Workpiece clamping and posture adjusting tool setting device for horizontal linear cutting machine tool

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of wire cut electrical discharge machining, in particular to a workpiece clamping and posture adjusting tool setting device for a horizontal wire cutting machine tool, comprising a supporting platform, a positioning seat and a clamping and posture adjusting assembly; the clamping and posture adjusting assembly comprises a liftable sliding table, a deflectable and lockable mounting seat, a turnover table capable of turning between different working postures, an upper clamping seat and a lower clamping seat; two floating tool setting detection modules are arranged on the mounting seat along the wire electrode wire feeding direction, the tool setting detection module contacts the wire electrode through a V-shaped positioning slot and collects the contact force value, the inclination state of the clamping reference relative to the wire electrode is determined according to the difference between the two side contact forces, and the mounting seat is adjusted, rechecked and locked. The device integrates workpiece clamping, posture switching, angle fine adjustment, tool setting detection and locking into one, can adapt to plane clamping and hoisting clamping, and improves the clamping posture adjusting and tool setting efficiency of the horizontal wire cutting machine tool.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wire electrical discharge machining technology, specifically to a workpiece clamping, posture adjustment, and tool setting device for a horizontal wire EDM machine. Background Technology

[0002] In horizontal wire EDM, the electrode wire passes through the machining area horizontally, and the workpiece is usually fixed to one side of the electrode wire by a worktable fixture. Compared with vertical wire EDM, the horizontal arrangement is beneficial for clamping and separating large substrates, irregularly shaped parts, and heavy workpieces. However, the workpiece clamping reference needs to maintain a predetermined positional relationship with the horizontal electrode wire; otherwise, it is easy to cause uneven cutting thickness, tilted separation surface, or out-of-tolerance flatness.

[0003] Existing horizontal wire EDM equipment typically uses clamps only as fixing components to prevent workpiece movement. Workpiece posture switching, tilt calibration, and tool setting are all accomplished manually by lifting, adjusting shims, measuring with a dial indicator, or trial moving the worktable, respectively. These operations are separate from each other, and the reference points are prone to change after repeated clamping. Furthermore, they rely heavily on the operator's experience and are difficult to balance with the clamping stability, posture adaptability, and tool setting efficiency of large workpieces.

[0004] Furthermore, a search revealed a horizontal wire cutting method for separating SLM parts from large substrates, disclosed in Chinese Patent Publication No. CN118926639A. This horizontal wire cutting method for SLM parts utilizes a Z-axis lifting mechanism to control the horizontal movement of the first and second wire arms, allowing the electrode wire to move at different horizontal heights. This enables the cutting of manufacturing parts with different substrate thicknesses. The high-speed moving electrode wire horizontally drives the working fluid, changing the inlet pressure at different cutting thicknesses to optimize cooling and washing conditions and facilitate the removal of etching products.

[0005] However, when the SLM substrate and workpiece used in the horizontal wire EDM machining method for separating large substrate SLM parts have left and right tilt issues, the machining method uses manual shims or dial indicator calibration, which relies heavily on human experience and is prone to poor leveling accuracy, making it impossible to guarantee the horizontality of the cut and resulting in uneven thickness of the parts after cutting. In order to improve the workpiece calibration and cutting accuracy, a workpiece clamping, posture adjustment and tool setting device for horizontal wire EDM machine tools is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0006] (a) Technical problems to be solved

[0007] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present invention aims to provide a workpiece clamping, posture adjustment, and tool setting device for horizontal wire EDM machines, thereby solving the problems of existing horizontal wire EDM fixtures having limited functionality, inconvenient workpiece posture switching, reliance on manual tilt calibration, and separation between the clamping reference and the tool setting reference.

[0008] (II) Technical Solution

[0009] To achieve the above-mentioned integrated clamping-inspection-leveling objective, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a workpiece clamping, posture adjustment and tool setting device for a horizontal wire EDM machine tool, including a support platform, a positioning seat slidably connected to the top of the support platform, and a clamping and posture adjustment assembly provided on the front of the positioning seat;

[0010] The clamping and attitude adjustment assembly includes a clamping component and a detection module disposed on the front of the positioning seat.

