Centerable Drill Holder for Precise CNC Lathe Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Machine tools, particularly CNC lathes, face challenges in accurately centering small drills relative to the spindle, leading to axial misalignment and potential drill breakage due to clearance issues and inaccuracies in drill holders.
Innovation Solution
A centerable holder with horizontal and vertical adjusters, featuring threaded fasteners, is used to precisely center the drill on the spindle, ensuring accurate alignment and secure mounting through a slip bushing and clamping mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a drill is mounted in a conventional tool holder with clearance between the tool hole and slip bushing, then the device is easier to manufacture, but the drill becomes misaligned relative to the spindle causing axial misalignment and potential breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centerable holder device as an intermediary component between the tool holder and drill. This device includes a shank that fits into the tool holder, a body with a centered drill hole, and a clampable portion that secures the drill. The centerable holder acts as a mediator that eliminates the clearance and misalignment issues of conventional direct mounting while providing precise centering through its specifically designed geometry and clamping mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the tool holding system into separate functional components: the tool holder, the centerable holder device, and the drill. The centerable holder device itself is segmented into a shank portion for mounting, a body portion containing the drill hole, and a clampable portion for securing the drill. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and enables precise alignment through the intermediate centerable holder.
2Manufacturing precision
If smaller drills are used, then more precision work can be performed, but the drills become more affected by axial misalignment and are more prone to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The centerable holder device serves as a protective intermediary for small drills, providing a rigid, precisely centered mounting structure that reduces the leverage and side forces acting on the drill. By securing the drill in a dedicated centered hole rather than relying on clearance-fit bushings, the system protects fragile small drills from misalignment-induced breakage while maintaining the precision needed for fine work.
Solution Approach 2:
The clampable portion of the centerable holder device provides beforehand cushioning by securely clamping the drill before operation begins. This pre-securing mechanism prevents movement and misalignment during drilling, cushioning the small drill against the harmful side forces and axial misalignment that would otherwise cause breakage.
3Ease of manufacture
If a drill holder with dents, unsquare faces, or damaged jaws is used, then the holder can be obtained more easily, but the drill becomes off-center leading to eccentric holes
Solution Approach 1:
The centerable holder device with its precisely machined body and centered drill hole acts as an intermediary that compensates for deficiencies in the parent tool holder. Even if the tool holder has dents or wear, the centerable holder's specifically designed geometry ensures the drill remains centered on the spindle axis, eliminating the source of eccentricity while still allowing use of readily available tool holders.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system comprising a machine tool, a centerable holder, and a drill. The machine tool comprises a spindle and a tool holder. The centerable holder is pointed at the spindle of the machine tool. The centerable holder defining a pair of horizontal adjusters and a pair of vertical adjusters.