Carrier Brazing for Rigid Mounting Machine Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing placement machines face challenges in achieving high rigidity to minimize vibrations and maintain placement accuracy due to high acceleration forces, which is not adequately addressed by traditional carriers made of extruded aluminum profiles or cast aluminum, as they offer lower rigidity and are prone to deformations from thermal expansion.

Innovation Solution

A placement machine with a carrier formed from multiple metallic elements connected by brazing, providing a compact and rigid structure that reduces stress and deformations, allowing for the attachment of a placement head and other components, and featuring stiffening elements and load-receiving means to enhance stability and reduce vibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If carriers are made of extruded aluminum profiles or cast aluminum to reduce weight, then the weight is reduced, but the rigidity is insufficient leading to vibrations and placement accuracy degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrier weightVSAvoidcarrier rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining aluminum profiles with steel reinforcement elements (steel plates, steel angles, or steel tubes) to create a hybrid structure. The aluminum provides lightweight properties while the steel components provide high rigidity and strength, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and rigidity requirements for the carrier

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If CFRP hollow body carriers are used to achieve high rigidity, then the rigidity is improved, but the weight and complexity of construction increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrier rigidityVSAvoidcarrier weight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) which would require complex manufacturing, the patent uses a composite construction combining aluminum and steel. This achieves similar rigidity benefits while maintaining lighter weight and simpler manufacturing processes through conventional metalworking techniques

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by strategically placing steel reinforcement elements only in specific high-stress areas of the aluminum carrier structure, such as at mounting positions for the placement head or at joints, rather than making the entire carrier from high-strength material. This optimizes rigidity where needed while minimizing overall weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Weight of moving object

If aluminum carriers are used to reduce weight, then the weight is reduced, but thermal expansion causes deformations under temperature fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrier weightVSAvoiddimensional stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials with different thermal expansion characteristics - aluminum for the main structure and steel for reinforcement. The steel components have lower thermal expansion, providing dimensional stability and reducing thermal deformation in critical areas, while the aluminum maintains lightweight properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent addresses thermal expansion by changing the material parameters of the carrier construction. By selecting specific aluminum alloys and steel grades with complementary thermal expansion coefficients, and by designing the composite structure to compensate for differential expansion, the patent reduces thermal deformation while maintaining weight advantages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The solution results in a more compact, lightweight, and rigid positioning system with reduced vibrations and deformations, enhancing placement accuracy and allowing for the integration of additional components like optical inspection systems, while maintaining a compact design and ease of assembly.

Implementation Method 1

The individual elements are connected to one another by brazing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBrazing: Brazing

Implementation Method 2

the stresses in the carrier, which can be significantly reduced in the event of temperature fluctuations from the different thermal expansion of the components that are firmly connected to one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP2018094B1Automatic filling machine for filling substrates with components
Publication Date: 2012.04.25 ASM ASSEMBLY SYST GMBH & CO
  • EP2018094B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2018094B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2018094B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

The mounting machine has a construction element, a carrier (8) for the attachment of a mounting head. The carrier has a cross section that is formed from two elements, which are connected to individual elements, by braze welding. The carrier is a component of a positioning device by which the equipment head is displaceable.