Holding method and processing method

Abstract

To provide a holding method that can reduce the time and effort required for processing the rear side of a three-dimensional molded object.SOLUTION: In a method for holding a workpiece, a jig comprises a first member having a plurality of first through holes formed in a first direction, a plurality of rod-shaped hollow members slidably inserted into the plurality of first through holes, and a protruded length adjustment part for adjusting the length of the plurality of hollow members protruding from the first through holes in the first direction, and a first fixing member mounting portion is formed at a first end of each of the plurality of hollow members, to which a first fixing member for fixing the workpiece can be mounted. In the holding method, a workpiece is held by moving the plurality of hollow members in a direction opposite to the first direction, and mounting the first fixing member to a first end of one or more hollow members out of contact with the workpiece so as to sandwich the workpiece between the first fixing member and hollow members in contact with the workpiece among the plurality of hollow members.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to holding and processing methods. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object, in which a part of a modeling material stacked on a stage is cut using a cutting tool to form a three-dimensional object of a desired shape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-104439 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional techniques, processing of the back side of a three-dimensional object has not been taken into consideration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above-described problems, one aspect of the present disclosure is a holding method for holding a workpiece, which is a member to be processed, using a jig, the jig including: a first member having a plurality of first through holes formed therein parallel to one another in a first direction; the plurality of rod-shaped hollow members being slidably inserted into the plurality of first through holes, respectively; and a protrusion length adjustment unit that adjusts a length by which each of the plurality of hollow members protrudes from the first through hole in the first direction, at least a portion of the plurality of first through holes being aligned parallel to each other in a second direction intersecting the first direction and a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction; A first end in one direction is formed with a first fixing member mounting portion to which a first fixing member can be attached that fixes the workpiece together with some or all of the plurality of hollow members, and the holding method involves pressing the workpiece against the first member to move some of the plurality of hollow members in a direction opposite to the first direction relative to the first member, and holding the workpiece by attaching the first fixing member to the first end of one or more of the plurality of hollow members that are not in contact with the workpiece so as to sandwich the workpiece between the first fixing member and one of the plurality of hollow members that is in contact with the workpiece. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a processing system 1. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the surface of a workpiece WK. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the back surface of the workpiece shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a jig 40. FIG. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the jig 40. FIG. [Figure 6] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing an example of the flow of a holding method for holding a workpiece WK using a jig 40. [Figure 7]10 is a perspective view showing an example of a jig 40 when a plurality of hollow members 42 are in a second state. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which a mask member MS is attached to the upper surface of a first member 41 of the jig 40 shown in FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 9] 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which a plurality of hollow members 42 not covered by mask members MS in the jig 40 shown in FIG. 8 are in a first state. [Figure 10] 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which the surface of a workpiece WK is pressed against some of the hollow members 42 in the first state in the jig 40 shown in FIG. 9. FIG. [Figure 11] 11 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which first fixing members FX are attached to four of the hollow members 42 of the jig 40 shown in FIG. 10, respectively. [Figure 12] 12 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a state in which the procedure of step S160 is performed on the jig 40 shown in FIG. [Figure 13] 10 is a diagram showing an example of the surface of a workpiece WK on which a reduced-thickness portion is formed as a first fixing member FX. FIG. [Figure 14] 14 is a diagram showing an example of the back surface of the workpiece WK shown in FIG. 13. FIG. [Figure 15] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the surface of a workpiece WK that is integrally formed with a mask member MS. FIG. [Figure 16] 16 is a diagram showing an example of the back surface of the workpiece WK shown in FIG. 15. FIG. [Figure 17] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing an example of the flow of a machining method for cutting a workpiece WK held by a jig 40. [Figure 18] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which a cutting process is performed by a processing unit 10 on a workpiece WK held by a jig 40. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0008] <Processing system overview> First, an overview of the machining system according to the embodiment will be described.

[0009] The machining system according to the embodiment includes a jig and a machining unit. The jig holds a workpiece, which is a component to be machined. Specifically, the jig includes a first member having a plurality of first through holes formed parallel to one another in a first direction, a plurality of rod-shaped hollow members slidably inserted into the plurality of first through holes, and a protrusion length adjustment unit that adjusts the length of protrusion of each of the plurality of hollow members from the first through holes in the first direction. At least some of the plurality of first through holes are aligned parallel to a second direction intersecting the first direction and a third direction intersecting the first and second directions. Each of the plurality of hollow members has a first fixing member attachment portion formed at a first end in the first direction, to which a first fixing member can be attached. The first fixing member attaches to fix the workpiece together with some of the plurality of hollow members. The machining unit then uses a cutting tool to machine the workpiece held by the jig.

[0010] As a result, the processing system according to the embodiment can reduce the effort required to process the back surface side of the three-dimensional object.

[0011] Below, we will explain in detail the configuration of the processing system of the embodiment, the configuration of the jig equipped in the processing system, the holding method for holding the workpiece using the jig, and the processing method for the workpiece using the processing system.

[0012] Conventionally, when performing additional processing on a workpiece, the person performing the processing would prepare a dedicated receiving jig in advance to fit the workpiece, and hold the workpiece in the dedicated receiving jig by gripping it with a vice, claws, fastening it with screws, attaching it with double-sided tape, or the like. However, the dedicated receiving jig is unique to each workpiece and is not versatile. For this reason, the dedicated receiving jig is discarded after use. This is undesirable because it wastes the time, resources, and energy required to manufacture the dedicated receiving jig. Unlike the dedicated receiving jig, the jig in the processing system according to the embodiment is highly versatile. Therefore, the processing system and the jig can prevent the waste of the time, resources, and energy required to manufacture the dedicated receiving jig.

[0013] <Processing system configuration> The configuration of the processing system according to the embodiment will be described below by taking the processing system 1 as an example.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a processing system 1. As shown in FIG.

