain other technical features, connection relationships and even method steps not mentioned in the drawings based on these drawings.

[0029] Figure 1 1 is an overall schematic diagram of a workpiece holding device according to the present invention.

[0030] Figure 2 is an exploded schematic diagram of a workpiece holding device according to the present invention.

[0031] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of a curing unit of a workpiece holding device according to the present invention.

[0032] Figure 4 1 is an overall schematic diagram of a workpiece holding device according to the present invention provided with a curing sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0034] The workpiece holding device and method according to the present invention are applicable to various types of processing techniques. Taking milling as an example, the workpiece holding device is positioned on the workbench of the milling machine in the preparation step. Subsequently, the workpiece to be processed is fixed to the workpiece holding device using a cured workpiece holding layer (e.g., silicone rubber, also known as silicone rubber). When silicone rubber is in an uncured state, it is usually in the form of a gel or a high-viscosity liquid. Due to the viscosity of liquid silicone, it can be poured on the surface of any object to present the shape of the surface. When the silicone subsequently completes curing, it hardens and becomes a solid rubber with the same shape.

[0035] The present invention utilizes this characteristic of silicone rubber and applies it to the fixation of workpieces. First, uncured liquid silicone is applied to a sacrificial support member (such as a waste plate) located at the top of the workpiece holding device. When the silicone is still in a liquid state, the workpiece is placed on the liquid pit formed by the accumulation of liquid silicone. By applying pressure on the top of the workpiece, the silicone is squeezed into a thin layer of liquid, the shape of which is accurate to fill the gap in the vertical direction between the bottom of the workpiece and the top of the waste plate, even including the gap at the microscopic level, which will eliminate the gas between the two surfaces. Then, by activating the curing treatment unit, the liquid silicone is caused to quickly cure into solid silicone rubber. As the silicone cures, it forms a tight vacuum with the bottom of the workpiece and the top of the waste plate respectively. The atmospheric pressure in the environment will cause the solid silicone rubber to adhere to the top of the waste plate and the bottom of the workpiece under the action of suction, thereby fixing the workpiece in a predetermined position. After the milling process is completed, the workpiece can be easily removed by applying a horizontal force perpendicular to the suction of the silicone rubber. Because the silicone rubber is elastic, it can also be easily peeled off without leaving any residue.

[0036] The workpiece holding device described above has many advantages over the prior art. During the milling process, the workpiece remains fixed in a predetermined position and does not hinder the rotating tool in any way. Since the silicone has been cured into a chemically inert solid rubber, it will not chemically react with any surface and can be easily cleaned without residue. Even if the rotating tool comes into contact with the silicone rubber during the milling process, the silicone rubber will not stick to the rotating milling cutter because the chemical structure of silicone does not melt at high temperatures.

[0037] It should be noted that, although silicone rubber is used as an example to describe the technical concept of the present invention, other curable materials are also applicable to the present invention. Preferably, the curable material has the following characteristics:

[0038] 1. It is a viscous liquid when not solidified;

[0039] 2. Curing can be completed in a shorter time;

[0040] 3. After solidification, it is a solid with elasticity;

[0041] 4. The solid formed after solidification has a high melting point, for example, above 1000 degrees Celsius, to ensure that it will not melt during the processing of the workpiece.

[0042] In order to improve the curing efficiency and realize the rapid fixation of the workpiece, the workpiece holding device according to the present invention is designed to promote the curing of the curable material. The various components of the workpiece holding device are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0043] Base Plate

[0044] The function of the bottom plate 80 is to make the tray rack 70 easy to be installed on or removed from the processing machine (such as a milling machine), so as to realize the interchangeability of different tray racks 70. The bottom plate 80 can be fixed on the milling machine table by conventional methods such as screws and clamps. The bottom plate 80 can be made of a strong material, such as aluminum, iron or stainless steel, etc.

[0045] Pallet rack

[0046] The tray frame 70 and the bottom plate 80 constitute a supporting assembly. Figure 1 The tray holder 70 can be fixed to the base plate 80 by screws through the screw holes 71 shown in FIG. The tray holder 70 can also be mounted to the base plate 80 by means of magnets 90 arranged at the edges and / or corners. The magnets not only allow for quick installation / removal of the workpiece holder, but also ensure that the workpiece holder is always in the same position relative to the milling machine. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, one set of four programming magnets 90 is placed at the corners of the base plate 80, and another set of four programming magnets 90 is placed at the corners of the tray rack 70, with the two sets of magnets 90 aligned and attracted to each other to achieve precise positioning.

