Ceramic Cutter Toolholder Guide With Steel Rods Against Bending

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual ceramic cutters with parallel guide systems experience bending during cutting and separation operations, leading to accuracy loss due to applied forces, and existing solutions either increase complexity or friction.

Innovation Solution

The use of an aluminium profile guide system with embedded steel rods and a bearing carriage arrangement, featuring three bearings, reduces friction and prevents bending by ensuring consistent contact between bearings and guides, enhancing precision and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If two parallel cylindrical guide bars are used for guiding the toolholder, then the structure is simple, but the guides bend under applied forces causing loss of accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide system structureVSAvoidcutting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide system uses a composite structure combining an aluminum profile (providing lightweight structure) with embedded steel rods (providing high stiffness and anti-bending properties). This composite construction maintains structural simplicity while preventing guide bending under cutting forces, thereby preserving cutting accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If lateral extensions with non-bending guides are added to prevent guide bar bending, then guide accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to dual guide systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide accuracyVSAvoidguide system configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the guiding function and the anti-bending reinforcement into a single integrated aluminum profile structure with embedded steel rods. This eliminates the need for separate non-bending guide bars, reducing the guide system to a single integrated component while maintaining both accuracy and simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If lateral extensions with non-bending guides are added to prevent guide bar bending, then guide accuracy is improved, but friction in toolholder movement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide accuracyVSAvoidtoolholder movement smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The steel rods are strategically embedded only in regions where bending resistance is critical, while other portions of the aluminum profile maintain their original smooth guiding surfaces. This localized reinforcement approach prevents guide bending without adding friction to the toolholder movement areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 the precision and safety of the toolholder movement by minimizing friction and preventing guide deformation, even under significant force application during ceramic cutting and separation.

Implementation Method 1

an aluminium profile guide system with embedded steel rods and a bearing carriage arrangement, featuring three bearings, reduces friction and prevents bending by ensuring consistent contact between bearings and guides

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStructural reinforcement:

Implementation Method 2

a bearing carriage arrangement, featuring three bearings, reduces friction and prevents bending by ensuring consistent contact between bearings and guides

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction reduction: Ball Bearing

Data Source

PatentEP3272483B1A manual ceramic cutter including a tool holder and a tool holder guide system
Publication Date: 2022.10.26 GERMANS BOADA SA
  • EP3272483B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3272483B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a toolholder guide system in manual ceramic cutters, comprising parallel guides (2) for the longitudinal movement of a toolholder (1) that comprises a handle (11) for the actuation thereof and carries a cutting tool (12) for scoring a ceramic part. The guides (2) are formed by a profile, preferably made of aluminium, each guide (2) comprising upper and lower steel rods (21, 22), disposed longitudinally, forming races for bearing carriages (3) disposed on the sides of the toolholder (1). Each bearing carriage (3) comprises two end bearings (31, 32) disposed at the same height and at least one intermediate bearing (33) disposed at a lower height than the two end bearings.