[0015] Here, the three-dimensional coordinate system TC is a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system that indicates directions in a drawing in which the three-dimensional coordinate system TC is drawn. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the X-axis in the three-dimensional coordinate system TC will be simply referred to as the X-axis. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the Y-axis in the three-dimensional coordinate system TC will be simply referred to as the Y-axis. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the Z-axis in the three-dimensional coordinate system TC will be simply referred to as the Z-axis. Hereinafter, as an example, a case will be described in which the negative direction of the Z-axis coincides with the direction of gravity. Therefore, hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the positive direction of the Z-axis will be referred to as upward or simply "up," and the negative direction of the Z-axis will be referred to as downward or simply "down."

[0016] The processing system 1 in this embodiment includes a processing unit 10, a stage 20, a moving mechanism 30, a jig 40, and a control unit 50. Under the control of the control unit 50, the processing system 1 rotates a cutting tool 11 attached to the processing unit 10 while driving the moving mechanism 30 to change the relative position of the cutting tool 11 and the stage 20, thereby cutting a workpiece WK held by the jig 40 with the cutting tool 11. Note that the workpiece WK is omitted from FIG. 1 to avoid clutter. The jig 40 is configured to be fixed to the stage 20. The jig 40 holds a workpiece WK, such as a housing for an electronic device, that has a free-form surface or a surface with irregularities as its front surface and a flat surface on which an electronic circuit board, battery, or the like is fixed as its back surface. Here, the back surface of the workpiece WK refers to the surface opposite the front surface that is pre-formed on the workpiece WK. The workpiece WK held by the jig 40 may instead be a member of another shape, such as an intermediate body that is a preliminary form of a three-dimensional object.

[0017] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the front surface of the workpiece WK. As shown in Fig. 2, the front surface of the workpiece WK is a free-form surface. On the other hand, Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the back surface of the workpiece shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the back surface of the workpiece WK has four flat surfaces, surfaces M1 to M4, on which electronic boards, batteries, etc. are fixed.

[0018] In the processing system 1, first, the workpiece WK is held by the jig 40 with the back surface facing the processing unit 10. Then, in the processing system 1, the back surface of the workpiece WK is cut by the processing unit 10, thereby producing a product of a desired shape.

[0019] The processing unit 10 is a cutting device that rotates a cutting tool 11 attached to the shaft at the tip of the head to cut a workpiece WK held by a jig 40 fixed on a stage 20. The cutting tool 11 is, for example, a flat end mill, a ball end mill, etc., but is not limited to these. The processing unit 10 detects the position of the tip of the cutting tool 11 using a general position detection sensor and transmits the detection result to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 uses the detection result to control the movement mechanism 30 to change the relative position between the cutting tool 11 and the workpiece WK held by the jig 40 and perform cutting on the workpiece WK. The processing unit 10 may be configured to include a static eliminator such as an ionizer.

[0020] The stage 20 is supported by a moving mechanism 30. The stage 20 has a processing surface 21 facing the processing unit 10. A jig 40 is fixed on the processing surface 21. In this embodiment, the processing surface 21 is a surface parallel to the horizontal plane, but it may be a surface non-parallel to the horizontal plane.

[0021] The moving mechanism 30 changes the relative position between the processing unit 10 and the stage 20. In this embodiment, the moving mechanism 30 changes the relative position between the processing unit 10 and the stage 20 by moving the stage 20. In this embodiment, the moving mechanism 30 is configured with a three-axis positioner that moves the stage 20 in directions parallel to the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis using the driving forces of three motors. Each of these three motors is driven under the control of the control unit 50. Note that the moving mechanism 30 may not be configured to move the stage 20, but may be configured to move the processing unit 10 without moving the stage 20, thereby changing the relative position between the processing unit 10 and the stage 20. Alternatively, the moving mechanism 30 may be configured to move the processing unit 10 and the stage 20, thereby changing the relative position between the processing unit 10 and the stage 20. The movement mechanism 30 may have a function of tilting the processing surface 21 of the stage 20 relative to the horizontal plane, or may have a function of tilting the cutting tool 11 relative to the processing surface 21.

[0022] The control unit 50 is configured by a computer having one or more processors, a main memory device, and an input / output interface for inputting and outputting signals from and to the outside. The control unit 50 performs various functions by having the processor execute programs, instructions, etc. loaded onto the main memory device. In this embodiment, the control unit 50 has a data generation unit 51. The data generation unit 51 generates cutting data used to cut the workpiece WK. The control unit 50 also executes processing for cutting the workpiece WK using the cutting data. Note that the control unit 50 may be configured by a combination of multiple circuits rather than a computer.

[0023] <Jig configuration> The configuration of the jig 40 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0024] 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the jig 40. The jig 40 includes a first member 41, a rod-shaped hollow member 42, a second member 43, and a fixing member 44.

[0025] The first member 41 is a member for supporting the hollow member 42. The first member 41 has a plurality of first through holes 411 formed in a first direction. In FIG. 4, to avoid complication of the drawing, only one of the plurality of first through holes 411 is indicated by a reference symbol. Here, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the first direction is the upward direction. Note that the first direction may be other directions instead of the upward direction. Furthermore, the shape of the first member 41 may be any shape as long as it is a shape that allows the formation of the plurality of first through holes 411. However, it is preferable that the first member 41 has a flat plate shape. In this example, the first member 41 is a member having an overall rectangular flat plate shape. Note that the first member 41 may also be a member having another flat plate shape, such as a member having an overall disk shape.

[0026] A hollow member 42 is slidably inserted into each of the multiple first through holes 411. That is, the number of first through holes 411 is the same as the number of hollow members 42. Furthermore, the end of each first through hole 411 opposite to the first direction is formed so that the gap between the end and the inserted hollow member 42 becomes larger toward the second member 43. For convenience of explanation, the gap formed at the end of each first through hole 411 opposite to the first direction will be referred to as a gap portion 412 in the following description. For convenience of explanation, the formation of such a gap at the end of each first through hole 411 opposite to the first direction will be referred to as a first through hole 411 having a gap portion 412 in the following description.

