Air-blowing Method for Workpiece Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-blowing methods in machining systems do not effectively utilize the time between machining and workpiece pick-up to maximize air blow duration, leading to residual cutting fluid on the workpiece, which can affect subsequent tasks and increase cleaning times.
Innovation Solution
An air-blowing method that issues a workpiece pick-up advance notice signal and calculates an additional air blow time based on the time required for a robot or worker to arrive at the machine tool, extending the air blow by this calculated time to ensure maximum air blow duration until the workpiece is picked up.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If air blow time is extended to remove cutting fluid, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but machine tool operation time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The robot issues a pick-up advance notice signal before actually picking up the workpiece, allowing the machine tool to calculate and extend the air blow time in advance. This preliminary notification enables the air blow to continue until the robot arrives, maximizing cleaning effectiveness without extending the overall operation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The air blow time is dynamically adjusted based on the robot's arrival time. The control device calculates the additional time needed for the robot to reach the workpiece pick-up position and extends the air blow accordingly. This dynamic adjustment ensures optimal cleaning while maintaining efficient operation timing.
2Manufacturing precision
If air blow time is extended to minimize residual cutting fluid, then workpiece cleanliness is improved, but energy consumption is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The robot's advance notice signal enables the machine tool to extend air blow time in advance, ensuring cutting fluid is removed before the workpiece is picked up. This preliminary cleaning action maximizes workpiece cleanliness while avoiding unnecessary extended operation time that would increase energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the robot's own movement time and pick-up schedule to determine the optimal air blow extension duration. The calculation is based on when the robot will naturally arrive at the workpiece position, so air blow stops exactly when needed without excessive energy consumption.
3Manufacturing precision
If air blow is extended until workpiece pick-up, then cleaning quality is improved, but process complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The robot issues a pick-up advance notice signal that provides feedback to the machine tool about its upcoming pick-up action. The control device uses this feedback to calculate and extend the air blow time accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables automated coordination between the robot and machine tool, improving cleaning quality without requiring complex manual coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The pick-up advance notice signal acts as an intermediary communication mechanism between the robot and machine tool control devices. This simple signal exchange enables the coordination needed for extended air blow timing without requiring complex direct integration or control systems between the different components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach minimizes residual cutting fluid on the workpiece, reduces the need for additional cleaning fluids, and optimizes the air blow time, enhancing the efficiency of the machining process by making full use of the available time before workpiece pick-up.
Implementation Method 1
blowing, inside a machine tool, air onto a workpiece after machining
Data Source
AI summary
An air-blowing method includes the steps of blowing, inside a machine tool, air onto a workpiece after machining, issuing a workpiece pick-up advance notice signal for notifying beforehand of pick-up of the workpiece by a robot or a worker, on the basis of a task state of the robot or an operation of the worker, and calculating the additional time for air blow on the basis of a time required by the robot or the worker to arrive at a workpiece pick-up position in front of the machine tool after the workpiece pick-up advance notice signal is issued, where air blow is extended by just the additional time in the step of blowing air.