[0011] Preferably, a first threaded screw is rotatably connected inside the positioning seat, the clamping component includes a slide that is threadedly connected to the outer side of the first threaded screw, a mounting seat is rotatably connected to the front side of the slide, an adjusting screw is rotatably connected to the front side of the mounting seat, a first connecting block is threadedly connected to the outer side of the adjusting screw, and a connecting rod is rotatably connected to the outer side of the first connecting block.

[0012] Preferably, the connecting rod is rotatably connected to a second connecting block at one end facing away from the first connecting block, the second connecting block is fixedly connected to a flipping table, the bottom of the flipping table is rotatably connected to the mounting base, a lower clamp is fixedly connected to the front of the flipping table, a fine-tuning screw is rotatably connected inside the flipping table, and an upper clamp is threadedly connected to the outside of the fine-tuning screw.

[0013] Preferably, a locking element is provided on the inner side of the slide table. The locking element includes a gear shaft rotatably connected inside the slide table. The front end of the gear shaft is fixedly connected to the mounting base. Locking screws are threadedly connected to both the left and right sides of the slide table. A toothed plate is installed on the side of the two locking screws facing the gear shaft.

[0014] Preferably, a buffer groove is provided on the front of the mounting base, and a support rod is fixedly connected to the inner side of the buffer groove. The detection module includes a floating base that is slidably connected to the outside of the support rod.

[0015] Preferably, a positioning contact is fixedly connected to the bottom of the floating base, and a V-shaped positioning groove is formed on the inner side of the positioning contact. A thin film pressure sensor is fixed inside the V-shaped positioning groove.

[0016] (III) Beneficial Effects

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a workpiece clamping, attitude adjustment and tool setting device for a horizontal wire EDM machine, which has the following advantages:

[0018] 1. The workpiece clamping and tool setting device of this horizontal wire EDM machine tool has the clamping and tool setting assembly as the main function. The workpiece is clamped by the upper clamping seat, the lower clamping seat and the fine adjustment screw. The clamping posture is switched by the adjustment screw and the connecting rod driving the flip table. The angle fine adjustment and reliable locking are completed by the deflectable mounting seat and the toothed locking structure, so that the fixture can adapt to planar clamping, hoisting clamping and different processing postures.

[0019] 2. The workpiece clamping, posture adjustment, and tool setting device of this horizontal wire EDM machine tool directly sets two floating tool setting detection modules on the mounting base, so that the clamping reference, posture adjustment reference, and tool setting detection reference are concentrated in the same clamping and posture adjustment assembly. The tilt is judged by the contact force difference between the two alignment contacts and the electrode wire, and a closed loop is formed by detection, adjustment, re-inspection, and locking. This can reduce manual shims and repeated dial indicator operations, and improve the consistency of clamping, posture adjustment, and tool setting of the horizontal wire EDM machine. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the horizontal wire cutting machine tool of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a front view of the positioning seat structure of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a right view of the positioning seat structure of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the locking component structure of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a side view of the fixture structure of the present invention.

[0025] In the diagram: 1. Support platform; 2. Positioning seat; 3. Clamping and attitude adjustment assembly; 301. Fixture component; 3011. Slide table; 3012. Mounting seat; 3013. Adjusting screw; 3014. Tilting table; 3015. Lower clamp; 3016. Fine-tuning screw; 3017. Upper clamp; 302. Detection module; 3021. Floating base; 3022. Alignment contact; 3023. V-shaped positioning groove; 3024. Thin-film pressure sensor; 4. First threaded screw; 5. First connecting block; 6. Linkage rod; 7. Second connecting block; 8. Locking component; 801. Gear shaft; 802. Locking screw; 803. Toothed plate; 9. Buffer groove; 10. Support rod; 11. Buffer spring; 12. Second threaded screw; 13. Rotating wheel. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] Example 1

[0028] In this embodiment, according to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a second threaded screw 12 is rotatably connected inside the support platform 1, the bottom of the positioning seat 2 is threadedly connected to the outside of the second threaded screw 12, and a rotating wheel 13 is coaxially fixed at the top of the first threaded screw 4 and the front end of the second threaded screw 12.