[0027] The hollow members 42 are rod-shaped members arranged in parallel. In FIG. 4, only one of the hollow members 42 is indicated by a reference numeral to avoid cluttering the illustration. The hollow members 42 are formed, for example, from SUS (Steel Use Stainless Steel). The hollow members 42 have cylindrical contact members 421 at their tips. In FIG. 4, only one of the contact members 421 is indicated by a reference numeral to avoid cluttering the illustration. The contact members 421 are members that come into contact with a member held by the jig 40, such as the workpiece WK, and are formed, for example, from a soft material such as silicone rubber. Here, the tip of the hollow member 42 refers to the end of the hollow member 42 that is on the first direction side. Therefore, the tip of the hollow member 42 is an example of a first end. When viewed downward, the hollow members 42 are arranged two-dimensionally in the second and third directions. The second direction may be any direction intersecting the first direction. The third direction may be any direction intersecting the first and second directions. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the second direction coincides with the positive direction of the X-axis. In this example, the third direction coincides with the positive direction of the Y-axis. Some of the hollow members 42 may be arranged non-parallel to the second and third directions. A cylindrical tube 422 is connected to the base end of the hollow member 42. The base end of the hollow member 42 refers to the end of the hollow member 42 opposite the first direction. The base end of the hollow member 42 is an example of a second end. Some or all of the hollow members 42 may be made of other materials instead of stainless steel. Some or all of the hollow members 42 may not include a contact member 421.

[0028] The second member 43 is a member disposed facing the first member 41 such that the second member 43 and the first member 41 are aligned in this order in the first direction. The second member 43 has a plurality of second through holes 431 formed in positions corresponding to the plurality of first through holes 411. In FIG. 4 , to avoid complication of the drawing, only one of the plurality of second through holes 431 is indicated by a reference numeral. Therefore, the number of second through holes 431 is the same as the number of first through holes 411. A hollow member 42 is slidably inserted into each of the plurality of second through holes 431. The second member 43 is configured to be movable relatively toward the first member 41 by various actuators, such as a pneumatic actuator or an electric actuator, the drive of which is controlled by the control unit 50.

[0029] A columnar fixing member 44 is disposed between the first member 41 and the second member 43. Note that in FIG. 4 , to avoid cluttering the drawing, only one of the multiple fixing members 44 is indicated by a reference symbol. In this embodiment, the base end of the fixing member 44 is fixed to the second member 43. Here, the base end of the fixing member 44 refers to the end of the fixing member 44 that is opposite the first direction. The fixing member 44 has a shape that tapers toward the first member 41 so as to fit into the gap 412 of the first through hole 411. In other words, the fixing member 44 has a wedge shape that tapers toward the first direction. When the fixing member 44 is inserted into the gap 412, it contacts both a portion of the outer periphery of the hollow member 42 and the first through hole 411. As a result, the hollow member 42 is fixed to the first member 41 by the fixing member 44.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the jig 40. First, the tips of the multiple hollow members 42 are brought into contact with the surface of the workpiece WK. However, the shape of the surface of the workpiece WK shown in FIG. 5 is different from the shape shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in order to clearly illustrate the operation of the jig 40. By bringing the tips of the multiple hollow members 42 into contact with the surface of the workpiece WK, the positions of the tips of the hollow members 42 in the first direction are adjusted according to the surface shape of the workpiece WK. After bringing the tips of the multiple hollow members 42 into contact with the surface of the workpiece WK, the second member 43 is brought close to the first member 41, and the second member 43 pushes the fixing member 44 into the gap 412, causing the fixing member 44 to act as a wedge, fixing the hollow member 42 to the first member 41. Then, the workpiece WK is sucked through the hollow member 42 using a suction device 45 connected to a tube 422. In this way, the jig 40 can hold the workpiece WK with the surface of the workpiece WK facing the processing surface 21. Here, the suction device 45 may be any device that is capable of sucking air from the base end of each of the plurality of hollow members 42. The suction device 45 may be configured to be included in the jig 40, or may not be configured to be included in the jig 40. In other words, the suction device 45 may be configured integrally with the jig 40, or may be configured separately from the jig 40.

[0031] Each hollow member 42 is provided with a sensor 423. Note that in FIG. 4, to avoid cluttering the drawing, only one of the multiple sensors 423 is indicated by a reference symbol. The sensor 423 is configured with a pressure-sensitive element such as a load cell. In this embodiment, the sensor 423 is embedded in the contact member 421. The sensor 423 may also be provided at the base end of the hollow member 42. The sensor 423 may also be configured with a strain gauge and provided on the side surface of the hollow member 42. The sensor 423 is connected to the control unit 50. The sensor 423 detects the force received from the workpiece WK. If this force is large, for example, it means that a large force is being applied to the workpiece WK from the processing unit 10, increasing the possibility that the workpiece WK will peel off from the jig 40. Note that in other embodiments, one sensor 423 may be provided for the jig 40.

[0032] 4 and 5, a first fixing member mounting portion 424 is formed at the tip of the hollow member 42. In FIG. 4, to avoid cluttering the drawing, only one of the multiple first fixing member mounting portions 424 is indicated by a reference numeral. The first fixing member mounting portion 424 is a portion of the hollow member 42 to which a first fixing member FX can be attached, which fixes a part of the multiple hollow members 42 together with the workpiece WK. For example, the first fixing member mounting portion 424 is a female thread formed on the inner edge of the tip of each of the multiple hollow members 42. In this case, the first fixing member FX is attached to the first fixing member mounting portion 424 by a male thread. Note that instead of a female thread, the first fixing member mounting portion 424 may be a male thread, a fitting portion that fits with the first fixing member FX, a groove to which an E-ring for attaching the first fixing member FX is attached, or another portion to which the first fixing member FX can be attached.

