Self-adaptive unstressed tool for special-shaped parts

Abstract

The invention discloses an unstressed tool self-adaptive to special-shaped parts, and belongs to the technical field of advanced manufacturing and detecting tool clamps. Through the synergistic effect of the fixing device, the linking device, the supporting sliding rod, the locking device, the air cavity and other components, unstressed supporting of the special-shaped part is achieved, the problems of stress concentration, deformation or displacement of the part caused by a traditional tool method are avoided, the damage risk of the part is reduced, and the clamping stability of the part when the part is applied in an extreme scene is improved. And meanwhile, the tool has flexible response capacity, the supporting structure can be adjusted in a self-adaptive mode in the scene of high-speed movement or environment change, and the stress-free supporting state of the special-shaped part is guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of advanced manufacturing and testing tooling and fixtures, and in particular relates to a stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts. Background Art

[0002] In modern manufacturing, the processing, assembly and inspection of special-shaped parts have always been a technical difficulty, especially in high-tech fields such as aerospace and semiconductors, special-shaped parts have shown wide application value due to their unique properties. These special-shaped parts are of various types, including ultra-thin substrates, free-form surfaces, aspherical surfaces, etc. During the processing, inspection and assembly process, the stability of the clamping is crucial to ensure the service performance of the final parts.

[0003] Traditional tooling methods usually rely on fixed points or fixtures to fix parts. However, for special-shaped parts with complex shapes and variable curvatures, this method is difficult to provide uniform and stable support. This may not only cause stress concentration, deformation or displacement of parts in application scenarios, thereby affecting the quality and performance of parts, but also fail to meet the needs of parts in high-speed motion or high-precision applications. In addition, traditional tooling methods are also prone to damage to parts, especially under the action of gravity. The uneven weight distribution of parts may cause excessive force on the support points, thereby increasing the risk of deformation and damage to parts.

[0004] In order to overcome this technical difficulty, the exploration of adaptive tooling technology is particularly important. Adaptive tooling can automatically adjust the structure and support method of the tooling according to parameters such as the shape, size, weight and the impact of gravity on the parts, so as to achieve stress-free support and positioning of special-shaped parts. This technology can not only provide uniform and stable support, but also effectively reduce the impact of gravity on parts, ensuring the stability and accuracy of parts during processing, testing and assembly.

[0005] In the prior art, the utility model with publication number CN213084611U relates to the field of automobile production line device structure, and discloses a special-shaped parts positioning and conveying device, including a belt mechanism, and also including several height adjustment mechanisms, the belt mechanism includes a belt and a driving motor driving the belt to operate, the height adjustment mechanism includes a height adjustment mechanism base, and the height adjustment mechanism base is provided with several vertical vertical screw rods, the vertical screw rods are all connected to the height adjustment motor driving the vertical screw rod to rotate, the vertical screw rods are sleeved with vertical nuts, and the belt is installed on the vertical nuts. The width and height of the utility model special-shaped parts positioning and conveying device can be adaptively adjusted according to the shape of the parts, completely eliminating the shaking phenomenon in the process of part conveying, and ensuring the accuracy requirements in the process of part conveying.

[0006] The utility model with the publication number CN214559173U relates to the field of mechanical processing technology, and specifically to a part clamping and adjusting device, including a support component and a push component, wherein the upper part of the support component is provided with a rotating groove, and the lower part of the push component is provided with a rotating hemisphere adapted to the rotating groove, and the rotating hemisphere can rotate in the rotating groove, and the push component is used to abut against the workpiece to be clamped. The push component is supported on the surface of the part by the support component, so that the upper end of the push component abuts on the part, and when the surface to be supported of the part is an inclined surface or other irregular surface, when the push component abuts against the part, the rotating hemisphere at the lower part of the push component can rotate in the rotating groove at the upper part of the support component, so that the upper part of the push component can adapt to different surfaces, realizing adaptive support of parts with irregular surfaces, with strong versatility, and no need to customize special support tooling for special-shaped parts, thereby reducing production costs and improving production efficiency.

[0007] However, the above technologies are difficult to meet the needs of uniform and stable support for special-shaped parts with complex shapes and variable curvatures. Summary of the invention

[0008] Based on the deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention proposes an adaptive stress-free tooling for special-shaped parts, which is used to solve the problems of clamping stability, clamping accuracy and stress concentration faced by special-shaped parts in the processing, assembly and testing processes in modern manufacturing. The tooling achieves high-precision, stress-free support and positioning of special-shaped parts through the precise coordination of components such as fixing devices, linking devices, support slide bars, locking devices, air cavities and tooling shells. In particular, under the action of gravity, the tooling can automatically adjust the position and angle of the support slide bars to ensure stable support of the parts in the tooling, thereby effectively avoiding problems such as deformation and damage of parts that may be caused by traditional tooling methods. At the same time, the tooling has flexible response capabilities and can adaptively adjust the support structure in scenes of high-speed movement or environmental changes to ensure a stress-free support state for special-shaped parts.

