A U-shaped frame laser cutting flexible tooling

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of several type frame laser cutting flexible tooling, including base unit, positioning clamping unit and slag baffle unit, the positioning clamping unit is fixed on base unit by adjustable mechanical connection, slag baffle unit is fixed on base unit by magnetic force connection, the base unit includes part mounting seat and magnet installed on the part mounting seat, part mounting seat is equipped with the arc surface positioning reference and limiting groove compatible with part arc-shaped side;The positioning clamping unit includes positioning block and clamping block, positioning block has the positioning surface matched with the outer arc of part bend, and clamping block is installed on positioning block by quick handle and tightening handle and is used to compress workpiece bend;The slag baffle unit is made of ferromagnetic material, can be placed on the part mounting seat and be fixed by the magnet adsorption.The application can quickly adapt to the positioning of several kinds of parts, clamping, slag baffle demand, effectively improve clamping efficiency, reduce tooling cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of positioning tooling technology, and relates to a flexible tooling for laser cutting of several-shaped frames. Background Technology

[0002] Laser cutting is a highly efficient cutting technology that uses a high-power-density laser beam to rapidly melt the material at the focal point of a part. It has significant advantages for cutting large, three-dimensional, thin-walled parts such as zigzag frames. Zigzag frames are thin-walled plate frame parts used for skin reinforcement, widely used in the aerospace field, and typically have a zigzag cross-section and curved surface features. To achieve the assembly of these parts with other components and to meet special functional requirements, after the part is integrally formed, notches of different shapes and sizes need to be cut at designated locations. Furthermore, a single type of part often has several different drawing numbers with the same overall shape but varying notch positions and shapes.

[0003] When laser cutting several frame parts, it is necessary to ensure the spatial relationship between the parts and the laser head, and to reserve slag removal space behind the cutting area. Due to the poor rigidity of the parts themselves, special tooling is needed to position and correct the parts to a certain extent during cutting, so that the reference surface of the parts is in close contact with the positioning surface of the tooling.

[0004] Chinese patent CN206084171U proposes a laser cutting fixture with conformal detection. Although the fixture has the conformal detection capability for a single part, it is a special fixture. For large thin-walled plate and frame parts, the cutting accuracy requirement of the parts is not high. Using sensors will increase the complexity of the fixture system and make it difficult to meet the usage requirements of parts with multiple drawing numbers at the same time.

[0005] Existing technologies also disclose flexible positioning and clamping devices and methods for manufacturing notches in large and medium-sized Z-shaped thin-walled parts. These devices are suitable for laser cutting equipment with slender nozzles, but are unsuitable for laser cutting equipment with a gantry beam AC double-swivel head structure due to rotational interference at the rounded corners of the frame bends. Furthermore, the positioning datum of this device is not the design datum but a converted datum, resulting in insufficient positioning accuracy. Patent CN119897612A discloses a method for cutting Z-shaped cross-section frames using an AC swivel head three-dimensional five-axis laser cutting machine, but does not provide a specific tooling structure to achieve flexible clamping. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing AC double-swivel head laser cutting equipment in cutting multi-frame parts, such as motion interference, insufficient positioning accuracy, and low changeover efficiency, and to provide a flexible tooling for multi-frame laser cutting. This tooling uses multiple sets of adjustable clamping units with positioning functions and slag-blocking plates. During use, the positions of the clamping units and slag-blocking plates are manually adjusted according to the characteristics of the parts, allowing it to quickly adapt to the positioning, clamping, and slag-blocking requirements of various parts, effectively improving clamping efficiency and reducing tooling costs.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention employs the following technical solutions: A flexible tooling for laser cutting of a frame includes a base unit, a positioning and clamping unit, and a slag-blocking plate unit. The positioning and clamping unit is fixed to the base unit by an adjustable mechanical connection, and the slag-blocking plate unit is fixed to the base unit by a magnetic connection. The base unit includes a part mounting base and a magnet mounted on the part mounting base. The part mounting base is provided with an arc-shaped positioning reference and a limiting groove that are adapted to the arc-shaped edge of the part. The positioning and clamping unit includes a positioning block and a clamping block. The positioning block has a positioning surface that matches the outer arc of the curved edge of the part. The clamping block is installed on the positioning block by a quick handle and a tightening handle and is used to clamp the curved edge of the workpiece. The slag baffle unit is made of ferromagnetic material and can be placed arbitrarily on the part mounting base and is attracted and fixed by the magnet.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment, the part mounting base is connected to the turntable mounting base via a reinforcing base for mounting on a CNC rotary table, so as to place the notch to be cut at the lowest position during the cutting process to facilitate slag removal and forming.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment, the slag baffle includes at least three shapes: L-shaped, elongated L-shaped, and rectangular, to cover different gap layouts.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment, the quick handle and the tightening handle respectively control the position adjustment of the clamping block in two mutually perpendicular directions.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment, the part mounting base is provided with lifting rings for lifting the part mounting base.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment, the magnets are configured to be evenly or centrally distributed.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment, the positioning and clamping units are provided in multiple units, which can be evenly distributed along the arc length of the part or specifically distributed to avoid gaps in the part.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment, the clamping block can rotate about the axis of the quick-release handle.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment, the base unit is also provided with an interface for connecting to a CNC rotary table.

