Adjustable Drilling Template with Pivoting Locators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drilling templates for wood and wood-based workpieces are inflexible and difficult to accurately position, particularly in adjusting hole spacing relative to the thickness of workpieces and edges, limiting the precision of dowel joints.
Innovation Solution
A drilling template with co-axially pivotally mounted tabs of varying thicknesses on a rectilinear bar, allowing for adjustable positioning without disassembly, featuring a combination of through bores, countersunk holes, and locking mechanisms for precise alignment in multiple planes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional drilling templates are used with fixed through holes, then the template structure is simple, but the ability to adjust hole position relative to workpiece thickness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The template employs dynamically adjustable locator means that can be repositioned along the bar to accommodate different workpiece thicknesses. The locator means include threaded adjustors that allow continuous positioning adjustment, transforming a static template into a dynamic, adaptable tool that maintains functionality across varying workpiece dimensions without requiring multiple specialized templates.
Solution Approach 2:
The template is designed as a universal tool that can handle multiple workpiece thicknesses and hole positioning requirements through its adjustable locator system. Rather than requiring separate templates for different thickness ranges, this single template with adjustable locators serves multiple functions, reducing the need for multiple specialized tools while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sized templates are produced for different workpiece thicknesses, then adaptability to various thicknesses is improved, but inventory complexity and selection difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The template incorporates a universal design with adjustable locator means that can accommodate a wide range of workpiece thicknesses using a single template. The locator system allows the same template to be configured for different thickness requirements, eliminating the need to maintain multiple template sizes in inventory while preserving compatibility across various workpiece dimensions.
3Measurement precision
If the number of through holes in the template is restricted, then the template structure remains simple, but accurate positioning relative to workpiece edges becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The template features dynamically reconfigurable locator means that can be positioned at various locations along the bar to establish accurate reference points for different workpiece edge positions. This dynamic positioning capability allows precise alignment without requiring a fixed array of numerous through holes, as the locators can be moved to create the necessary reference geometry for accurate positioning.
4Manufacturing precision
If templates require disassembly and reassembly with different spacers to adjust hole position, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The template employs dynamically adjustable locator means with threaded adjustors that allow continuous on-the-fly positioning changes without disassembly. The locators can be moved to different positions along the bar and secured in place, enabling rapid adjustment of hole positions for different workpiece requirements while maintaining manufacturing precision, eliminating the time-consuming process of taking the template apart and reassembling it with different spacers.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable locator system is pre-configured with threading and adjustment mechanisms that allow quick repositioning without requiring complete disassembly. The preliminary design of the adjustment mechanism enables operators to make positioning changes efficiently by simply moving and securing the locators, rather than performing time-consuming assembly and disassembly operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A drilling template for use in jointing workpieces, the template consisting of a substantially rectilinear bar with through holes through which holes can be drilled in the workpieces to effect said jointing, a locating device for locating the template relative to the workpieces when the though holes are being drilled, and spacers for spacing the locating device from the bar to enable the position of the through holes to be adjusted relative to the workpiece.