[0009] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0010] The present invention provides a stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts, comprising a tooling shell, wherein the tooling shell has an air cavity inside and a mounting platform on the top surface, and the tooling shell is also provided with an air hole for ventilating the air cavity;

[0011] A plurality of fixing units are arranged at intervals on the mounting platform, and the fixing units include a support head located at an upper portion and a spherical mounting head located at a lower portion;

[0012] The fixing unit further comprises a supporting slide bar, the top surface of the supporting slide bar is provided with a bowl-shaped mounting groove, and the spherical mounting head can be rotatably mounted in the bowl-shaped mounting groove along the spherical surface;

[0013] The top surface of the mounting platform is provided with a plurality of mounting holes communicating with the air cavity, and the bottom end of each supporting slide rod extends into the mounting hole and slides with the mounting hole;

[0014] The mounting platform is also provided with a locking mechanism for locking each supporting slide bar after the height is adjusted;

[0015] When in use, first inflate the air cavity through the air hole to lift up each of the fixing units, and then place the corresponding special-shaped parts on the supporting surface formed by the top surfaces of each of the supporting heads. After the height of each of the supporting slide bars is automatically adjusted to the right position, use the locking mechanism to lock each of the supporting slide bars relative to the mounting platform so that they cannot slide up and down.

[0016] The support head (fixing device) in the fixing unit is used to fix the special-shaped part on the tooling to ensure that the special-shaped part does not move during the use of the tooling;

[0017] The spherical mounting head and the bowl-shaped mounting groove (linking device) connect the support head and the support slide bar, providing the support head with a flexible adjustment function so as to adjust the appropriate contact angle through rotational movement according to the shape of the special-shaped parts;

[0018] The support slide bar slides in the track to adapt to the contour and position of the special-shaped part;

[0019] The locking mechanism is used to ensure that the special-shaped parts will not move during the use of the tooling after the position of the supporting slide bar is adjusted;

[0020] The air cavity is arranged inside the tooling shell and is connected to the outside through the air hole to provide air pressure regulation. The lower end of the support slide rod is connected to the inside of the air cavity. The length of the support slide rod entering the air cavity can be adaptively adjusted according to the shape and quality of the special-shaped part.

[0021] The tool housing is used to stably fix the entire tool on the work surface, providing structural support and protection for the entire device;

[0022] The air hole is arranged on the tooling shell and is used to fill or discharge gas into the air cavity;

[0023] Furthermore, the special-shaped part is placed on top of the support head and fixed by direct contact with the support head. There is no restriction on the material of the support head, and it can be selected according to the material of the special-shaped part. If necessary, a protective layer or adhesive layer can be added to protect the special-shaped part. The linking device can adjust the angle according to the different curvatures of the special-shaped part to ensure that the tooling can fit the part tightly. The change in air pressure inside the air cavity will drive the support slide bar to slide in the track. This sliding will automatically adjust according to the shape and weight of the special-shaped part to adapt to different parts of the part to ensure uniform and stable support. When the combination of the fixing device, the linking device and the support slide bar is adjusted into place according to the shape of the special-shaped part, the locking mechanism will fix it to ensure that the special-shaped part can maintain its original position and shape when the external environment changes, such as temperature fluctuations or slight vibrations, and will not be displaced or deformed due to loose tooling.

[0024] Furthermore, the fixing device is intended to stably fix the special-shaped part on the tooling while avoiding any additional stress. Specifically, the fixing device can adopt vacuum adsorption, ring electrostatic adsorption, glue bonding, etc., but is not limited to these fixing methods.

[0025] Vacuum adsorption creates a local vacuum environment and uses atmospheric pressure to tightly adsorb special-shaped parts on the tooling surface. This method is suitable for parts with a flat surface or a certain adsorption area.

[0026] Ring-mouth electrostatic adsorption uses the electrostatic effect to generate an electrostatic field through the ring-mouth structure to adsorb special-shaped parts on the tooling. Electrostatic adsorption has the advantages of non-contact and non-destructive, and is particularly suitable for parts with high surface quality requirements.

[0027] Glue bonding uses specific glue or adhesive to firmly bond special-shaped parts to the surface of the tooling. This method is suitable for parts that need to be fixed for a long time or bear a certain load. In addition, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific fixing methods listed above, but covers all methods that can fix special-shaped parts on the tooling stably and without generating additional stress. Any fixing mechanism that can achieve similar functions and has corresponding stability and adaptability, as long as they can ensure stress-free fixation of special-shaped parts by the tooling, falls within the scope of protection of this patent. At the same time, the contact form between the fixing device and the special-shaped part can be point contact, surface contact, or any other contact form that can ensure that the fixing device fits tightly with the special-shaped part. This design is intended to ensure that the tooling can adapt to various shapes and curvatures of the surface of special-shaped parts and achieve stress-free tight fixation.

[0028] The linking device between the connecting fixture and the supporting slide bar is intended to adapt to the complex and changeable shape and position requirements of the special-shaped parts. Specifically, the linking device can be, but is not limited to, the following connection methods. It can be a ball head connection to allow free rotation in multiple directions, thereby ensuring that the fixture can closely fit the various curvatures and angles of the surface of the special-shaped parts and provide stress-free support; a universal shaft connection to be able to adjust the direction and position of the fixture in a wider range, which is particularly suitable for special-shaped parts that require precise alignment and positioning; a hinge connection to provide stable support while allowing a certain degree of bending and rotation, which is suitable for sudden shape changes that may occur in special-shaped parts. In addition, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific connection methods listed above, but covers all connection methods that can assist the fixture to adapt to the different position shapes of special-shaped parts. Any connection mechanism that can achieve similar functions and has corresponding flexibility and adaptability, as long as they can ensure stress-free support and fixation of the tooling to the special-shaped parts, belongs to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0029] Furthermore, when the fixture and the supporting slide bar are connected by a ball joint, a universal shaft joint or a hinge joint, the ball joint part carried by the fixture can be equipped with a motor drive device to achieve manual setting and control of the rotation angle. Through the motor drive, the rotation angle of the fixture can be accurately adjusted according to the specific shape and processing requirements of the special-shaped part, ensuring that the fixture can fit closely to the surface of the special-shaped part while maintaining a stress-free state, thereby improving the adaptability and precision of the tooling.