[0047] Aligned programming magnets refer to rare earth neodymium magnets that undergo a special magnetization process that changes the shape of the magnetic field to achieve precise alignment characteristics. When two aligned programming magnets attract each other, they fit together at a precise position. When the magnets on the tray rack 70 fit together with the magnets on the base plate 80, the tray rack is held in place by the magnetic force between all pairs of magnets 90. Since the engagement position between the magnets 90 on the tray rack 70 and the magnets on the base plate 80 is consistent and repeatable each time the workpiece holding device is installed, consistent positioning of the workpiece holding device can be achieved. During workpiece processing, it is important to ensure the consistent position of the workpiece holding device. For example, when continuing an unfinished milling operation on a previously replaced workpiece holding device, it is crucial to position the workpiece holding device in a position and direction similar to that of the previous processing. Otherwise, the path of the rotating tool will deviate from the predetermined path, resulting in damage to the workpiece. Preferably, the tray rack 70 is made of a sturdy material such as aluminum or stainless steel.

[0048] Thermal insulation

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, a thermal insulator 60 is provided between the curing process unit 50 and the support assembly (tray rack 70 and base plate 80) to form an insulating layer. The insulating layer has a dual purpose. First, it is used to protect the electronic components 51 of the curing process unit 50 and the tray rack 70 from the heat generated by the curing process unit 50. Second, it maximizes the heat transferred to the curable material collector 40 by minimizing the heat dissipated to the surrounding environment. The thermal insulator 60 is made of a good insulating material, such as aluminum silicate ceramic fiber or vinyl vinyl acetate (EVA). The thermal insulator 60 can be fixed to the tray rack 70 by press fitting. Press fitting is an interference fit assembly method in which one part is forced into the hole of another part under pressure, and the two parts are held together by friction.

[0050] Curing unit

[0051] The purpose of providing the curing treatment unit 50 is to promote the curing of the liquid curable material 20. There are many different curable material formulations on the market, such as different liquid silicone formulations. Some silicones can be cured at room temperature, but unless heated, they usually take several hours to cure. Some types of silicones cure faster, about a few minutes, but require the liquid to be heated to more than 120 degrees Celsius. In recent years, a new type of silicone has emerged that can be cured in a few seconds by exposure to ultraviolet light. The curing treatment unit accelerates the curing process according to the characteristics of a specific type of curable material. Preferably, the curing treatment unit 50 is designed to allow replacement. For heat-cured materials, the curing treatment unit 50 can be an electronically controlled heating pad that heats the curable material. For ultraviolet-cured materials, the curing treatment unit 50 can be an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light toward the curable material, which can also be controlled electronically. The curing treatment unit 50 can be fixed to the thermal insulation member 60 by press-fitting. In one embodiment, the curing treatment unit 50 can be connected to a printed circuit board by wires and controlled by an on-board electronic device 51. Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the electronic components is shown. The printed circuit board includes a heat sensor for detecting heat and / or a UV sensor for detecting UV conditions, a relay switch for turning the heating pad or UV light source on and off, and a microprocessor for processing input data from the sensor and controlling the relay switch. The curing process unit also has a user interface ( Figure 1 A display 52 is shown in FIG. 5 ), including control buttons, switches for changing system settings, and a display for outputting information and displaying user feedback.

[0052] Solidifiable material collector

[0053] The purpose of providing the curable material collector 40 is to collect the curable material 20 that escapes from the sacrificial support 30 during application of the curable material, during curing of the curable material, and / or during processing of the workpiece. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the curable material collector 40 is configured as a tray, which prevents the curing process unit 50 below from directly contacting the liquid curable material 20. Preferably, the tray facilitates the curing process of different types of curable materials 20, and the tray is designed to be replaceable. For heat-cured materials, the tray can be made of a highly thermally conductive material such as aluminum. For UV-cured materials, the tray can be made of a UV-transmissive material, such as polymethyl methacrylate (also known as plexiglass). The tray can be fixed by screws or press-fitted to the thermal insulation 60 together with the curing process unit 50.