[0033] Here, the first fixing member FX is, for example, a claw member that holds the workpiece WK by sandwiching it between itself and a part of the plurality of hollow members 42. Note that instead of the claw member, the first fixing member FX may be another member that can hold the workpiece WK between itself and a part of the plurality of hollow members 42. The first fixing member FX may also be a part of the workpiece WK. In this case, the part may be, for example, a thin portion formed in the workpiece WK, but is not limited to this. Below, as an example, a case where the first fixing member FX is the claw member will be described.

[0034] The jig 40 also includes a protrusion length adjustment unit 46 that adjusts the length by which each of the plurality of hollow members 42 protrudes from the first through-hole 411 in the first direction. The protrusion length adjustment unit 46 may be configured to adjust the length by any method. For example, the protrusion length adjustment unit 46 may be configured to adjust the length by air pressure, or may be configured to adjust the length by other methods such as a method using an actuator. For this reason, in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the protrusion length adjustment unit 46 is shown as a rectangular object.

[0035] The protrusion length adjustment unit 46 adjusts the state of the plurality of hollow members 42, for example, to either a first state in which each of the plurality of hollow members 42 protrudes a predetermined length from the first through-hole 411 in a first direction, or a second state in which each of the plurality of hollow members 42 does not protrude from the first through-hole 411. The second state is a state in which the hollow members 42 are inserted into the first through-hole 411. The predetermined length may be any length as long as it is long enough to hold the workpiece WK. The protrusion length adjustment unit 46 may be controlled by the control unit 50 or manually. The following describes, as an example, a case in which the protrusion length adjustment unit 46 is controlled by the control unit 50.

[0036] <Method for holding a workpiece using a jig> A holding method for holding a workpiece WK using the jig 40 will be described below with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of the holding method for holding a workpiece WK using the jig 40. For ease of explanation, the person who causes the jig 40 to hold the workpiece WK will be referred to simply as the user below.

[0037] The user controls the protrusion length adjustment unit 46 by operating the control unit 50 to set the state of the plurality of hollow members 42 to the second state (step S110). Here, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of the jig 40 when the state of the plurality of hollow members 42 is the second state. Note that in FIG. 7, only one of the plurality of hollow members 42 is indicated by a reference numeral to avoid cluttering the illustration. Also, in FIG. 7, only one of the plurality of first through holes 411 is indicated by a reference numeral to avoid cluttering the illustration. The procedure of step S110 is, so to speak, initialization of the jig 40. Furthermore, the procedure of step S110 is preparation for performing the procedure of step S120. Therefore, if the procedure of step S120 is omitted, the procedure of step S110 may also be omitted.

[0038] Next, the user attaches a mask member MS to the upper surface of the first member 41 (step S120). When the workpiece WK is held in some of the multiple hollow members 42, the mask member MS is a member that covers part of the first through-hole 411 so that one or more hollow members 42 that are not used to hold the workpiece WK do not protrude from the first through-hole 411. Note that the jig 40 may be configured to include or not include the mask member MS.

[0039] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which a mask member MS is attached to the upper surface of the first member 41 of the jig 40 shown in FIG. 8. Note that in FIG. 8, only one of the multiple hollow members 42 is indicated by a reference numeral to avoid cluttering the drawing. Also, in FIG. 8, only one of the multiple first through holes 411 is indicated by a reference numeral to avoid cluttering the drawing. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the mask member MS is a member having an overall rectangular flat plate shape. Furthermore, when the mask member MS attached to the first member 41 is viewed in the direction opposite to the first direction, a portion of the outline of the mask member MS is hollowed out. In other words, the mask member MS is a member having an overall rectangular flat plate shape, and in this case, a portion of the multiple hollow members 42 that is not covered by the mask member MS is hollowed out. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the hollow members 42 that are not covered by the mask member MS are visible in that region. As a result, when the workpiece WK is held in a part of multiple hollow members 42, the mask member MS can cover a part of the first through hole 411 so that one or more hollow members 42 that are not used to hold the workpiece WK do not protrude from the first through hole 411.

[0040] It should be noted that the mask member MS does not necessarily have to be attached to the upper surface of the first member 41 of the jig 40. Therefore, if the user does not use the mask member MS, the procedure of step S120 may be omitted. In this case, as described above, the procedure of step S110 may also be omitted. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the mask member MS is screwed to the upper surface of the first member 41. However, the mask member MS may be configured to be attached to the upper surface of the first member 41 by another method.

[0041] After the procedure of step S120 is performed, the user operates the control unit 50 to control the protrusion length adjustment unit 46 and set the state of the plurality of hollow members 42 to the first state (step S130). Here, FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of the state of the plurality of hollow members 42 not covered by the mask member MS in the jig 40 shown in FIG. 8 set to the first state. Note that in FIG. 9, to avoid complication of the figure, only one of the plurality of hollow members 42 is indicated by a reference numeral. Also, in FIG. 9, to avoid complication of the figure, only one of the plurality of first through holes 411 is indicated by a reference numeral. The procedure of step S130 is preparation for performing the procedure of step S140 and is also preparation for holding the workpiece WK in the jig 40.

