Centering Screw Assembly With Cone Stop for Repeatable Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing centering screws face challenges in achieving precise and reliable alignment and securement of workpieces on carriers, especially when repeated positioning is required, due to limitations in dimensional accuracy and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A centering screw design featuring a cone in an intermediate section with a diameter that increases towards an axial stop, allowing precise alignment and securement of elements, with the axial stop preventing direct contact between seating surfaces and enabling easy release, and optionally featuring a second thread for additional security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional centering screw with a centering pin section and cone is used to fix a workpiece precisely in position, then the position precision of the workpiece on the carrier is improved, but the dimensional accuracy requirements become extremely high and the operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The centering screw is divided into distinct functional sections: a first end section with threading for securing, an intermediate section with a cone for centering, and a second end section with threading for mounting. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally without requiring extreme dimensional accuracy across the entire component.
Solution Approach 2:
The cone in the intermediate section acts as an intermediary element that facilitates centering during the mounting process. By introducing this intermediate centering feature, the direct contact between seating surfaces is avoided, and centering is achieved through the cone's interaction with the workpiece or carrier during threading.
2Measurement precision
If high dimensional accuracy is required to achieve small tolerance dimensions for workpiece positioning, then the position precision is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the centering screw into functional sections (first end section, intermediate section with cone, second end section) allows standard manufacturing processes to be applied to each section independently, reducing the need for complex high-precision machining across the entire component.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the geometric parameters of the centering screw, particularly by introducing a cone with varying diameter in the intermediate section. This parameter change enables centering functionality without requiring extreme dimensional accuracy in the threaded sections, simplifying manufacturing.
3Measurement precision
If the cone diameter at the end facing away from the first end section is larger than the first outside diameter, then the centering functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cone is merged with the intermediate section of the centering screw as an integral feature rather than a separate component. This combining of the centering function into the screw body itself achieves precise centering without increasing overall device complexity through additional parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate section with the cone serves multiple functions: it provides centering during mounting, acts as a structural transition between the two threaded sections, and enables the axial stop functionality. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
4Reliability
If the axial stop is provided at the end of the cone facing away from the first end section, then the alignment reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The axial stop is merged with the cone structure in the intermediate section, forming an integral feature rather than a separate component. This achieves reliable alignment positioning without increasing device complexity through additional parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate section with the cone and axial stop serves multiple functions: centering during mounting, providing axial positioning through the stop, and acting as a structural transition. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A centering screw for aligning two elements, particularly a workpiece and a carrier, relative to each other, the centering screw having a first end section with a first outside diameter and a first length, and a second end section with a second outside diameter and a second length, the first end section having a first thread, at least in sections, and a cone being provided for the centering. In this case, the centering screw has the cone in an intermediate section between the first end section and the second end section, the cone having a diameter changing along the intermediate section, the diameter at an end of the cone facing away from the first end section being larger than the first outside diameter, and the end of the cone facing away from the first end section being assigned an axial stop facing away from the first end section.