[0054] Sacrificial Support

[0055] The sacrificial support 30 is used to support the workpiece 10, and the sacrificial support 30 is allowed to be damaged by the cutting head of the processing equipment during the processing of the workpiece 10. Preferably, a scrap plate is used as the sacrificial support 30. If it is necessary to cut the workpiece material vertically until it exceeds the bottom of the workpiece 10, any layer located below the workpiece 10 may contact the rotating tool. The main purpose of providing a scrap plate is to allow sacrificial cutting to protect the layers below it from being damaged. The second purpose of providing a scrap plate is to provide a completely flat surface for the workpiece 10 relative to the milling machine. Although some scrap plates appear to be flat visually, due to slight changes in material thickness, although generally imperceptible to the naked eye, the scrap plate usually naturally tilts slightly. This tilt will cause the workpiece to tilt on the vertical axis relative to the milling machine and the rotating tool, reducing the processing quality. In order to avoid the above defects as much as possible, the surface of the scrap plate can be leveled by milling a large notch on the entire surface of the scrap plate. This will ensure that the scrap plate is always flat and the distance from the rotating tool is equal over the entire surface, thereby providing a completely horizontal support surface for the workpiece. In one embodiment, the waste board is designed to form a through hole 31 on the surface. The through hole has multiple uses. First, the through hole 31 allows more heat or ultraviolet light from the curing processing unit 50 to reach the liquid curable material 20 to promote curing. Secondly, the through hole 31 also allows the use of conventional clamps, such as the clamps described in the background technology section, which can cooperate with the curable material 20 to ensure that the workpiece is fixed in a predetermined position. Preferably, the waste board is made of a semi-hard material that is dimensionally stable, durable and easy to cut, such as medium density fiberboard (MDF). The waste board can be fixed to the curable material collector 40 by press fitting. The through hole 31 allows the curable material (such as silicone) to reach the curable material collector 40 (such as a silicone tray) for curing, and the through hole 31 can also be used as a fulcrum for small tools (such as a screwdriver) in the process of prying the workpiece after milling.

[0056] First embodiment

[0057] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the workpiece holding device includes: a waste plate 30; a silicone rubber 20 coated on the waste plate 30; and the workpiece 10 is fixed on the waste plate 30 by curing the silicone rubber 20.

[0058] Correspondingly, an embodiment of the present application also provides a method for fixing a workpiece of a milling machine, comprising the following steps: setting a waste plate 30 on a supporting assembly; applying silicone rubber 20 on the waste plate 30; attaching the workpiece 10 tightly to the waste plate 30 through the silicone rubber 20; and curing the silicone rubber 20 to fix the workpiece 10.

[0059] Understandably, the support assembly is used to support various mechanisms arranged thereon. Meanwhile, the support assembly also bears the connection function with the milling machine workpiece table, so it can locate and fix itself by traditional methods such as screws and clamps.

[0060] The supporting assembly may include a tray frame 70 and a bottom plate 80. The tray frame 70 is arranged on the bottom plate 80, and the bottom plate 80 is detachably mounted on the milling machine. The function of the bottom plate is to make the tray frame 70 easy to install or remove on the milling machine, thereby ensuring the interchangeability of different tray frames 70.

[0061] The tray rack 70 can be fixed to the base plate by conventional screws or clamps, or by magnets. When the tray is fixed to the base plate by magnets, the tray rack 70 can be quickly disassembled and assembled, and the tray rack 70 can be easily kept in relative position on the milling machine before and after disassembly and assembly. The magnets can be rare earth neodymium magnets to provide sufficient magnetic force. The magnets can be set at the four corners of the tray rack 70 to provide uniform force. The aligned programming magnets refer to rare earth neodymium magnets that have undergone a special magnetization process, which changes the shape of the magnetic field to achieve precise alignment characteristics. When two aligned programming magnets attract each other, they fit together at a precise position. When the magnets on the tray rack 70 fit together with the magnets on the base plate 80, the tray rack is held in place by the magnetic force between all the paired magnets 90. Each time the workpiece holding device is installed, since the bite position between the magnets 90 on the tray rack 70 and the magnets on the base plate 80 is consistent and repeatable, consistent positioning of the workpiece holding device can be achieved. During workpiece machining, it is important to ensure consistent positioning of the workpiece holder. For example, when continuing an unfinished milling operation on a previously replaced workpiece holder, it is critical to position the workpiece holder in a similar position and orientation as during the previous machining. Otherwise, the path of the rotating tool will deviate from the intended path, resulting in damage to the workpiece.

[0062] The workpiece holding device also includes a curing material tray 40, which is located below the waste plate 30 and is used to collect excess silicone rubber 20 during the curing and processing process. The curing material tray 40 prevents the liquid silicone rubber 20 from directly contacting the components below. The design of the curing material tray 40 helps to cure the specific type of silicone rubber 20 it corresponds to, so the curing material tray 40 can be set to be removable to adapt to different silicone rubbers 20. The relative position of the curing material tray 40 can be fixed by conventional means such as screws or press-in.

[0063] The waste plate 30 is a component that can provide a surface for the connection between the silicone rubber 20 and the workpiece 10. Moreover, during the milling process, if the milling cutter needs to vertically cut into the bottom of the entire workpiece 10, the waste plate 30 can provide a sacrificial cutting allowance. In addition, the waste plate 30 can provide a relatively flat surface to improve the processing accuracy of the workpiece 10. The waste plate 30 can be installed on the curing material tray 40 by press fitting, or fixed by traditional means such as screws and clamps. When the waste plate reaches the expected life loss due to repeated use, it can be replaced in time with the help of these screws and clamps.