[0042] Next, the user moves some of the hollow members 42, which are in the first state in step S130, relative to the first member 41 in the direction opposite to the first direction by pressing the surface of the workpiece WK against the hollow members (step S140). In FIG. 6, the procedure of step S140 is indicated by "pressing the workpiece WK against the hollow members." Here, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the state in which the surface of the workpiece WK is pressed against some of the hollow members 42, which are in the first state in the jig 40 shown in FIG. 10, to avoid cluttering the drawing, only one of the hollow members 42 is indicated by a reference symbol. Also, in FIG. 10, to avoid cluttering the drawing, only one of the first through holes 411 is indicated by a reference symbol. As shown in Fig. 10, after the procedure of step S140 is performed, the hollow members 42 among the plurality of hollow members 42 against which the surface of the workpiece WK is pressed are pushed by the surface of the workpiece WK and moved in that direction. The hollow members 42 among the plurality of hollow members 42 against which the surface of the workpiece WK is not pressed are maintained in the first state. In the example shown in Fig. 10, of the plurality of hollow members 42 that were in the first state in Fig. 9, four hollow members 42 that are not in contact with the workpiece WK are maintained in the first state.

[0043] Next, the user attaches a first fixing member FX to the tip of one or more of the hollow members 42 that are not in contact with the workpiece WK, so as to sandwich the workpiece WK between the first fixing member FX and the hollow members 42 that are in contact with the workpiece WK (step S150). In FIG. 6, the procedure of step S150 is indicated by "attaching first fixing member." This allows the user to hold the workpiece WK in the jig 40.

[0044] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a first fixing member FX is attached to each of four of the hollow members 42 of the jig 40 illustrated in FIG. 10 . Note that in FIG. 11 , to avoid complication, only one of the multiple hollow members 42 is indicated by a reference numeral. Also, in FIG. 11 , to avoid complication, only one of the multiple first through holes 411 is indicated by a reference numeral. In the example illustrated in FIG. 11 , a first fixing member FX is attached to the tip of each of the four hollow members 42 in the first state that surround the workpiece WK. As illustrated in FIG. 11 , these four first fixing members FX are attached to each of the four hollow members 42 by male screws so that the workpiece WK is sandwiched between the multiple hollow members 42 that overlap with the workpiece WK when the jig 40 is viewed in the direction opposite to the first direction. In this example, these four first fixing members FX have the same shape. The number of first fixing members FX attached to the jig 40 may be one or more, as long as it is possible to sandwich the workpiece WK between the plurality of hollow members 42. The shape of the first fixing member FX may be any shape, as long as it is possible to sandwich the workpiece WK between the plurality of hollow members 42. Some or all of the four first fixing members FX may have different shapes.

[0045] As described above, by performing the procedure of step S150, the user can cause the jig 40 to hold the workpiece WK. However, performing only the procedure of step S150 may result in gaps being formed between the workpiece WK and the first fixing member FX, or between the workpiece WK and the hollow member 42, etc. To prevent this, the user performs the procedures of steps S160 and S170. Note that if no gaps are formed between the workpiece WK and the first fixing member FX, or between the workpiece WK and the hollow member 42, etc., one or both of steps S160 and S180 may be omitted.

[0046] After the procedure of step S150 is performed, the user operates the control unit 50 to control the protrusion length adjustment unit 46, thereby moving those of the plurality of hollow members 42 that are movable in the first direction in the first direction (step S160). As a result, when the user views the jig 40 in the direction opposite the first direction, all of the plurality of hollow members 42 that overlap with the workpiece WK can be brought into contact with the workpiece WK. Here, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the state in which the procedure of step S160 is performed on the jig 40 shown in FIG. 11. Note that in FIG. 12, only one of the plurality of hollow members 42 is indicated by a reference numeral to avoid cluttering the illustration. Also, in FIG. 12, only one of the plurality of first through holes 411 is indicated by a reference numeral to avoid cluttering the illustration. As shown in Figure 12, when the procedure of step S160 is performed, when the jig 40 is viewed in the direction opposite to the first direction, all of the multiple hollow members 42 that overlap the workpiece WK come into contact with the workpiece WK.

[0047] Next, the user operates the control unit 50 to control the suction device 45, causing the hollow member 42 that is in contact with the workpiece WK to suck the workpiece WK into the hollow member 42 (step S170). This allows the user to prevent the workpiece WK from slipping out of the hollow member 42.

[0048] Next, the user operates the control unit 50 to control the actuator that moves the second member 43, and moves the second member 43 closer to the first member 41, thereby fixing the multiple hollow members 42 to the first member 41 (step S180). That is, by performing the procedure of step S180, the multiple hollow members 42 are fixed to the first member 41 by moving the second member 43 closer to the first member 41, as the fixing members 44 are pushed into the gaps 412. Then, by fixing the multiple hollow members 42 to the first member 41 in this manner, the user can firmly hold the workpiece WK to the jig 40. After performing the procedure of step S180, the user ends the procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

[0049] As described above, the user presses the workpiece WK to move some of the multiple hollow members 42 relative to the first member 41 in the direction opposite to the first direction, and holds the workpiece WK by attaching the first fixing member FX to the tip of one or more hollow members 42 that are not in contact with the workpiece WK so as to sandwich the workpiece WK between the first fixing member FX and the hollow members 42 that are in contact with the workpiece WK. This allows the user to reduce the effort required to process the back side of a three-dimensional object such as the workpiece WK.