[0029] By rotating the wheel 13 connected to the second threaded screw 12, the second threaded screw 12 drives the positioning seat 2 to slide back and forth along the top of the support platform 1 to adjust the spacing position of the workpiece clamped on the fixture 301 relative to the electrode wire.

[0030] By rotating the wheel 13 connected to the first threaded screw 4, the first threaded screw 4 drives the slide table 3011 to slide up and down along the positioning seat 2 to adjust the height position of the workpiece relative to the electrode wire; then, by rotating the adjusting screw 3013, the first connecting block 5 moves up and down. When the first connecting block 5 moves upward, the second connecting block 7 is pulled upward through the hinged connecting rod 6. At this time, the flipping table 3014 flips to a state parallel to the mounting seat 3012. Then, the fine-tuning screw 3016 is rotated to adjust the distance between the upper clamp 3017 and the lower clamp 3015 to stably clamp the placed workpiece. When the electrode wire is stably fed, the planar clamping wire cutting effect is achieved.

[0031] When the first connecting block 5 moves downward, the second connecting block 7 is pushed downward through the hinged connecting rod 6. At this time, the tilting table 3014 tilts to a state perpendicular to the mounting base 3012. Then, the fine-tuning screw 3016 is rotated to adjust the distance between the upper clamp 3017 and the lower clamp 3015, so that the placed workpiece is stably clamped. When the electrode wire is stably fed, the hanging wire cutting effect is achieved.

[0032] Example 2

[0033] In this embodiment, according to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown, in the buffer groove 9 on the front of the mounting base 3012, two detection modules 302 are symmetrically arranged in the left and right directions along the wire feeding axis of the horizontal electrode wire. The two floating bases 3021 are horizontally aligned with the upper clamp 3017 and the lower clamp 3015. The workpiece to be processed is placed on the lower clamp 3015 of the flipping table 3014. The fine adjustment screw 3016 is rotated to drive the upper clamp 3017 to move down and clamp the workpiece. The adjusting screw 3013 is rotated, and the flipping table 3014 is adjusted to a horizontal state through the transmission of the first connecting block 5, the connecting rod 6 and the second connecting block 7.

[0034] Rotate the wheel 13 at the top of the first threaded screw 4 to drive the slide table 3011 to descend vertically and uniformly along the positioning seat 2. The two alignment contacts 3022 move towards the horizontal electrode wire that is tensioned downwards. At this time, the thin film pressure sensor 3024 collects the contact force value of the electrode wire on the V-shaped positioning groove 3023 in real time at a fixed sampling frequency of 100Hz.

[0035] When the contact force value detected by the diaphragm pressure sensor 3024 on either side reaches the preset trigger threshold F0, a value of 0.3 to 0.5 N is used to determine the initial contact of the contacts, and the system simultaneously latches the instantaneous contact force values ​​F on both sides. 左瞬 With F 右瞬 The slide table 3011 continues to descend to the set micro-stroke ΔH, and stops rising after taking a distance of 0.3 to 0.5 mm. After the deformation of the buffer spring 11 stabilizes and the force value no longer fluctuates, the steady-state contact force value F is collected again. 左稳 With F 右稳 ;

[0036] The average of the instantaneous value and the steady-state value is taken as the effective contact force value to eliminate the detection error caused by contact impact, and is expressed as:

[0037]

[0038] Based on the difference in effective force values ​​on both sides, the tilt state of the workpiece along the wire feeding direction is determined, specifically as follows:

[0039] If F 左 >F 右 The spring compression of the left contact is greater, indicating that the height of the left side of the workpiece is higher than that of the right side. At this time, the workpiece tilts to the lower right along the wire feeding direction.

[0040] If F 右 >F 左 The spring compression of the right contact is greater, indicating that the height of the right side of the workpiece is higher than that of the left side. At this time, the workpiece tilts to the lower left along the wire feeding direction.

[0041] If |F 左 -F 右 |≤F 允 Then the workpiece is judged to be leveled in the left and right directions.允 This is the threshold value for the allowable force difference set based on the machining accuracy.