[0064] Silicone rubber 20 has two properties: it can be cured and is liquid when not cured. Unlike adhesives, silicone rubber 20 becomes a solid with a certain elasticity after curing, and is chemically inert, so it is not easy to chemically react with the surface of other materials attached to it, and its melting point is high and it is not easy to melt. Due to such a stable chemical structure, silicone rubber 20 will not stick to the milling cutter, nor will it melt at the high temperature caused by the high-speed rotation of the milling cutter. In addition, silicone rubber 20 also has the advantage of low cost.

[0065] Accordingly, during the milling operation, the following procedures can be followed:

[0066] 1. The waste plate 30 is arranged on the support assembly. As mentioned above, the waste plate 30 can be firmly fixed by conventional means so that it will not slip during the operation of the milling machine.

[0067] 2. The silicone rubber 20 is a high-viscosity liquid in an uncured state. Due to the viscosity and plasticity of liquid silicone, it can be evenly spread on the surface of the waste plate 30. The silicone rubber 20 is applied on the waste plate 30. After the liquefied silicone rubber 20 is applied on the waste plate 30, it can be slowly infiltrated into the fine holes on the waste plate 30, penetrate downward and contact the surface of the curing material tray 40, so as to more effectively cure the silicone rubber by heating or UV light.

[0068] 3. The workpiece 10 is pressed against the waste plate 30 through the silicone rubber 20. The workpiece 10 can be initially fixed by utilizing the viscosity of the silicone rubber 20. By applying pressure on the top of the workpiece 10, the silicone rubber 20 will be squeezed into a thin layer. At this point, the silicone rubber 20 can accurately fill the gap between the bottom of the workpiece 10 and the top of the waste plate 30.

[0069] 4. With the aid of the curing processing unit 50, the curing silicone rubber 20 is cured through the curing material tray 40 to fix the workpiece 10. During the curing process, the silicone rubber 20 will occupy the gap between the workpiece 10 and the waste plate and form a negative pressure. Accordingly, the atmospheric pressure in the environment will press the workpiece 10 so that it is firmly fixed in the specified position.

[0070] 5. After milling, the silicone rubber 20 is also damaged. At this time, the workpiece 10 can be easily removed by applying a horizontal force perpendicular to the suction force of the silicone rubber 20. Since the silicone rubber 20 is elastic, it can also be easily peeled off without easily generating residue. The silicone rubber 20 is a sacrificial material and must be replaced after each milling process.

[0071] It can be seen from this that compared with many milling machine fixtures in the prior art, the workpiece holding device provided by the embodiment of the present application has many advantages. For example, compared with vertical fixtures and horizontal clamps, the silicone rubber 20 does not occupy the space of the workpiece 10 in all directions, and can be better processed in multiple directions. Compared with magnetic clamps, the workpiece holding device provided by the embodiment of the present application has no special requirements for the material of the workpiece 10. Compared with vacuum tables, the silicone rubber 20 is low in cost and noise, and is capable of separating a whole piece of workpiece 10 from the original material. Compared with adhesive fixation, the silicone rubber 20 is resistant to high temperatures and will not have an adverse effect on the milling cutter. And the workpiece holding device provided by the embodiment of the present application fixes the workpiece 10 with the help of atmospheric pressure, so it is easy to separate the workpiece 10 and no residue is generated. Compared with the design of bridges and lugs, the workpiece holding device provided by the embodiment of the present application has many advantages such as fewer process steps, low cost, and higher yield.

[0072] Second embodiment

[0073] The main improvement of the second embodiment over the first embodiment is that the curing of the silicone rubber 20 is accelerated by the curing unit 50. The curing unit 50 is disposed below the curing material tray 40 and adjusts the curing rate of the curable material 20 by changing at least one factor affecting the curing.

[0074] Some silicone rubber 20 can be cured in just a few minutes when heated to a temperature above 120 degrees Celsius. That is, when such silicone rubber 20 is heated, the curing speed of the silicone rubber 20 can be significantly increased. Accordingly, the accelerated curing of the silicone rubber 20 can be achieved by setting a heating coil, an electromagnetic heating device, and other temperature regulating devices.