[0050] If the user attempts to hold the workpiece WK on the jig 40 without using the first fixing member FX, the user will have the jig 40 hold the workpiece WK by vacuum suction in step S170. However, the holding force of the workpiece WK by vacuum suction is weaker than the holding force of the first fixing member FX. For this reason, if the user attempts to hold the workpiece WK on the jig 40 without using the first fixing member FX, for example, when the user attempts to cut the workpiece WK using the processing unit 10, the workpiece WK may slip off or become dislodged from the jig 40. This can be solved by reducing the cutting depth of the cutting tool 11. However, the smaller the cutting depth of the cutting tool 11, the longer the time required to cut the workpiece WK. This undesirably increases the cycle time required for product manufacturing. For this reason, using the first fixing member FX to hold the workpiece WK on the jig 40 is desirable from the perspectives of improving the processing accuracy of the workpiece WK and suppressing increases in cycle time for product manufacturing. The processing of the workpiece WK by the processing unit 10 is necessary to improve the dimensional accuracy of products manufactured by, for example, three-dimensional modeling using a 3D printer or injection molding using an injection molding machine. This is because there are limits to improving the dimensional accuracy of products manufactured by three-dimensional modeling using a 3D printer or injection molding using an injection molding machine. In the manufacture of parts that require high dimensional accuracy, such as industrial parts, it is difficult to achieve high dimensional accuracy using only devices such as 3D printers and injection molding machines. Therefore, devices such as 3D printers and injection molding machines create workpieces WK with a shape close to the final shape (i.e., near-net shape). The workpieces WK thus created are then cut to meet the required dimensional accuracy. In performing this cutting process, the use of the versatile jig 40 is useful because it leads to suppressing increases in the cost and time required for manufacturing the product.Furthermore, the user can easily fix and position the workpiece WK during cutting by using such a jig 40. This is also useful as it reduces the workload of the user.

[0051] As mentioned above, the first fixing member FX may be other members instead of the claw members shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. For example, the first fixing member FX may be a part of the workpiece WK, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the front surface of the workpiece WK on which a reduced-mass portion is formed as the first fixing member FX. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the back surface of the workpiece WK shown in FIG. 13. The workpiece WK shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 has the first fixing member FX formed as the reduced-mass portion. Therefore, after processing of the back surface of the workpiece WK is completed, the first fixing member FX is removed from the workpiece WK by cutting or the like. Here, a threaded hole is formed in the first fixing member FX formed in the workpiece WK. That is, the workpiece WK on which the first fixing member FX is formed can be attached to the first fixing member attachment portion 424 of the hollow member 42 by a male screw. In this case, the user can hold the workpiece WK in the jig 40 without preparing a claw member as the first fixing member FX.

[0052] In the example shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 , the number of first fixing members FX formed on the workpiece WK was four. However, the number of first fixing members FX formed on the workpiece WK may be one as long as the workpiece WK can be held between the plurality of hollow members 42. Furthermore, when the number of first fixing members FX formed on the workpiece WK is multiple, as in this example, the distance between adjacent screw holes formed in each of the multiple first fixing members FX is an integer multiple of the distance between adjacent hollow members 42. This allows the user to easily attach the first fixing members FX formed on the workpiece WK to the jig 40.

[0053] 15 and 16, the mask member MS may be part of the workpiece WK. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the front surface of the workpiece WK integrally formed with the mask member MS. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the back surface of the workpiece WK shown in FIG. 15. However, in the example shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the workpiece WK has a first fixing member FX formed thereon as a non-removed portion, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Therefore, after processing of the back surface of the workpiece WK is completed, the mask member MS and the first fixing member FX are removed from the workpiece WK by cutting or other processing. Here, the mask member MS formed on the workpiece WK has a screw hole formed therein. That is, the workpiece WK with the mask member MS formed thereon can be screwed to the first member 41. In this case, the user can hold the workpiece WK in the jig 40 without preparing a mask member MS separately from the workpiece WK.

[0054] <Processing method for cutting a workpiece held in a jig> Hereinafter, a processing method for cutting a workpiece WK held by a jig 40 will be described with reference to FIG. 17. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of a processing method for cutting a workpiece WK held by a jig 40. For ease of explanation, the person who causes the processing system 1 to process the workpiece WK held by the jig 40 will be referred to as the "worker." The worker may be the same person as the user described above, or may be a different person from the user. In addition, the following describes, as an example, a case where the workpiece WK is held by the jig 40 according to the procedure in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 at a timing before the procedure of step S210 shown in FIG. 17 is performed.

[0055] The operator causes the processing unit 10 of the processing system 1 to perform cutting on the workpiece WK held by the jig 40 (step S210). The operator may cause the processing unit 10 to perform cutting on the workpiece WK by any method. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing an example of the processing unit 10 performing cutting on the workpiece WK held by the jig 40. Note that in FIG. 18, only one of the multiple hollow members 42 is indicated by a reference symbol to avoid cluttering the illustration. Also, in FIG. 18, only one of the multiple first through holes 411 is indicated by a reference symbol to avoid cluttering the illustration. Also, in the example shown in FIG. 18, the first fixing member FX is a claw member, similar to the examples shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. 18, the workpiece WK is firmly held by the jig 40, and therefore is prevented from shifting relative to the jig 40 even when cutting is performed by the cutting tool 11 of the processing unit 10. As a result, the worker can reduce the effort required to process the back side of a three-dimensional object such as the workpiece WK, and can perform cutting on the workpiece WK with high precision.

[0056] Next, the worker removes the first fixing member FX, which is a claw member, from the jig 40 (step S220).

[0057] Next, the worker removes the workpieces WK held on the plurality of hollow members 42 of the jig 40 from the jig 40 (step S230), and the procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG. 17 ends.

[0058] As described above, the worker performs cutting on the workpiece WK held by the jig 40 according to the procedure in the flowchart shown in Fig. 6. This allows the worker to reduce the effort required to process the back side of a three-dimensional object such as the workpiece WK, and also enables the worker to perform cutting on the workpiece WK with high precision.