[0030] Preferably, in some embodiments of the present invention, the bottom of the support head and the spherical mounting head are connected and fixed by a connecting rod.

[0031] Furthermore, the top surface of the support head has a support surface, and the support head has an inner cavity, which is opened at the support surface, and the inner cavity is provided with an exhaust hole on the side of the support head.

[0032] More preferably, the support head is in a bowl shape.

[0033] Furthermore, the support slide bar has high-precision sliding performance, and its length can be adjusted to accommodate special-shaped parts of different sizes. It is made of high-strength material to ensure stability and load-bearing capacity. It also has good corrosion resistance and wear resistance, and is designed to be easy to maintain and replace, thereby achieving effective support and precise adjustment of special-shaped parts. At the same time, a ruler or scale can be set on the support slide bar to facilitate precise adjustment and recording of the position to ensure consistency each time it is used.

[0034] Preferably, the fixing units are arranged in an ordered or disordered array.

[0035] The combination of fixtures, linking devices, and supporting slides constitutes a highly modular and configurable system. These combinations can be flexibly arranged on the upper part of the tooling shell in any mode and in any quantity to meet the diversity of various special-shaped parts in shape, contour, size, and required processing, assembly, measurement and other tooling application scenarios.

[0036] In terms of arrangement pattern, the combination can be presented as a linear arrangement, a matrix arrangement, a circular arrangement or any other customized geometric shape to adapt to the specific characteristics of special-shaped parts.

[0037] For example, for parts with complex curved surfaces, a dense matrix arrangement can be used to ensure that every tiny area is adequately supported; while for parts with long strips or tubular structures, a linear arrangement can be used to provide continuous support and fixation.

[0038] In terms of quantity, the number of assemblies is completely determined by the size, weight and required support density of the special-shaped parts. In areas where high-precision support is required, the number of assemblies can be increased to improve the stability and accuracy of the support; while in areas where the support requirements are relatively low, the number of assemblies can be reduced to reduce tooling costs and complexity.

[0039] In terms of density, the arrangement density of the assembly can also be adjusted according to actual needs. In areas where tight support is required, the arrangement density of the assembly can be increased to ensure that every local tiny detail feature of the special-shaped parts can be properly fixed; while in areas where the support density is not high, the arrangement density can be appropriately reduced to reduce the overall weight and manufacturing cost of the tooling.

[0040] Furthermore, the tooling is composed of a combination of multiple fixing devices, linking devices, and supporting slide rods (referred to as the combination), and the contact state between these combinations and the special-shaped parts is highly flexible and can be in parallel or series form.

[0041] In the parallel contact state, multiple assemblies are in contact with different parts of the special-shaped parts at the same time, and each assembly independently provides support or fixing. This parallel configuration can ensure that the special-shaped parts are evenly and stably supported in multiple directions, effectively preventing the parts from deforming or stress concentration due to uneven force. By adjusting the position and support force of each assembly, the complex shape and size of the special-shaped parts can be accurately matched to achieve the effect of stress-free tooling.

[0042] In the serial contact state, the assembly contacts the special-shaped parts in a specific order or hierarchy to form a continuous support chain. This serial configuration is suitable for special-shaped parts with hierarchical structures or progressive assembly requirements, and can ensure that the special-shaped parts maintain the correct position and posture during the gradual assembly or processing. The assemblies in the serial contact state can cooperate with each other to jointly cope with the various forces and deformations that may be generated by the special-shaped parts during assembly or processing, inspection or application, thereby maintaining the overall stability and reliability of the tooling system. In addition, according to the specific needs and working environment of the special-shaped parts, the parallel or serial contact state can be flexibly selected, or a combination of the two can be used.

[0043] Preferably, the side wall of the mounting hole extends toward the inside of the mounting platform to form a mounting hole column, and the middle of the mounting hole column is the mounting hole; the side wall of the mounting hole is provided with a guide groove, and the outer side wall of the bottom of the supporting slide rod is provided with a guide slide block that cooperates with the guide groove.

[0044] Preferably, the locking mechanism is electromagnetic locking, bolt locking, pneumatic locking or hydraulic locking.

[0045] Bolt locking generates pre-tightening force by rotating the bolt to fix the link device and the support slide rod, ensuring stable support and precise positioning of special-shaped parts.

[0046] In addition, the locking device can also be an electromagnetic locking device, which uses electromagnetic principles to achieve fast, non-contact locking and releasing, which is particularly suitable for scenarios where parts need to be replaced frequently or automated operations need to be performed.

[0047] In addition to bolt locking and electromagnetic locking, the design of the locking device also reserves interfaces or spaces for other locking methods, such as snap locking, gas pressure locking, etc., so that the most suitable locking method can be selected according to the specific shape, size, weight and working environment of the special-shaped parts. This design makes the tooling more versatile and flexible, and can be widely used in the processing, assembly, and inspection of various special-shaped parts.

[0048] Furthermore, the air cavity is filled with gas, which can be air, nitrogen or other inert gases. The specific choice depends on the working environment of the tooling, the material and shape of the special-shaped parts, and the required support strength. By adjusting the air pressure inside the air cavity, the overall rigidity and support force of the support slide can be fine-tuned to meet the processing or assembly requirements of different special-shaped parts. During the use of the tooling, when the special-shaped parts are placed on the tooling, the air cavity will automatically adjust the air pressure distribution inside it according to the shape and curvature of the part to ensure that the part is evenly and stably supported. This adaptive support method not only avoids the stress concentration problem caused by insufficient or improper fixing points of traditional tooling, but also significantly improves the processing accuracy and assembly quality of parts. In addition, the air cavity wall is made of high-strength and corrosion-resistant materials to ensure that it will not be deformed or damaged during long-term use.