[0075] In order to be suitable for different types of silicone rubber 20, the curing processing unit 50 can be installed in a detachable manner under the curing material tray 40. The curing processing unit 50 can be installed on the supporting assembly in various forms. It can be understood that the curing processing unit 50 includes a curing rate regulator (which can be understood as a heat generating mechanism such as a heating pad in this embodiment), a controller and a user interface 52 (which can be understood as a panel for controlling the curing rate regulator in this embodiment, including a body, a knob, a temperature display screen, a switch and other components). In order to prevent the heat of the heating pad from affecting the electronic devices, a thermal insulation member 60 is provided between the heating pad and the supporting assembly. The curing processing unit 50 includes a curing rate regulator, which is arranged in the thermal insulation member 60 and is used to directly accelerate the curing of the silicone rubber 20; and a controller and a user interface 52, which are arranged outside the thermal insulation member 60 and are electrically connected to the curing rate regulator, and are used to control and adjust the curing rate regulator.

[0076] The thermal insulation member 60 has the function of isolating heat. The thermal insulation member 60 provided can prevent the heat from overflowing onto the milling machine workbench during heating. In addition to preventing damage to electronic devices, the thermal insulation member 60 can also minimize the heat transferred to the surrounding environment, thereby allowing most of the heat generated by the curing rate regulator to be transferred to the silicone rubber 20, thereby saving energy. The thermal insulation member 60 can be made of excellent thermal insulation materials such as aluminum silicate ceramic fiber or vinyl vinyl acetate (EVA). In addition, holes can also be provided on the thermal insulation member 60 for cables to pass through.

[0077] In this embodiment, the curing material tray 40 can prevent the silicone rubber 20 from contacting the curing rate regulator, playing a more important protective role. In order to provide a good thermal conductivity, the curing material tray 40 can be made of a material with high thermal conductivity (such as metal aluminum, copper, etc.).

[0078] Accordingly, this embodiment provides a workpiece fixing process:

[0079] 1. The waste plate 30 is arranged on the support assembly. As mentioned above, the waste plate 30 can be firmly fixed by conventional means so that it will not slip during the operation of the milling machine.

[0080] 2. Apply silicone rubber 20 on the waste plate 30. After the liquefied silicone rubber 20 is applied on the waste plate 30, it can be slowly infiltrated into the fine through holes 31 on the waste plate 30. The silicone rubber 20 is a high-viscosity liquid in an uncured state. Due to the viscosity and plasticity of the liquid silicone material, it can be evenly spread on the surface of the waste plate 30.

[0081] 3. The workpiece 10 is pressed against the waste plate 30 through the silicone rubber 20. The workpiece 10 can be initially fixed by utilizing the adhesive properties of the silicone rubber 20. By applying pressure on the top of the workpiece 10, the silicone rubber 20 will be squeezed into a thin layer, and at this time, the silicone rubber 20 can accurately fill the gap between the bottom of the workpiece 10 and the top of the waste plate 30.

[0082] 4. Operate the electronic adjustment mechanism to set the heating temperature and heating time. The curing rate regulator will heat the silicone rubber 20 to cure the silicone rubber 20. During the curing process, the silicone rubber 20 will occupy the gap between the workpiece 10 and the waste plate and form a negative pressure. Accordingly, the atmospheric pressure in the environment will compress the workpiece 10 so that it is firmly fixed in the specified position. After the curing is completed, the curing processing unit 50 will automatically stop working according to the settings of the timer or temperature sensor.

[0083] 5. After milling, the silicone rubber 20 is also damaged. At this time, the workpiece 10 can be easily removed by applying a horizontal force perpendicular to the suction force of the silicone rubber 20. Since the silicone rubber 20 is elastic, it can also be easily peeled off without easily generating residue. The silicone rubber 20 is a sacrificial material and must be replaced after each milling process.

[0084] Third embodiment

[0085] The main difference between the third embodiment and the second embodiment is that in the second embodiment of the present application, the curing unit 50 is a temperature regulating device; while in the third embodiment of the present application, the curing unit 50 is a UV light source. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the step of curing the silicone rubber 20 of the workpiece fixing method includes: accelerating the curing of the silicone rubber 20 by irradiating ultraviolet rays. Some silicone rubbers 20 can be cured within a few seconds when exposed to ultraviolet rays. Therefore, with the help of the UV light source, the accelerated curing procedure for the silicone rubber 20 can be quickly completed.

[0086] When setting the UV light source, since no excessive heat will be generated, the support assembly may not include the thermal insulation member 60. At this time, the curing processing unit 50 may include: a curing rate regulator for directly accelerating the curing of the silicone rubber 20. An electronic adjustment mechanism, electrically connected to the curing rate regulator, for controlling and adjusting the curing rate regulator. Among them, the curing rate regulator may have UV lamps arranged in an array. When a UV light source is used, a waste plate 30 that is transparent or translucent to ultraviolet rays may be provided so that the UV light source passes through the waste plate 30 and reaches the surface of the silicone rubber 20. In addition, the curing material tray 40 provided also needs to be made of a material that is transparent or translucent to ultraviolet rays, such as polymethyl methacrylate, also known as acrylic acid.