[0016] The device of this invention is equipped with an interface for connection to a CNC rotary table, which can rotate around the axis of the CNC rotary table to ensure that each pair of notches is at the lowest position of the part during cutting; it can complete all feature cutting of the part in one clamping; it adopts a flexible positioning and clamping unit and a slag-blocking plate unit, which realizes flexible positioning and clamping of several frame parts with the same external dimensions but different notch shapes and positions, and can also adapt to parts with small differences in external dimensions by changing the positioning blocks; at the same time, it can change the next part without removing the clamping structure, which improves the changeover efficiency.

[0017] The present invention has the following advantages: (1) A radial positioning consistent with the part design datum is established by using a symmetrical arc-shaped positioning surface and a limiting groove, resulting in high positioning accuracy; (2) The replaceable positioning block and the rotatable clamping block cooperate to quickly adjust the position along the tangent direction of the arc and realize the replacement without disassembly, which significantly improves the replacement efficiency; (3) The magnetic slag baffle can be quickly arranged at any cutting position, which protects the part mounting base and ensures smooth slag discharge and sliding. (4) By connecting with the rotary table, each cutting feature is positioned at the lowest point during processing, which helps to avoid motion interference with the AC double swing head and improves cutting quality and safety. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the base unit structure; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning and clamping unit structure; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the slag baffle unit structure.

[0019] In the diagram, A-base unit, B-positioning and clamping unit, C-slag baffle plate unit, 1-lifting ring, 2-magnet, 3-part mounting base, 4-reinforcing base, 5-turntable mounting base, 6-positioning block, 7-clamping block, 8-quick handle, 9-tightening handle, 10-L-shaped slag baffle plate, 11-rectangular slag baffle plate, 12-extended L-shaped slag baffle plate. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0022] Example: A flexible tooling for laser cutting of a frame includes a base unit A, a positioning and clamping unit B, and a slag-blocking plate unit C, such as... Figure 1 As shown. The positioning and clamping unit B is fixed to the base unit A via an adjustable mechanical connection, and the slag-blocking plate unit C is fixed to the base unit A via a magnetic connection. In this embodiment, the specific mechanical connection method between the positioning and clamping unit B and the base unit A is not limited, as long as it can be reliably fixed; the specific material of the slag-blocking plate is not limited, as long as it can be fixed by magnetic attraction.

[0023] Base unit A, for example Figure 2 As shown, the assembly includes a lifting ring 1, a magnet 2, a part mounting base 3, a reinforcing base 4, and a turntable mounting base 5. In this embodiment, the number and method of installation of the lifting rings 1 are not limited; they can be used according to actual needs. Similarly, the size, shape, installation position, and method of the magnet 2 are not limited, as long as it can be firmly fixed to the part mounting base 3 and tightly adsorb the corresponding slag-blocking plate unit C. The reinforcing base 4 is optional and can be selected for installation based on the actual situation of the part, the part mounting base 3, and the turntable mounting base 5.

[0024] Positioning and clamping unit B, such as Figure 3 As shown, the assembly includes a positioning block 6, a clamping block 7, a quick-release handle 8, and a tightening handle 9. The positioning block 6 uses a clamping structure to ensure its positioning surface tightly engages with the positioning surface on the part mounting base 3, achieving accurate positioning. The clamping block 7 is fixed to the positioning block 6 via the quick-release handle 8 and the tightening handle 9, where the quick-release handle 8 and the tightening handle 9 control the positions of the clamping block 7 in two mutually perpendicular directions. In this embodiment, the specific fixing method of the positioning block 6 and the clamping block 7 is not limited; one possible fixing method is threaded fixing. The positioning block 6 has a positioning surface identical to the outer arc surface of the part's bent edge. The clamping block 7 ensures close contact between the part's bent edge and the positioning surface, achieving radial positioning of the part and ensuring that the positioning datum matches the design datum. Various types of positioning blocks 6 can be used, selected according to the part's characteristics. The clamping block 7 can be pressed against the end face of the part's bent edge via the tightening handle 9, achieving auxiliary positioning in the part's width direction. In this embodiment, the specific structure of the clamping block 7, quick handle 8, and tightening handle 9 is not limited. As long as the functions of clamping the parts, assisting in positioning, and changing parts without removing the clamping block 7 are achieved, the clamping block 7 can be a structure that can rotate around the center without interfering with the parts. The quick handle 8 and tightening handle 9 can be standard parts.