[0042] Based on the detected tilt of the workpiece clamped between the upper clamp 3017 and the lower clamp 3015, which necessitates leveling the workpiece, the toothed plate 803 is designed with an arc shape and meshes with the outer side of the gear on the gear shaft 801. At this point, by rotating the locking screw 802, the toothed plate 803 on the locking screw 802 is disengaged from the gear on the gear shaft 801. The mounting base 3012 can then be adjusted by rotating the gear shaft 801. Based on the detected tilt direction and angle, the tilt angle of the mounting base 3012 is finely adjusted in the corresponding direction, rotating around the axis of the gear shaft 801 to correct the height difference. Specifically:

[0043] When it is determined that the workpiece is higher on the left and lower on the right, that is, tilted to the right, the left side of the mounting base 3012 is adjusted downward and the right side is raised upward. The mounting base 3012 rotates clockwise around the gear shaft 801, thereby reducing the height of the left side and raising the height of the right side.

[0044] When it is determined that the workpiece is higher on the right and lower on the left, i.e., tilted to the left, the right side of the mounting base 3012 is adjusted downward and the left side is raised upward. The mounting base 3012 rotates counterclockwise around the gear shaft 801, thereby reducing the height of the right side and raising the height of the left side.

[0045] Rotate the wheel 13 of the first threaded screw 4 in the reverse direction to drive the slide 3011 to rise slightly, so that the alignment contact 3022 is completely disengaged from the electrode wire and reset to the initial detection height. Then repeat the above detection process and re-inspect the workpiece tilt deviation. If the force difference still exceeds the allowable threshold, continue to fine-tune the deflection angle of the mounting seat until the detection is qualified.

[0046] After leveling is completed, tighten the locking screws 802 on both sides simultaneously to push the toothed plate 803 to mesh tightly with the gear shaft 801. The deflection angle of the mounting base 3012 is locked by the tooth surface meshing, thus completing the left and right leveling process of the workpiece.

[0047] Example 3

[0048] In this embodiment, according to Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, based on the detection steps of Embodiment 3, buffer springs 11 are fixedly fitted at both the top and bottom of the support rod 10. One end of each buffer spring 11 is connected to the floating base 3021. After the alignment contact 3022 contacts the electrode wire, the slide 3011 continues to rise, causing the floating base 3021 to slide slightly on the support rod 10. The buffer springs 11 at both ends deform synchronously, and the contact force and displacement satisfy Hooke's Law:

[0049] F i =k·Δx i

[0050] Where F i Δx represents the effective contact force value of the i-th side membrane pressure sensor, where i=1 represents the left side and i=2 represents the right side, in N; k is the stiffness of a single equivalent spring, with the upper and lower buffer springs 11 acting in parallel, k = k1 + k2, in N / m; k1 is the stiffness of the upper buffer spring, in N / m; k2 is the stiffness of the lower buffer spring, in N / m; Δx i The vertical displacement of the i-th floating base relative to its initial equilibrium position is expressed in meters (m).

[0051] The vertical displacement of the slide table 3011 during overall descent is consistent. The difference in force between the two contacts corresponds to the difference in spring deformation, which is the difference in the left and right height of the workpiece along the wire feeding direction. This is expressed as:

[0052]

[0053] Where ΔF is the difference in effective contact force between the left and right sides, ΔF = F 左 -F 右 The unit is N; Δh is the difference in height between the left and right sides of the workpiece along the wire feeding direction, in meters; Δh > 0 indicates that the left side of the workpiece is higher than the right side, and the whole workpiece is tilted to the right; Δh < 0 indicates that the right side of the workpiece is higher than the left side, and the whole workpiece is tilted to the left.

[0054] If the center-to-center distance between the two detection modules along the electrode wire feeding direction is L, then the left and right tilt angles θ of the workpiece relative to the horizontal electrode wire are: In leveling scenarios, the deviations are all small angles, and the calculation can be simplified using an approximate formula. (in radians), where θ is the left and right tilt angle of the workpiece along the wire feeding direction, in rad; L is the distance between the mounting centers of the left and right detection modules, in meters.