[0049] Furthermore, the tool housing can be fixed on the workbench in a variety of ways, including but not limited to threaded hole fixing, adhesive fixing, magnetic fixing (for ferromagnetic workbenches), snap fixing (matching with slots or snaps on the workbench), bolt clamping (tightly fixed by tightening bolts), and embedded installation (directly embedded in grooves or holes inside the workbench). These fixing methods are designed to meet different working environments and actual needs, ensure the stability and reliability of the tool housing, and provide strong support for stress-free support and fixation of special-shaped parts.

[0050] In some embodiments of the present invention, the locking mechanism is a bolt locking mechanism, and the locking mechanism includes a locking plate arranged on the top surface of the mounting platform, and the locking plate is provided with locking holes corresponding to the mounting holes one by one and for the support slide rod to pass through;

[0051] The locking mechanism further includes a guide mechanism disposed between the top surface of the mounting platform and the bottom surface of the locking plate, the guide mechanism including a guide rail and a guide groove that cooperate with each other, the guide rail being disposed on the top surface of the mounting platform, the guide groove being disposed on the bottom surface of the locking plate, or the guide rail being disposed on the bottom surface of the locking plate, the guide groove being disposed on the top surface of the mounting platform;

[0052] The locking plate has an eaves plate extending downward at one end along the extension direction of the guide rail and the guide groove, and a threaded hole is provided on the eaves plate; the locking mechanism also includes a locking bolt that cooperates with the threaded hole and has one end that abuts against the side wall of the mounting platform.

[0053] Furthermore, the tooling system has flexible configuration capabilities, allowing it to be arranged in a variety of postures such as vertical, horizontal, tilted or inverted to meet the needs of various application scenarios such as processing, assembly, and testing. In the process of adjusting the position or posture of the tooling, the locking state of the locking device is released. At this time, the support slide bar can automatically adjust its extension length inside the air cavity according to the change of the tooling posture to ensure that the special-shaped parts can be evenly and stress-free supported in any arrangement.

[0054] Furthermore, the shapes of the special-shaped parts can be various complex forms such as plane, ultra-thin plane, sphere, free-form surface, aspheric surface, ellipsoid, saddle shape, triangle shape or irregular shape; the materials of the special-shaped parts can be glass, ceramic, gem, metal (such as stainless steel, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, etc.), plastic, composite material, etc., and the tooling ensures stress-free support and positioning of special-shaped parts of different shapes and materials through flexible and adjustable support structure and precise positioning mechanism.

[0055] Beneficial effects of the present invention:

[0056] The present invention realizes stress-free support for special-shaped parts through the synergistic effect of the fixing device, the linking device, the supporting slide bar, the locking device and the air cavity, avoiding the stress concentration, deformation or displacement of the parts caused by the traditional tooling method, reducing the risk of part damage, and improving the clamping stability of the parts when used in extreme scenarios. At the same time, the tooling has flexible response capabilities and can adaptively adjust the support structure in scenes of high-speed movement or environmental changes to ensure stress-free support for special-shaped parts. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the stress-free tooling of the adaptive special-shaped parts of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 2 It is a left schematic diagram of the stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 3 It is a rear view schematic diagram of the stress-free tooling of the adaptive special-shaped parts of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Cutting diagram in the AA direction;

[0061] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a fixed unit;

[0062] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts in which the fixing units of the present invention are arranged in a disordered array;

[0063] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the tool housing and the mounting platform of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 8 It is a bottom view schematic diagram of the tool housing and the mounting platform of the present invention;

[0065] Fig. 9 This is a state diagram of using the stress-free tooling of the present invention to support special-shaped parts.

[0066] Markings in the figure: 1-tooling shell, 2-air cavity, 3-installation platform, 31-fixing unit, 311-support head, 3111-support surface, 3112-inner cavity, 3113-exhaust hole, 312-spherical mounting head, 313-support slide bar, 3131-bowl-shaped mounting groove, 3132-guide slider, 314-connecting rod, 32-mounting hole, 321-mounting hole column, 322-guide groove, 33-locking mechanism, 331-locking plate, 3311-locking hole, 3312-eaves board, 33121-threaded hole, 332-guide mechanism, 3321-guide rail, 3322-guide groove, 333-locking bolt, 4-air hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] The invention provides a stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts, comprising a fixing device, a linking device, a supporting slide bar, a locking device, a locking mechanism, an air cavity, a tooling shell, an air hole and a special-shaped part.

[0068] The fixing device is used to fix the special-shaped part on the tooling to ensure that the special-shaped part does not move during the use of the tooling. The linking device connects the fixing device and the supporting slide bar to provide a flexible adjustment function for the fixing device to adjust the appropriate contact angle through rotation according to the shape of the special-shaped part.

[0069] The support slide bar slides in the track to adapt to the contour and position of the special-shaped part. The locking device is used to ensure that the special-shaped part will not move during the use of the tooling after the position of the support slide bar is adjusted;

[0070] The air cavity is arranged inside the tooling shell and is connected to the outside through the air hole, which is used to provide air pressure regulation. The lower end of the support slide rod is connected to the inside of the air cavity. The length of the support slide rod entering the air cavity can be adaptively adjusted according to the shape and quality of the special-shaped part. The tooling shell is used to stably fix the entire tooling on the work surface, providing structural support and protection for the entire device. The air hole is arranged on the tooling shell, which is used to fill or discharge gas into or out of the air cavity.

