Ball-Lock Quick-Change Fastener for CNC Fixture Swaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the manufacturing industry, there is a need for a fast and secure method to temporarily attach and detach work pieces or fixtures to machining equipment, particularly on CNC machines, where traditional fixtures require custom configurations and are not adaptable for quick changes or use with materials like ceramics.
Innovation Solution
A quick change fastener system comprising a housing with a socket, a pintle, and a locking feature, allowing for rapid rotation and axial movement to secure objects to a work holder, featuring a ball locking mechanism that can be manually or robotically operated, enabling quick positioning and secure clamping without the need for complex fixture configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional fixtures with custom configurations are used, then high-volume production is well suited, but adaptability to different parts and quick changes are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture system is divided into modular components including interchangeable fixtures, quick-change fasteners with separate housing and locking mechanisms, and standardized interface elements. This segmentation allows individual components to be quickly swapped while maintaining overall system functionality, enabling both high-volume production efficiency and adaptability to different parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The quick-change fastener design incorporates universal features such as standardized mounting interfaces, interchangeable locking mechanisms, and adaptable fixture bodies that can accommodate multiple part types. This universality allows a single fixture system to serve multiple functions and adapt to different production requirements without requiring complete fixture replacement.
2Reliability
If bolts are used to attach work piece to fixture, then secure attachment is achieved, but time-consuming attachment and detachment process occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener system incorporates pre-positioned locking balls and pre-configured locking surfaces that are ready to engage immediately upon insertion. The preliminary arrangement of these locking elements eliminates the need for manual tightening operations, allowing secure attachment to be achieved rapidly through simple insertion and actuation movements rather than time-consuming bolt tightening.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional multi-step mechanical bolt tightening system is replaced with a simplified actuation mechanism that uses a single rotational or linear movement to simultaneously engage multiple locking balls with their corresponding locking surfaces. This substitution maintains secure attachment reliability while dramatically reducing the time and complexity of the attachment process.
3Manufacturing precision
If custom configuration fixtures are built, then precise positioning for particular parts is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of designing entirely custom fixtures for each part, the system applies local quality by using standardized, precision-machined interface elements and locking mechanisms that provide consistent positioning accuracy. The precision is localized to critical mating surfaces and locking interfaces, while the overall fixture structure can be simpler and more adaptable, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener comprises a housing, a socket, a pintle and a locking feature. The housing includes a shaft, a central bore that extends axially at least partially through the housing and a ball lock aperture extending from the bore. The socket extends into the housing adjacent to the first end face, and is configured such that rotation of the first socket rotates the fastener. The pintle is positioned within the bore and includes an actuation end and a rod that extends axially from the actuation end. The rod includes a ball transitioning surface and a ball locking surface. The pintle is moveable axially within the bore between a designated lock position where the ball locking surface of the pintle is aligned in register with each ball lock aperture, and a designated unlocked position where the ball lock surface of the pintle is moved axially away from each ball lock aperture.