[0087] Accordingly, this embodiment also provides a milling machine workpiece fixing process:

[0088] 1. The waste plate 30 is arranged on the support assembly. As mentioned above, the waste plate 30 can be firmly fixed by conventional means so that it will not slip during the operation of the milling machine.

[0089] 2. Apply the silicone rubber 20 on the waste plate 30. After the liquefied silicone rubber 20 is applied on the waste plate 30, it can be slowly infiltrated into the fine holes on the waste plate 30. The silicone rubber 20 is a high-viscosity liquid in an uncured state. Due to the viscosity and plasticity of the liquid silicone material, it can be evenly spread on the surface of the waste plate 30.

[0090] 3. The workpiece 10 is pressed against the waste plate 30 through the silicone rubber 20. The workpiece 10 can be initially fixed by utilizing the adhesive property of the silicone rubber 20. By applying pressure on the top of the workpiece 10, the silicone rubber 20 will be squeezed into a thin layer, and at this time, the silicone rubber 20 can accurately fill the gap between the bottom of the workpiece 10 and the top of the waste plate 30.

[0091] 4. Operate the electronic adjustment mechanism to set the UV irradiation time. The curing rate regulator will irradiate the silicone rubber 20 so that the silicone rubber 20 is cured. During the curing process, the silicone rubber 20 will occupy the gap between the workpiece 10 and the waste plate and form a negative pressure. Accordingly, the atmospheric pressure in the environment will compress the workpiece 10 so that it is firmly fixed in the specified position. After the curing is completed, the curing processing unit 50 automatically stops working according to the setting of the timer or the temperature sensor.

[0092] 5. After milling, the silicone rubber 20 is also damaged. At this time, the workpiece 10 can be easily removed by applying a horizontal force perpendicular to the suction force of the silicone rubber 20. Since the silicone rubber 20 is elastic, it can also be easily peeled off without residue. The silicone rubber 20 is a sacrificial material and must be replaced after each milling process. Compared with heat curing, UV curing consumes less energy and cures faster. Since heat insulation is not required, the overall structure of the workpiece holding device is simpler and the service life is longer.

[0093] Fourth embodiment

[0094] The fourth embodiment is a further improvement of any one of the first to third embodiments, and the main improvement is that, in the fourth embodiment of the present application, see Figure 1 and Figure 2 A through hole 31 is provided on the surface of the scrap plate 30 that contacts the workpiece 10 .

[0095] There can be multiple through holes, which are densely distributed or arrayed on the waste plate 30. These through holes have multiple uses. First, the through holes can allow the silicone rubber 20 to penetrate, so as to better generate a negative pressure relative to the atmospheric pressure and provide a more stable fixation. Secondly, when a curing treatment unit 50 is provided, for a heating type curing rate regulator, the through holes can allow heat to pass through the waste plate 30 more quickly and act on the silicone rubber 20; and for an ultraviolet type curing treatment unit 50, the through holes allow more ultraviolet rays to pass through the waste plate 30 and act on the silicone rubber 20, and also allow the use of an opaque waste plate 30. Since an opaque waste plate 30 can be used, the selectivity of the waste plate 30 is increased, which is very beneficial to reducing costs.

[0096] In addition, the waste plate 30 provided with through holes has further benefits. For example, optionally, the workpiece holding device may also include a conventional clamp fixed to the support assembly, and the conventional clamp further fixes the workpiece 10 through the through holes. Among them, the conventional clamp may be a horizontal clamp. The use of the conventional clamp and the workpiece holding device provided by the embodiment of the present application can further provide a fixing force, thereby further preventing the workpiece 10 from slipping. Moreover, these through holes can also serve as fulcrums for some small tools, such as being used to support a screwdriver so as to pry open the workpiece 10 after milling.

[0097] Fifth embodiment

[0098] After the curing unit 50 is set, the curing of the silicone rubber 20 can be significantly accelerated. However, factors such as the amount of silicone rubber 20 used and the change in ambient temperature may affect the time required for curing. Therefore, simply setting a set of automatic curing procedures cannot meet the needs of automatically controlling the curing unit 50 in all scenarios.

[0099] In view of this, the workpiece holding device in the fifth embodiment further includes a curing sensor 53, which is in communication with the curing processing unit 50. After monitoring that the silicone rubber 20 is cured, the curing sensor 53 sends a stop signal to the curing processing unit 50, and the curing processing unit 50 stops the accelerated curing of the silicone rubber 20 in response to the stop signal.