[0071] When the special-shaped part is placed on top of the fixture, it is fixed by direct contact with the fixture; the link device can adjust the angle according to the different curvatures of the special-shaped part to ensure that the tooling can fit the part tightly. The air pressure change inside the air cavity will drive the support slide bar to slide in the track. This sliding will automatically adjust according to the shape and weight of the special-shaped part to adapt to different parts of the part, ensuring uniform and stable support.

[0072] When the combination of the fixing device, the linking device and the supporting slide rod is adjusted into place according to the shape of the special-shaped part, the locking mechanism will fix it to ensure that the special-shaped part can maintain its original position and shape when the external environment changes, such as temperature fluctuations or slight vibrations, and will not be displaced or deformed due to loose tooling.

[0073] The fixing device is used to fix the special-shaped parts on the tooling to ensure that the special-shaped parts will not move during the use of the tooling;

[0074] The linking device is used to connect the fixing device and the supporting slide bar, and provides a flexible adjustment function for the fixing device so as to adjust a suitable contact angle through a rotational motion according to the shape of the special-shaped parts;

[0075] The support slide bar slides in the track to adapt to the contour and position of the special-shaped part;

[0076] The locking mechanism is used to ensure that the special-shaped parts will not move during the use of the tooling after the position of the supporting slide bar is adjusted;

[0077] The air cavity is arranged inside the tooling shell and is connected to the outside through the air hole to provide air pressure regulation. The lower end of the support slide rod is connected to the inside of the air cavity. The length of the support slide rod entering the air cavity can be adaptively adjusted according to the shape and quality of the special-shaped part.

[0078] The tool housing is used to stably fix the entire tool on the work surface, providing structural support and protection for the entire device;

[0079] The air hole is arranged on the tooling shell and is used to fill or discharge gas into the air cavity;

[0080] Furthermore, the special-shaped part is placed on top of the support head and fixed by direct contact with the support head. The linking device can adjust the angle according to the different curvatures of the special-shaped part to ensure that the tooling can fit the part tightly. The change in air pressure inside the air cavity will drive the support slide bar to slide in the track. This sliding will automatically adjust according to the shape and weight of the special-shaped part to adapt to different parts of the part to ensure uniform and stable support. When the combination of the fixing device, the linking device and the support slide bar is adjusted into place according to the shape of the special-shaped part, the locking mechanism will fix it to ensure that the special-shaped part can maintain its original position and shape when the external environment changes, such as temperature fluctuations or slight vibrations, and will not be displaced or deformed due to loose tooling.

[0081] Furthermore, the fixing device is intended to stably fix the special-shaped part on the tooling while avoiding any additional stress. Specifically, the fixing device can adopt vacuum adsorption, ring electrostatic adsorption, glue bonding, etc., but is not limited to these fixing methods.

[0082] Vacuum adsorption creates a local vacuum environment and uses atmospheric pressure to tightly adsorb special-shaped parts on the tooling surface. This method is suitable for parts with a flat surface or a certain adsorption area.

[0083] Ring-mouth electrostatic adsorption uses the electrostatic effect to generate an electrostatic field through the ring-mouth structure to adsorb special-shaped parts on the tooling. Electrostatic adsorption has the advantages of non-contact and non-destructive, and is particularly suitable for parts with high surface quality requirements.

[0084] Glue bonding uses specific glue or adhesive to firmly bond special-shaped parts to the surface of the tooling. This method is suitable for parts that need to be fixed for a long time or bear a certain load. In addition, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific fixing methods listed above, but covers all methods that can fix special-shaped parts on the tooling stably and without generating additional stress. Any fixing mechanism that can achieve similar functions and has corresponding stability and adaptability, as long as they can ensure stress-free fixation of special-shaped parts by the tooling, falls within the scope of protection of this patent. At the same time, the contact form between the fixing device and the special-shaped part can be point contact, surface contact, or any other contact form that can ensure that the fixing device fits tightly with the special-shaped part. This design is intended to ensure that the tooling can adapt to various shapes and curvatures of the surface of special-shaped parts and achieve stress-free tight fixation.

[0085] The linking device between the connecting fixture and the supporting slide bar is intended to adapt to the complex and changeable shape and position requirements of the special-shaped parts. Specifically, the linking device can be, but is not limited to, the following connection methods. It can be a ball head connection to allow free rotation in multiple directions, thereby ensuring that the fixture can closely fit the various curvatures and angles of the surface of the special-shaped parts and provide stress-free support; a universal shaft connection to be able to adjust the direction and position of the fixture in a wider range, which is particularly suitable for special-shaped parts that require precise alignment and positioning; a hinge connection to provide stable support while allowing a certain degree of bending and rotation, which is suitable for sudden shape changes that may occur in special-shaped parts. In addition, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific connection methods listed above, but covers all connection methods that can assist the fixture to adapt to the different position shapes of special-shaped parts. Any connection mechanism that can achieve similar functions and has corresponding flexibility and adaptability, as long as they can ensure stress-free support and fixation of the tooling to the special-shaped parts, belongs to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0086] Furthermore, when the fixture and the supporting slide bar are connected by a ball joint, a universal shaft joint or a hinge joint, the ball joint part carried by the fixture can be equipped with a motor drive device to achieve manual setting and control of the rotation angle. Through the motor drive, the rotation angle of the fixture can be accurately adjusted according to the specific shape and processing requirements of the special-shaped part, ensuring that the fixture can fit closely to the surface of the special-shaped part while maintaining a stress-free state, thereby improving the adaptability and precision of the tooling.

