Adjustable Indexable Drill with Slidable Cartridge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional indexable drills face limitations in drilling smaller holes, lack accuracy and stability, require large inventories of inserts and screws, and generate hazardous coolant mist, especially when drilling larger holes or non-standard sizes, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable indexable drill design featuring a modular system with slidable cartridges and multiple cutting inserts that can be adjusted for different diameters, providing stability and indexability, reducing the need for multiple inserts and coolant usage, and allowing for single-pass drilling of precise hole sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional indexable drills are used for smaller holes (3/4 inch or less), then the drilling operation can be performed, but the single flute effective design is slower than two flute effective twist drills or spade insert drills

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling speedVSAvoidinsert configuration flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic insert positioning where inserts can be selectively positioned at different locations around the drill periphery. This allows the drill to adapt between one-flute and two-flute effective configurations depending on the application, resolving the contradiction between drilling speed and insert configuration flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drill body is designed with multiple insert pockets and positioning mechanisms that enable a single drill to perform multiple functions - operating as either one-flute or two-flute effective based on insert arrangement. This universal design eliminates the need for separate drills for different hole sizes and configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If indexable drills are used for larger holes or non-standard sizes, then cutting efficiency improves, but the accuracy and stability of drilling decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoiddrilling accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by providing different insert configurations at different locations around the drill periphery. Inserts can be positioned to create mirror-image flutes for stability in larger holes, while maintaining the ability to use single inserts for smaller holes. This localized optimization resolves the contradiction between cutting efficiency and drilling accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple inserts and screws are maintained for different hole sizes, then various drilling operations can be performed, but inventory requirements and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling size rangeVSAvoidinsert inventory

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The drill body is designed as a universal platform with multiple insert pockets and adjustable positioning mechanisms. A single drill body can accommodate various insert configurations for different hole sizes through selective insert placement, eliminating the need to maintain multiple specialized drills and reducing insert inventory requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic insert positioning system allows the same drill to be reconfigured for different hole sizes by moving inserts between pockets. This dynamic adaptability replaces the need for static, size-specific drills, significantly reducing the quantity of inserts and drill bodies that must be inventoried.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional indexable drills are used, then replaceable inserts provide cost effectiveness, but the drills are not self-centering causing non-uniform cutting forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsert replaceabilityVSAvoidcutting force uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric insert positioning where inserts are strategically placed at specific angles and locations around the drill periphery. This asymmetric arrangement creates self-centering action and balances cutting forces, resolving the contradiction between insert replaceability and cutting force uniformity. The mirror-image flute configuration ensures uniform force distribution while maintaining easy insert replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS9643259B2Adjustable indexable drill and modular system and holder

Publication Date: 2017.05.09 ALLIED MACHINE & ENGINEERING CORP

AI summary

An adjustable drill has a drill body having a face surface with a directional feature provided therewith. At least one cartridge is mounted adjacent the face surface and selectively slidable along the directional feature to provide adjustment. At least one insert is releasably affixed in an insert pocket provided in the cartridge. In further examples, the adjustable drill may have a central cutting system in combination with the adjustable cartridge type system, wherein the central cutting system may be modular. There may also be provided a modular type of holder arrangement to provide flexibility to adapt the system for various applications.