[0025] Slag baffle unit C, such as Figure 4As shown, the slag baffles are selected from L-shaped slag baffles 10, rectangular slag baffles 11, and extended L-shaped slag baffles 12. In this example, the specific material, shape, size, and quantity of the L-shaped slag baffles 10, rectangular slag baffles 11, and extended L-shaped slag baffles 12 are not limited. The slag baffles can be designed according to the notches that need to be cut in the processed parts. As one implementation method, the slag baffles can be made of carbon steel. The form and quantity of the slag baffles are determined according to the specific parts. When in use, they are manually placed at the cutting position to block molten slag and excess laser, and it is ensured that there are a sufficient number of magnets 2 to attract and fix the slag baffles when they are placed at the cutting position to ensure that the slag baffles are reliably fixed.

[0026] The specific working principle of this type of frame laser cutting flexible tooling is: The positioning block 6 can slide flexibly within the limiting groove of the part mounting base 3 and be fixed at any position within the groove, and the limiting groove can accommodate multiple positioning blocks 6 at the same time.

[0027] The clamping block 7 can move in two mutually perpendicular directions to position and clamp the parts, and can rotate around the center without interfering with other structures, so that parts can be changed without removing the clamping block 7.

[0028] The slag baffle unit C can be selected and its position adjusted according to the cutting requirements of the parts. The magnetic fixation greatly increases its adaptability to the placement position and is faster than conventional fixing methods.

[0029] This invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The invention extends to any new feature or combination disclosed in this specification, as well as any new method or process step or combination disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A flexible tooling for laser cutting of a multi-shaped frame, characterized in that: The system includes a base unit, a positioning and clamping unit, and a slag-blocking plate unit. The positioning and clamping unit is fixed to the base unit via an adjustable mechanical connection, and the slag-blocking plate unit is fixed to the base unit via a magnetic connection. The base unit includes a part mounting seat, a magnet mounted on the part mounting seat, a reinforcing seat, and a turntable mounting seat. The part mounting seat is connected to the turntable mounting seat via the reinforcing seat and is used to mount on a CNC rotary table to place the notch to be cut at the lowest position during the cutting process to facilitate slag removal and shaping. The base unit also has an interface for connecting to the CNC rotary table. The part mounting seat has an arc-shaped positioning reference and a limiting groove adapted to the arc edge of the part. The positioning and clamping unit includes a positioning block, a clamping block, and a quick-release mechanism. The quick-release handle and tightening handle are provided. The positioning block can slide flexibly within the limiting groove of the part mounting base and be fixed at any position within the groove. The limiting groove can accommodate multiple positioning blocks simultaneously. The positioning block has a positioning surface that matches the outer arc surface of the bent edge of the part. The clamping block is mounted on the positioning block via the quick-release handle and the tightening handle. The quick-release handle and the tightening handle control the position adjustment of the clamping block in two mutually perpendicular directions. The clamping block is used to press the bent edge of the part and can be pressed against the end face of the bent edge of the part via the tightening handle. The clamping block can rotate around the axis of the quick-release handle. The slag baffle unit is made of ferromagnetic material and can be placed arbitrarily on the part mounting base and fixed by the magnet.

2. The flexible tooling for laser cutting of a multi-frame according to claim 1, characterized in that: The slag baffle unit includes at least an L-shaped slag baffle, an extended L-shaped slag baffle, and a rectangular slag baffle to cover different gap layouts.

3. The flexible tooling for laser cutting of a multi-shaped frame according to claim 1, characterized in that: The magnets are configured to be evenly or centrally distributed.

4. The flexible tooling for laser cutting of a multi-shaped frame according to claim 1, characterized in that: The positioning and clamping units are provided in multiple units, which can be evenly distributed along the arc length of the part or specifically distributed to avoid gaps in the part.

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