[0087] Furthermore, the support slide bar has high-precision sliding performance, and its length can be adjusted to accommodate special-shaped parts of different sizes. It is made of high-strength material to ensure stability and load-bearing capacity. It also has good corrosion resistance and wear resistance, and is designed to be easy to maintain and replace, thereby achieving effective support and precise adjustment of special-shaped parts. At the same time, a ruler or scale can be set on the support slide bar to facilitate precise adjustment and recording of the position to ensure consistency each time it is used.

[0088] The combination of fixtures, linking devices, and supporting slides constitutes a highly modular and configurable system. These combinations can be flexibly arranged on the upper part of the tooling shell in any mode and in any quantity to meet the diversity of various special-shaped parts in shape, contour, size, and required processing, assembly, measurement and other tooling application scenarios.

[0089] In terms of arrangement pattern, the combination can be presented as a linear arrangement, a matrix arrangement, a circular arrangement or any other customized geometric shape to adapt to the specific characteristics of special-shaped parts.

[0090] For example, for parts with complex curved surfaces, a dense matrix arrangement can be used to ensure that every tiny area is adequately supported; while for parts with long strips or tubular structures, a linear arrangement can be used to provide continuous support and fixation.

[0091] In terms of quantity, the number of assemblies is completely determined by the size, weight and required support density of the special-shaped parts. In areas where high-precision support is required, the number of assemblies can be increased to improve the stability and accuracy of the support; while in areas where the support requirements are relatively low, the number of assemblies can be reduced to reduce tooling costs and complexity.

[0092] In terms of density, the arrangement density of the assembly can also be adjusted according to actual needs. In areas where tight support is required, the arrangement density of the assembly can be increased to ensure that every local tiny detail feature of the special-shaped parts can be properly fixed; while in areas where the support density is not high, the arrangement density can be appropriately reduced to reduce the overall weight and manufacturing cost of the tooling.

[0093] Furthermore, the tooling is composed of a combination of multiple fixing devices, linking devices, and supporting slide rods (referred to as the combination), and the contact state between these combinations and the special-shaped parts is highly flexible and can be in parallel or series form.

[0094] In the parallel contact state, multiple assemblies are in contact with different parts of the special-shaped parts at the same time, and each assembly independently provides support or fixing. This parallel configuration can ensure that the special-shaped parts are evenly and stably supported in multiple directions, effectively preventing the parts from deforming or stress concentration due to uneven force. By adjusting the position and support force of each assembly, the complex shape and size of the special-shaped parts can be accurately matched to achieve the effect of stress-free tooling.

[0095] In the serial contact state, the assembly contacts the special-shaped parts in a specific order or hierarchy to form a continuous support chain. This serial configuration is suitable for special-shaped parts with hierarchical structures or progressive assembly requirements, and can ensure that the special-shaped parts maintain the correct position and posture during the gradual assembly or processing. The assemblies in the serial contact state can cooperate with each other to jointly cope with the various forces and deformations that may be generated by the special-shaped parts during assembly or processing, inspection or application, thereby maintaining the overall stability and reliability of the tooling system. In addition, according to the specific needs and working environment of the special-shaped parts, the parallel or serial contact state can be flexibly selected, or a combination of the two can be used.

[0096] Preferably, the locking mechanism is electromagnetic locking, bolt locking, pneumatic locking or hydraulic locking.

[0097] Bolt locking generates pre-tightening force by rotating the bolt to fix the link device and the support slide rod, ensuring stable support and precise positioning of special-shaped parts.

[0098] In addition, the locking device can also be an electromagnetic locking device, which uses electromagnetic principles to achieve fast, non-contact locking and releasing, which is particularly suitable for scenarios where parts need to be replaced frequently or automated operations need to be performed.

[0099] In addition to bolt locking and electromagnetic locking, the design of the locking device also reserves interfaces or spaces for other locking methods, such as snap locking, gas pressure locking, etc., so that the most suitable locking method can be selected according to the specific shape, size, weight and working environment of the special-shaped parts. This design makes the tooling more versatile and flexible, and can be widely used in the processing, assembly, and inspection of various special-shaped parts.

[0100] Furthermore, the air cavity is filled with gas, which can be air, nitrogen or other inert gases. The specific choice depends on the working environment of the tooling, the material and shape of the special-shaped parts, and the required support strength. By adjusting the air pressure inside the air cavity, the overall rigidity and support force of the support slide can be fine-tuned to meet the processing or assembly requirements of different special-shaped parts. During the use of the tooling, when the special-shaped parts are placed on the tooling, the air cavity will automatically adjust the air pressure distribution inside it according to the shape and curvature of the part to ensure that the part is evenly and stably supported. This adaptive support method not only avoids the stress concentration problem caused by insufficient or improper fixing points of traditional tooling, but also significantly improves the processing accuracy and assembly quality of parts. In addition, the air cavity wall is made of high-strength and corrosion-resistant materials to ensure that it will not be deformed or damaged during long-term use.

[0101] Furthermore, the tool housing can be fixed on the workbench in a variety of ways, including but not limited to threaded hole fixing, adhesive fixing, magnetic fixing (for ferromagnetic workbenches), snap fixing (matching with slots or snaps on the workbench), bolt clamping (tightly fixed by tightening bolts), and embedded installation (directly embedded in grooves or holes inside the workbench). These fixing methods are designed to meet different working environments and actual needs, ensure the stability and reliability of the tool housing, and provide strong support for stress-free support and fixation of special-shaped parts.