[0100] During the curing process of the silicone rubber 20, it may change from a clear and transparent state to a turbid state. Therefore, some optical sensors can be used to monitor whether the silicone rubber 20 has been cured by measuring the properties of its refraction or heat dissipation light. The curing sensor 53 used can have a variety of achievable principles, and typically, a turbidity sensor can be used for measurement.

[0101] It is worth mentioning that after the silicone rubber 20 is detected to be cured, the stop signal can be sent to the curing unit 50 after a specified time delay so that the silicone rubber 20 can be cured more completely. Alternatively, the curing unit 50 can be made to automatically delay the execution of the stop signal after a specified time delay after receiving the stop signal. There are also more specific control methods that can be selected and improved according to the actual working environment, so they will not be described in detail.

[0102] It is understandable that the curing sensor 53 can be mounted on the support assembly of the workpiece holding device, or directly mounted on the milling machine. The curing sensor 53 can also be connected to the control mechanism of the milling machine itself in communication so that the milling machine automatically performs the milling operation after curing is completed.

[0103] With the aid of the curing sensor 53, the curing processing unit 50 can be automatically stopped, which can avoid unnecessary energy waste and achieve the effect of energy saving and emission reduction. In addition, since the staff does not need to wait for the curing process to be completed beside the milling machine, the fixing of the entire workpiece 10 and the working process of the milling machine can be automatically and continuously operated, thus significantly improving the automation level of the milling machine fixture and even the entire milling machine.

[0104] Finally, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can understand that in order to enable readers to better understand the present application, the embodiments of the present application provide many technical details. However, even without these technical details and various changes and modifications based on the above-mentioned embodiments, the technical solutions claimed for protection by the claims of the present application can be basically realized. Therefore, in practical applications, various changes can be made to the above-mentioned embodiments in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A workpiece holding device, the workpiece holding device is used to position a workpiece on a processing device, characterized in that: The workpiece holding device comprises: a sacrificial support member for supporting the workpiece; a workpiece holding layer formed of a curable material applied to the sacrificial support, the workpiece holding layer fixing the workpiece at a predetermined position on the sacrificial support after curing, the sacrificial support and the workpiece holding layer being allowed to be destroyed by a cutting head of the processing equipment during processing of the workpiece; a curable material collector disposed below the sacrificial support for collecting curable material that escapes from the sacrificial support during application of the curable material, during curing of the curable material, and / or during processing of the workpiece; a curing processing unit, comprising a controller and a curing rate regulator, wherein the controller controls the curing rate regulator to adjust the curing rate of the curable material by changing at least one factor affecting curing; and a support assembly for supporting the sacrificial support, the curable material collector and the curing process unit, the support assembly being configured to be removably mounted to the processing equipment, The curable material is a viscous liquid when uncured and is an elastic solid after curing, and the melting point of the solid is above 1000 degrees Celsius.

2. The workpiece holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sacrificial support member is plate-shaped and includes a flat surface in contact with the workpiece via the workpiece holding layer, and at least one through hole penetrating the sacrificial support member is formed on the flat surface.

3. The workpiece holding device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A plurality of through holes are formed on the flat surface, and at least one of the plurality of through holes is suitable for mounting a workpiece fixture.

4. The workpiece holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The curable material includes silicone rubber.

5. The workpiece holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The factors affecting curing include temperature, the curing rate regulator includes a heating pad, and the controller controls the heating pad to adjust the curing rate of the curable material by changing the curing temperature; The heating pad is in close contact with the curable material collector, and the curable material collector is made of a thermally conductive material; The processing equipment is a milling machine.

6. The workpiece holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The factors affecting curing include ultraviolet rays, the curing rate regulator includes an ultraviolet light source, and the controller controls the ultraviolet light source to adjust the curing rate of the curable material by changing ultraviolet irradiation parameters; The ultraviolet light source is located below the curable material collector, and the curable material collector is made of ultraviolet transparent material; The ultraviolet-transmissive material comprises polymethyl methacrylate; The processing equipment is a milling machine.

7. The workpiece holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The curing processing unit further comprises at least one of a temperature sensor and an ultraviolet sensor, and the controller controls the operation of the curing rate regulator according to data measured by the temperature sensor and / or the ultraviolet sensor; The curing processing unit further includes a display interface and a user input interface, wherein the display interface is used to display at least one of a current temperature, a target temperature, a current ultraviolet parameter, and a target ultraviolet parameter, and the user input interface allows a user to set at least one of a target temperature and a target ultraviolet parameter; The processing equipment is a milling machine.