[0055] The mounting base 3012 and the gear shaft 801 are rotated synchronously, with the rotation angle equal to the workpiece tilt angle θ. Let the pitch circle diameter of the gear shaft be d, then the arc length adjustment s at the corresponding pitch circle is: The adjustment range is quantified by formulas, and control can be achieved through real-time force feedback when making small-angle fine adjustments.

[0056] In summary, the workpiece clamping and tool setting device for this horizontal wire EDM machine tool has the clamping and tool setting assembly as its main function. The workpiece is clamped through the upper clamping seat, the lower clamping seat, and the fine-tuning screw. The clamping posture is switched by driving the tilting table through the adjusting screw and the connecting rod. The angle fine-tuning and reliable locking are completed through the deflectable mounting seat and the toothed locking structure, so that the fixture can adapt to planar clamping, hoisting clamping, and different processing postures.

[0057] Two floating tool setting detection modules are directly mounted on the mounting base, so that the clamping reference, posture adjustment reference and tool setting detection reference are concentrated in the same clamping and posture adjustment assembly. The tilt is judged by the contact force difference between the two alignment contacts and the electrode wire, and a closed loop is formed by detection, adjustment, re-inspection and locking. This can reduce manual shims and repeated dial indicator operations, and improve the consistency of clamping posture adjustment and tool setting of horizontal wire EDM.

[0058] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0059] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A workpiece clamping, attitude adjustment, and tool setting device for a horizontal wire EDM machine, comprising a support platform (1), characterized in that: A positioning seat (2) is slidably connected to the top of the support platform (1), and a clamping and attitude adjustment assembly (3) is provided on the front of the positioning seat (2). The clamping and attitude adjustment assembly (3) includes a clamping component (301) and a detection module (302) disposed on the front of the positioning seat (2).

2. The workpiece clamping, attitude adjustment, and tool setting device for a horizontal wire EDM machine tool according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first threaded screw (4) is rotatably connected inside the positioning seat (2). The clamp (301) includes a slide (3011) threaded to the outside of the first threaded screw (4). A mounting seat (3012) is rotatably connected to the front of the slide (3011). An adjusting screw (3013) is rotatably connected to the front of the mounting seat (3012). A first connecting block (5) is threaded to the outside of the adjusting screw (3013). A connecting rod (6) is rotatably connected to the outside of the first connecting block (5).

3. The workpiece clamping, attitude adjustment, and tool setting device for a horizontal wire EDM machine tool according to claim 2, characterized in that: The connecting rod (6) is rotatably connected to a second connecting block (7) at one end facing away from the first connecting block (5). The second connecting block (7) is fixedly connected to a flipping table (3014). The bottom of the flipping table (3014) is rotatably connected to the mounting base (3012). A lower clamp (3015) is fixedly connected to the front of the flipping table (3014). A fine-tuning screw (3016) is rotatably connected inside the flipping table (3014). An upper clamp (3017) is threaded onto the outside of the fine-tuning screw (3016).

4. The workpiece clamping, attitude adjustment, and tool setting device for a horizontal wire EDM machine tool according to claim 2, characterized in that: A locking element (8) is provided on the inner side of the slide (3011). The locking element (8) includes a gear shaft (801) rotatably connected inside the slide (3011). The front end of the gear shaft (801) is fixedly connected to the mounting base (3012). Locking screws (802) are threadedly connected to both the left and right sides of the slide (3011). A toothed plate (803) is installed on the side of the two locking screws (802) facing the gear shaft (801).

5. The workpiece clamping, attitude adjustment, and tool setting device for a horizontal wire EDM machine tool according to claim 2, characterized in that: A buffer groove (9) is provided on the front side of the mounting base (3012), and a support rod (10) is fixedly connected to the inner side of the buffer groove (9). The detection module (302) includes a floating base (3021) that is slidably connected to the outside of the support rod (10).

6. The workpiece clamping, attitude adjustment, and tool setting device for a horizontal wire EDM machine tool according to claim 5, characterized in that: The bottom of the floating base (3021) is fixedly connected to a positioning contact (3022), and a V-shaped positioning groove (3023) is provided on the inner side of the positioning contact (3022). A thin film pressure sensor (3024) is fixed inside the V-shaped positioning groove (3023).

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