[0102] Furthermore, the tooling system has flexible configuration capabilities, allowing it to be arranged in a variety of postures such as vertical, horizontal, tilted or inverted to meet the needs of various application scenarios such as processing, assembly, and testing. In the process of adjusting the position or posture of the tooling, the locking state of the locking device is released. At this time, the support slide bar can automatically adjust its extension length inside the air cavity according to the change of the tooling posture to ensure that the special-shaped parts can be evenly and stress-free supported in any arrangement.

[0103] Furthermore, the shapes of the special-shaped parts can be various complex forms such as plane, ultra-thin plane, sphere, free-form surface, aspheric surface, ellipsoid, saddle shape, triangle shape or irregular shape; the materials of the special-shaped parts can be glass, ceramic, gem, metal (such as stainless steel, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, etc.), plastic, composite material, etc., and the tooling ensures stress-free support and positioning of special-shaped parts of different shapes and materials through flexible and adjustable support structure and precise positioning mechanism.

[0104] Step a: Fix the special-shaped part on the fixture. The contact between the special-shaped part and the fixture is annular contact. The connection device is a ball head connection. The locking device is a bolt locking device. The corresponding assembly, the locking device with the assembly placement position reserved, the air cavity and the tooling shell are manufactured.

[0105] Step b: Ensure that the stress-free fixture of the adaptive special-shaped part is in the initial state, that is, the fixture, linking device, support slide rod, locking device and locking bolt are all unlocked and unadjusted. Check whether the air pressure system of the air cavity is operating normally to ensure that the air pressure can change according to the shape and weight of the special-shaped part to drive the support slide rod.

[0106] Step c: Place the entire tooling on the workbench of the application scenario, and gently place the special-shaped parts on top of the fixture to ensure that the direct contact surface between the special-shaped parts and the fixture is flat and stable.

[0107] Step d: According to the different curvatures of the special-shaped parts, the angle of the link device is automatically adjusted to ensure that the tooling can fit closely to all parts of the parts.

[0108] Step e: Start the air pressure system. According to the shape and weight of the special-shaped part, the air pressure inside the air cavity will change to drive the support sliding rod to slide in the track. By adjusting the distance between the support sliding rod inside and outside the air cavity, stress-free support of the special-shaped part can be achieved. Observe the sliding of the support sliding rod to ensure that it automatically adjusts to the position according to the shape and weight of the special-shaped part to achieve uniform and stable support.

[0109] Step f: When the combination of the fixing device, the linking device and the supporting sliding rod is adjusted in place according to the shape and weight of the special-shaped part, it is fixed with the locking device and the locking bolt. Make sure that the locking device and the locking bolt are in a firm state to prevent the tooling from loosening when the external environment changes.

[0110] Step g: Carefully check the fixture fixation to ensure that the special-shaped parts remain stable in the fixture and will not be displaced or deformed due to external factors. Confirm that all components are in normal working condition. When used in application scenarios such as processing, testing or assembly, continuously monitor the stability of the fixture assembly and the position of the special-shaped parts. If any abnormality or signs of looseness of the fixture are found, stop the operation immediately and readjust the fixture assembly.

[0111] The specific technical solutions of the present invention are specifically described with the following embodiments.

[0112] Example 1

[0113] Depend on Figure 1-9 As shown, the present invention provides a stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts, comprising a tooling shell 1, the tooling shell 1 has an air cavity 2 inside, a mounting platform 3 on the top surface, and an air hole 4 for ventilating the air cavity 2 is also provided on the tooling shell 1;

[0114] A plurality of fixing units 31 are arranged at intervals on the mounting platform 3, and the fixing units 31 include a support head 311 located at the upper part and a spherical mounting head 312 located at the lower part;

[0115] The fixing unit 31 further includes a supporting slide bar 313, the top surface of the supporting slide bar 313 is provided with a bowl-shaped mounting groove 3131, and the spherical mounting head 312 can be rotatably mounted in the bowl-shaped mounting groove 3131 along the spherical surface;

[0116] The top surface of the mounting platform 3 is provided with a plurality of mounting holes 32 connected to the air cavity, and the bottom end of each supporting slide rod 313 extends into the mounting hole 32 and slidably cooperates with the mounting hole 32;

[0117] The mounting platform 3 is also provided with a locking mechanism 33 for locking each supporting slide bar 313 after the height is adjusted;

[0118] When in use, firstly, each fixing unit 31 is lifted up by inflating the 4 air cavities through the air holes 4, and then the corresponding special-shaped parts are placed on the support surface formed by the top surface of each support head 311. After the height of each support slide bar 313 is automatically adjusted to the right position, the locking mechanism 33 is used to lock each support slide bar 313 relative to the installation platform 3 so that it cannot slide up and down ( Fig. 9 ).

[0119] In the embodiment of the present invention, the bottom of the support head 311 is connected and fixed to the spherical mounting head 312 via a connecting rod 314. The top surface of the support head 311 has a support surface 3111, and the support head 311 has an inner cavity 3112, which is opened at the support surface 3111, and the inner cavity 3112 is provided with an exhaust hole 3113 on the side of the support head 311.

[0120] In an embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the support head 311 is selected to be bowl-shaped, which increases the support area, improves stability, and makes the setting of the exhaust hole 3113 more reasonable, which helps to expel internal air during the inflation process and ensures that the tooling can fit tightly to the special-shaped parts.