8. The workpiece holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The curing processing unit further includes a curing sensor, which is in communication with the controller, and when the curing sensor detects that the curable material has been cured, it sends a curing completion signal to the controller; The curing sensor determines whether the curable material has been cured by optical measurement; The processing equipment is a milling machine.

9. The workpiece holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: Also included is a thermal insulation member, which is disposed between the curing treatment unit and the supporting assembly; The curable material collector is a collection tray, the sacrificial support is fastened to the collection tray by a press fit, and the collection tray and the curing rate regulator are both press fit to the thermal insulation; The support assembly includes a tray and a base, the tray retaining the thermal insulation, the base configured to be removably mounted to the processing equipment; The base and the tray are provided with magnets at positions aligned with each other, and the fixed connection between the base and the tray is achieved by attraction of the magnets; The magnets are programmable magnets located at the edges or corners of the base and the tray; The processing equipment is a milling machine.

10. A method for holding a workpiece, characterized in that: include: providing a sacrificial support member, the sacrificial support member allowing destruction by a cutting head of the machining apparatus during machining of the workpiece; applying a curable material to the sacrificial support; placing the workpiece on the sacrificial support while the curable material is uncured; solidifying the curable material to form a workpiece retaining layer, and fixing the workpiece at a predetermined position on the sacrificial support member; Providing a curing processing unit, which includes a controller and a curing rate regulator, wherein the controller controls the curing rate regulator to adjust the curing rate of the curable material by changing at least one factor affecting curing; providing a curable material collector, with which curable material that escapes from the sacrificial support during application of the curable material, during curing of the curable material, and / or during machining of the workpiece is collected; as well as providing a support assembly, using the support assembly to support the sacrificial support member, the curable material collector and the curing processing unit, and removably mounting the support assembly on the processing equipment, The curable material is a viscous liquid when uncured and is an elastic solid after curing, and the melting point of the solid is above 1000 degrees Celsius.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that After placing the workpiece on the sacrificial support, pressure is applied to the workpiece to cause the curable material to fill a gap between the workpiece and the sacrificial support.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that Providing the sacrificial support member includes providing a plate-shaped sacrificial support member having a flat surface, and forming at least one through hole penetrating the sacrificial support member on the flat surface.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The present invention also includes forming a plurality of through holes on the flat surface, and installing a workpiece fixture for clamping the workpiece by using at least one of the plurality of through holes.

14. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The curable material includes silicone rubber.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that The factors affecting curing include temperature, the curing rate regulator includes a heating pad, and the method includes using the controller to control the heating pad to adjust the curing rate of the curable material by changing the curing temperature; The method further comprises placing the heating pad in close contact with the curable material collector, and manufacturing the curable material collector using a thermally conductive material; The processing equipment is a milling machine.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that The factors affecting curing include ultraviolet rays, the curing rate regulator includes an ultraviolet light source, and the method includes using the controller to control the ultraviolet light source to adjust the curing rate of the curable material by changing ultraviolet irradiation parameters; The method further comprises arranging the ultraviolet light source below the curable material collector and manufacturing the curable material collector with ultraviolet transparent material; The processing equipment is a milling machine.

17. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that The curing processing unit further includes at least one of a temperature sensor and an ultraviolet sensor, and the method further includes controlling the operation of the curing rate regulator using the controller according to data measured by the temperature sensor and / or the ultraviolet sensor; The curing processing unit further includes a display interface and a user input interface, wherein the display interface is used to display at least one of a current temperature, a target temperature, a current ultraviolet parameter, and a target ultraviolet parameter, and the user input interface allows a user to set at least one of a target temperature and a target ultraviolet parameter; The processing equipment is a milling machine.

18. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that The curing processing unit further includes a curing sensor, which is in communication with the controller, and when the curing sensor detects that the curable material has been cured, it sends a curing completion signal to the controller; The curing sensor determines whether the curable material has been cured by optical measurement; The processing equipment is a milling machine.

19. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that It also includes providing a thermal insulation member and arranging it between the curing treatment unit and the supporting assembly; The curable material collector is a collection tray, the method comprising press-fitting the sacrificial support member to the collection tray, and press-fitting the collection tray and the curing rate regulator to the thermal insulation; The support assembly includes a tray and a base, and the method includes using the tray to hold the thermal insulation and removably mounting the base to the processing equipment; The invention also includes arranging magnets at positions on the base and the tray that are aligned with each other, and using the attraction of the magnets to fix the base and the tray together; The magnets are programmable magnets located at the edges or corners of the base and the tray; The processing equipment is a milling machine.

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