[0059] The cutting process performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 17 is performed on a near-net-shape workpiece WK created using a 3D printer or similar device. The purpose of this cutting process is to improve the dimensional accuracy of the workpiece WK after processing. If the workpiece WK is a housing for an electronic component, an electronic board or similar device is attached to the back surface of the workpiece WK. Therefore, high dimensional accuracy is required for processing the back surface of the workpiece WK. For example, the portion of the back surface of the workpiece WK where the electronic board or similar device is attached must be horizontal. Furthermore, high dimensional accuracy is required for the location and diameter of the screw holes used to attach the electronic board. To achieve this horizontality and dimensional accuracy, the workpiece WK must be firmly fixed. The jig 40 is highly versatile because the hollow member 42 sinks into the first member 41 according to the shape of the workpiece WK. Nevertheless, the jig 40 can firmly fix the workpiece WK using the first fixing member FX. This is useful because it improves the accuracy of cutting the workpiece WK. Furthermore, it also reduces the complexity of the mold attached to the injection molding machine and the increase in processing time. It also reduces the need for precision-finishing processes for the mold. It also ensures the dimensions of the crystalline resin molded body. This eliminates the need to consider the dimensions of the crystalline resin molded body taking post-shrinkage into account, ensuring dimensional accuracy through cutting of the post-shrinkage product. Furthermore, because the jig 40 is highly versatile, it does not need to be remade for each workpiece WK, which in turn reduces the increase in manufacturing costs for the workpiece WK.

[0060] The above-described contents may be combined in any manner.

[0061] <Appendix 1> [1] A jig for holding a workpiece, which is a component to be machined, comprising: a first member having a plurality of first through holes formed therein that are parallel to each other in a first direction; a plurality of rod-shaped hollow members that are slidably inserted into each of the plurality of first through holes; and a protrusion length adjustment portion that adjusts the length by which each of the plurality of hollow members protrudes from the first through hole in the first direction, wherein at least some of the plurality of first through holes are aligned parallel to each other in a second direction that intersects the first direction and a third direction that intersects the first direction and the second direction; and a first end portion in the first direction of each of the plurality of hollow members is formed with a first fixing member mounting portion to which a first fixing member that fixes the workpiece together with some of the plurality of hollow members can be attached. [2] The jig described in [1], wherein the protrusion length adjustment unit adjusts the state of the plurality of hollow members to either a first state in which each of the plurality of hollow members protrudes a predetermined length from the first through hole in the first direction, or a second state in which each of the plurality of hollow members does not protrude from the first through hole. [3] The jig described in [1] or [2], wherein the first fixing member mounting portion is a female thread formed on the inner edge of the first end of each of the plurality of hollow members, and the first fixing member is attached to the first fixing member mounting portion by a male thread. [4] A jig described in any one of [1] to [3], comprising a vacuum suction portion that sucks air from a second end opposite the first end of each of the plurality of hollow members. [5] a second member having a plurality of second through holes formed at positions corresponding to the plurality of first through holes, the second member being arranged opposite the first member in the first direction, the second member and the first member being arranged in that order, the second member having a void portion where a gap between the hollow member and the first through hole becomes larger toward the second member, the second member having a void portion where a gap between the hollow member and the first through hole becomes larger toward the second member, the second member having a void portion where a gap between the hollow member and the first through hole becomes larger toward the second member, the second member having a void portion where a gap between the hollow member and the second member becomes larger toward the second member, the second member having a void portion where a gap between the hollow member and the first through hole becomes larger toward the second member, the second member having a void portion where a gap between the hollow member and the second ... [6] The jig described in [5], wherein the second fixing member has a wedge shape that narrows in the first direction. [7] A jig described in any one of [1] to [6], which is provided with a mask member that covers a portion of the plurality of first through holes so that a portion of the plurality of hollow members does not protrude from the first through holes in the first direction. [8] The jig described in [7], wherein the mask member is a part of the workpiece. [9] The jig described in any one of [1] to [8], wherein the first fixing member is a claw member that clamps and holds the workpiece between itself and some of the plurality of hollow members.

[10] The jig according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein the first fixing member is a part of the workpiece.

[11] The jig according to

[10] , wherein the first fixing member is a reduced-mass portion formed on the workpiece.

[12] The jig according to

[10] or

[11] , wherein one screw hole is formed in the first fixing member.

[13] The jig described in

[10] or

[11] , wherein two or more screw holes are formed in the first fixing member, and the distance between adjacent ones of the two or more screw holes is an integer multiple of the distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of hollow members.

[14] A processing system comprising: the jig according to any one of [1] to

[13] ; and a processing unit that performs processing on the workpiece held by the jig using a cutting tool.

[0062] <Appendix 2> [1] A holding method for holding a workpiece, which is a component to be machined, using a jig, the jig comprising: a first member having a plurality of first through holes formed therein parallel to one another in a first direction; the plurality of rod-shaped hollow members slidably inserted into the plurality of first through holes; and a protrusion length adjustment unit that adjusts the length by which each of the plurality of hollow members protrudes from the first through hole in the first direction, wherein at least some of the plurality of first through holes are aligned parallel to each other in a second direction intersecting the first direction and a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction; The end portion is formed with a first fixing member mounting portion to which a first fixing member can be attached that fixes the workpiece together with some or all of the plurality of hollow members, and the holding method involves pressing the workpiece against the first member to move some of the plurality of hollow members in a direction opposite to the first direction relative to the first member, and holding the workpiece by attaching the first fixing member to the first end portion of one or more of the plurality of hollow members that are not in contact with the workpiece so as to sandwich the workpiece between the first fixing member and one of the plurality of hollow members that is in contact with the workpiece. [2] The holding method described in [1] includes using the protrusion length adjustment unit to change the state of the plurality of hollow members to a first state in which each of the plurality of hollow members protrudes a predetermined length from the first through hole in the first direction, and then pressing the workpiece member against the first member to move some of the plurality of hollow members in a direction opposite to the first direction relative to the first member. [3] The first fixing member mounting portion is a female thread formed on the inner edge of the first end of each of the plurality of hollow members, and the first fixing member is attached to the first fixing member mounting portion by a male thread. A holding method described in [1] or [2]. [4] [1] A holding method described in [1], in which the workpiece is adsorbed to a portion of the hollow members by sucking air from a second end opposite the first end of each of the plurality of hollow members. [5] the jig is provided with a second member having a plurality of second through holes formed at positions corresponding to the plurality of first through holes, and the hollow members are slidably inserted into each of the plurality of second through holes, the second member being arranged opposite the first member so as to be aligned in the order of the second member and the first member in the first direction, each of the plurality of first through holes having a void portion in which the gap between the hollow member and the second member becomes larger toward the second member, the plurality of second fixing members being inserted into the void portions are arranged between the first member and the second member, and ends of the plurality of second fixing members that are opposite the first direction are fixed to the second member, and the holding method is characterized in that the plurality of hollow members are fixed to the first member by bringing the second member closer to the first member and thereby pushing the second fixing member into the void portion. [6] The holding method described in [5], wherein the shape of the second fixing member is a wedge shape that narrows in the first direction. [7] A holding method described in any one of [1] to [6], in which a portion of the plurality of first through holes is covered with a mask member so that a portion of the plurality of hollow members does not protrude from the first through hole in the first direction. [8] The holding method according to [7], wherein the mask member is a part of the workpiece. [9] The holding method described in any one of [1] to