[0121] In the embodiment of the present invention, the fixing units 31 are arranged in an ordered or disordered array ( Figure 1 Arranged in an ordered array, Figure 6 The array is arranged in an unordered manner).

[0122] A mounting hole column 321 is formed on the side wall of the mounting hole 32 and extends toward the inside of the mounting platform 3, and the middle of the mounting hole column 321 is the mounting hole 32; a guide groove 322 is provided on the side wall of the mounting hole 32, and a guide slider 3132 cooperating with the guide groove 322 is provided on the outer side wall of the bottom of the supporting slide bar 313, ensuring that the supporting slide bar 313 can maintain linear motion when adjusting the height, avoiding errors caused by offset, and improving the accuracy and stability of the tooling.

[0123] The locking mechanism 33 may be electromagnetic locking, bolt locking, pneumatic locking or hydraulic locking.

[0124] In the embodiment, the locking mechanism 33 is a bolt locking mechanism, and the locking mechanism 33 includes a locking plate 331 disposed on the top surface of the mounting platform 3, and the locking plate 331 is provided with a locking hole 3311 corresponding to the mounting hole 32 and for the support slide rod 313 to pass through;

[0125] The locking mechanism 33 also includes a guide mechanism 332 disposed between the top surface of the mounting platform 3 and the bottom surface of the locking plate 331. The guide mechanism 332 includes a guide rail 3321 and a guide groove 3322 that cooperate with each other. The guide rail 3321 is disposed on the top surface of the mounting platform 3, and the guide groove 3322 is disposed on the bottom surface of the locking plate 331. Alternatively, the guide rail 3321 is disposed on the bottom surface of the locking plate 331, and the guide groove 3322 is disposed on the top surface of the mounting platform 3.

[0126] The locking plate 331 has a downwardly extending eaves plate 3312 at one end along the extension direction of the guide rail 3321 and the guide groove 3322, and a threaded hole 33121 is provided on the eaves plate 3312; the locking mechanism 33 also includes a locking bolt 333 that cooperates with the threaded hole 33121 and has one end that abuts against the side wall of the mounting platform 3.

[0127] Through the coordinated use of the locking plate 331, the locking hole 3311, the guide mechanism 332 and the locking bolt 333, the support slide bar 313 can be reliably locked at the desired height to prevent it from moving due to external force. This design not only improves the safety of the tooling, but also ensures the stability of the special-shaped parts during processing or testing.

Claims

1. A stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts, characterized in that: It comprises a tooling shell, wherein the tooling shell has an air cavity inside and a mounting platform on the top surface, and the tooling shell is also provided with an air hole for ventilating the air cavity; A plurality of fixing units are arranged at intervals on the mounting platform, and the fixing units include a support head located at an upper portion and a spherical mounting head located at a lower portion; The fixing unit further comprises a supporting slide bar, the top surface of the supporting slide bar is provided with a bowl-shaped mounting groove, and the spherical mounting head can be rotatably mounted in the bowl-shaped mounting groove along the spherical surface; The top surface of the mounting platform is provided with a plurality of mounting holes communicating with the air cavity, and the bottom end of each supporting slide rod extends into the mounting hole and slides with the mounting hole; The mounting platform is also provided with a locking mechanism for locking each supporting slide bar after the height is adjusted; When in use, first inflate the air cavity through the air hole to lift up each of the fixing units, and then place the corresponding special-shaped parts on the supporting surface formed by the top surfaces of each of the supporting heads. After the height of each of the supporting slide bars is automatically adjusted to the right position, use the locking mechanism to lock each of the supporting slide bars relative to the mounting platform so that they cannot slide up and down.

2. The stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the support head is connected and fixed to the spherical mounting head via a connecting rod.

3. The stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts according to claim 2, characterized in that: The top surface of the support head has a support surface, and the support head has an inner cavity, which is opened on the support surface, and the inner cavity is provided with an exhaust hole on the side of the support head.

4. The stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts according to claim 3 is characterized in that: The support head is in a bowl shape.

5. The stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixed units are arranged in an ordered or disordered array.

6. The stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side wall of the mounting hole extends toward the inside of the mounting platform to form a mounting hole column, and the middle of the mounting hole column is the mounting hole; A guide groove is arranged on the side wall of the mounting hole, and a guide sliding block matched with the guide groove is arranged on the outer side wall of the bottom of the supporting sliding rod.

7. The stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking mechanism is electromagnetic locking, bolt locking, pneumatic locking or hydraulic locking.

8. The stress-free tooling for adaptive special-shaped parts according to claim 7, characterized in that: The locking mechanism is bolt locking, and the locking mechanism includes a locking plate arranged on the top surface of the mounting platform, and the locking plate is provided with locking holes corresponding to the mounting holes one by one and for the support slide rod to pass through; The locking mechanism further includes a guide mechanism disposed between the top surface of the mounting platform and the bottom surface of the locking plate, the guide mechanism including a guide rail and a guide groove that cooperate with each other, the guide rail being disposed on the top surface of the mounting platform, the guide groove being disposed on the bottom surface of the locking plate, or the guide rail being disposed on the bottom surface of the locking plate, the guide groove being disposed on the top surface of the mounting platform; The locking plate has an eaves plate extending downward at one end along the extension direction of the guide rail and the guide groove, and a threaded hole is provided on the eaves plate; the locking mechanism also includes a locking bolt that cooperates with the threaded hole and has one end that abuts against the side wall of the mounting platform.

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