Bell-Shaped Clamp Wedge for High-Strength Insert Fixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insert-detachable type cutters face challenges in maintaining a large clamp surface area while preventing excessive increase in the sectional area of the wedge body and recessed portion, which can lead to reduced clamping strength and potential deformation or damage to the cutter body, especially when the number of blades increases.

Innovation Solution

The design of a clamp wedge with a bell-shaped configuration, featuring a protruded curve portion and recessed curve portions, allows for a larger clamp surface area without increasing the sectional area of the wedge body or recessed portion, ensuring strong clamping and maintaining cutter body thickness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the clamp surface area is increased to ensure reliable fixing of the cutting insert, then the clamping strength is improved, but the sectional area of the wedge body and recessed portion increases excessively, reducing the distance to the outer peripheral surface and potentially causing deformation or damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping strengthVSAvoidsectional area of wedge body
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp wedge employs a bell-shaped configuration where the clamp surface forms a semicircular arc shape in sections perpendicular to the press-insertion direction, while the wedge surface forms a complementary arc shape. This curvature allows the clamp surface area to be enlarged without proportionally increasing the wedge body volume, as the curved geometry efficiently packs the clamp surface area within a compact cross-sectional footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from conventional flat or simple curved surfaces to a three-dimensional bell-shaped geometry that utilizes spatial arrangement more efficiently. By shaping the clamp surface as a semicircular arc and the wedge surface as a complementary arc, the design maximizes clamp surface area in one dimension while constraining the wedge body sectional area in perpendicular dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the number of blades is increased to realize high efficiency processing, then the productivity is improved, but the gap between insert attachment seat and recessed portion becomes limited, making it difficult to form a large area recessed portion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidarea of recessed portion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bell-shaped recessed portion with semicircular arc geometry allows for efficient space utilization in multi-blade configurations. The curved geometry enables the recessed portion to accommodate the clamp wedge with enlarged clamp surface area while maintaining compact dimensions that fit within the limited gap between insert attachment seat and outer peripheral surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the recessed portion from conventional shapes to a bell-shaped configuration with specific arc radii and curvature profiles. This parameter optimization allows the recessed portion area to be sufficiently large for multi-blade setups while maintaining the required distance to the outer peripheral surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If the wedge body size is increased to enlarge the clamp surface area, then the clamping strength is improved, but the recessed portion size increases and the distance to the outer peripheral surface decreases, potentially causing deformation or damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping strengthVSAvoiddistance to outer peripheral surface
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bell-shaped geometry with semicircular arc clamp surface and complementary wedge surface allows the clamp surface area to be enlarged without linearly increasing the wedge body dimensions. The curved configuration efficiently packs the clamp surface area within a compact cross-section, maintaining adequate distance to the outer peripheral surface even when clamp surface area is increased.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 configuration enhances clamping strength, prevents deformation, and allows for efficient and precise cutting processes, even with an increased number of blades, by maintaining the cutter body's thickness and rigidity.

Implementation Method 1

The clamp wedge is pressed by a pressing member such as a clamp screw so as to be inserted into the cutter body along a wedge surface of the clamp wedge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWedge: Wedge

Data Source

PatentEP2105230B1Insert clamping wedge and insert-detachable type cutter
Publication Date: 2014.01.15 MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORP
  • EP2105230B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2105230B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2105230B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6C

AI summary

An insert clamping wedge (10) for clamp-fixing a cutting insert, seated in an insert attachment seat formed in a cutter body, to a recessed portion formed in the insert attachment seat is provided, the insert clamping wedge (10) including: a wedge body (12), wherein the insert clamping wedge (10) is pressed into the cutter body, wherein the wedge body (12) includes a clamp surface (14) which comes into close contact with the cutting insert and a wedge surface (16) of which a gap between the wedge surface (16) and the clamp surface (14) becomes smaller in a press-insertion direction of the wedge body (12), and wherein the section perpendicular to the press-insertion direction of the wedge body (12) from the wedge surface (16) to the clamp surface (14) being formed in a bell shape.