[78] , wherein the first fixing member is a claw member that holds the workpiece between the first fixing member and some of the plurality of hollow members.

[10] The holding method according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein the first fixing member is a part of the workpiece.

[11] The holding method according to

[10] , wherein the first fixing member is a reduced-mass portion formed on the workpiece.

[12] The holding method according to

[10] , wherein one screw hole is formed in the first fixing member.

[13] The holding method described in

[10] or

[11] , wherein the first fixing member has two or more screw holes formed therein, and the distance between adjacent ones of the two or more screw holes is an integer multiple of the distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of hollow members.

[14] A processing method for performing cutting processing on the workpiece held by the holding method according to any one of [1] to

[13] .

[0063] The embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and may be changed, substituted, deleted, etc. as long as it does not deviate from the gist of this disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1...machining system, 10...machining unit, 11...cutting tool, 20...stage, 21...machining surface, 30...moving mechanism, 40...jig, 41...first member, 42...hollow member, 43...second member, 44...fixing member, 45...suction device, 46...protrusion length adjustment unit, 50...control unit, 51...data generation unit, 411...first through hole, 412...gap portion, 421...contact member, 422...tube, 423...sensor, 424...first fixing member mounting portion, 431...second through hole, FX...first fixing member, M1, M2, M3, M4...surface, MS...mask member, TC...three-dimensional coordinate system, WK...workpiece

Claims

1. A holding method for holding a workpiece, which is a member to be processed, using a jig, comprising: The jig is a first member having a plurality of first through holes formed therein and extending parallel to one another in a first direction; the plurality of rod-shaped hollow members slidably inserted into the plurality of first through holes, respectively; a protrusion length adjustment portion that adjusts the length by which each of the plurality of hollow members protrudes from the first through hole in the first direction; Equipped with At least some of the plurality of first through holes are aligned parallel to each of a second direction intersecting the first direction and a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, a first fixing member mounting portion is formed at a first end portion in the first direction of each of the plurality of hollow members, to which a first fixing member that fixes the workpiece together with some or all of the plurality of hollow members can be mounted; The holding method includes: By pressing the workpiece, some of the plurality of hollow members are moved relative to the first member in a direction opposite to the first direction; the first fixing member is attached to the first end of one or more of the plurality of hollow members that are not in contact with the workpiece, so as to sandwich the workpiece between the first fixing member and one of the plurality of hollow members that is in contact with the workpiece, thereby holding the workpiece; How to hold it.

2. using the protrusion length adjusting unit to change the state of the plurality of hollow members to a first state in which each of the plurality of hollow members protrudes a predetermined length from the first through hole in the first direction, and then pressing the workpiece against the first member to move some of the plurality of hollow members in a direction opposite to the first direction relative to the first member; The holding method according to claim 1 .

3. the first fixing member attachment portion is a female thread formed on an inner edge of the first end portion of each of the plurality of hollow members, The first fixing member is attached to the first fixing member attachment portion by a male screw. The holding method according to claim 1 .

4. air is sucked from a second end of each of the plurality of hollow members opposite to the first end, thereby adsorbing the workpiece to a portion of the hollow members; The holding method according to claim 1 .

5. the jig includes a second member having the plurality of second through holes formed at positions corresponding to the plurality of first through holes, and through which the hollow member is slidably inserted into each of the plurality of second through holes; the second member is disposed opposite the first member so as to be aligned in the first direction in this order, each of the plurality of first through holes has a gap portion in which a gap between the hollow member and the first through hole becomes larger toward the second member; the plurality of second fixing members are disposed between the first member and the second member and are inserted into the plurality of gaps; Ends of the plurality of second fixing members that are opposite to the first direction are fixed to the second member, The holding method includes: By moving the second member closer to the first member, the second fixing member is pushed into the gap, thereby fixing the plurality of hollow members to the first member. The holding method according to claim 1 .

6. The second fixing member has a wedge shape that narrows in the first direction. The holding method according to claim 5.

7. covering a portion of the plurality of first through holes with a mask member so that a portion of the plurality of hollow members does not protrude from the first through hole in the first direction; The holding method according to claim 1 .

8. The mask member is a part of the workpiece. The holding method according to claim 7.

9. the first fixing member is a claw member that holds the workpiece between itself and some of the plurality of hollow members; The holding method according to claim 1 .

10. the first fixing member is a part of the workpiece; The holding method according to claim 1 .

11. The first fixing member is a reduced-mass portion formed on the workpiece. The holding method according to claim 10.

12. The first fixing member has one screw hole formed therein. The holding method according to claim 10.

13. The first fixing member has two or more screw holes formed therein, a distance between adjacent ones of the two or more screw holes is an integer multiple of a distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of hollow members; The holding method according to claim 10.

14. A cutting process is performed on the workpiece held by the holding method according to claim 1. Processing method.

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