Groove-Engaging Clamp Inserts for Repeatable Workpiece Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamps for retaining pieces during machining operations cannot reliably lock a piece in a predetermined position and orientation, making it difficult to repeat operations on different machines or expose different sides of the piece to tools, and are not optimized for specific pieces.
Innovation Solution
A clamp with movable jaws and inserts that engage milled grooves on the piece to securely hold it in a predetermined position and orientation, allowing for repeatable and flexible retention of various pieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional jaws with planar contact faces are used to retain a piece, then the clamp structure is simple, but the piece cannot be locked in a predetermined position and orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw is divided into two functional parts: a body portion and a retention portion that can be positioned at specific locations. The retention portion engages with milled grooves on the workpiece, while the body portion provides structural support. This segmentation allows precise positioning through the engagement geometry without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms throughout the entire jaw structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Milled grooves are introduced as an intermediary feature on the workpiece that mediates the engagement between the clamp and the workpiece. These grooves work in conjunction with the retention portions to establish predetermined positions and orientations. The grooves act as a positioning interface that translates the simple engagement action into precise positioning without requiring complex clamp mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the clamp uses simple planar contact faces, then the device is easy to operate, but the piece cannot be re-locked in the same position and orientation after release
Solution Approach 1:
Milled grooves are created on the workpiece in advance as preliminary positioning features. These grooves are positioned and oriented according to the desired final positions and orientations of the workpiece. When the retention portions engage these pre-milled grooves, the workpiece is automatically positioned and oriented correctly without requiring complex adjustment or calibration operations during each clamping cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention portion is designed to replicate or copy the geometry of the milled groove it engages with. This copying relationship ensures that the engagement is repeatable and consistent across multiple clamping cycles. The retention portion effectively becomes a negative impression of the groove, ensuring identical positioning each time engagement occurs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional jaws are used without specific optimization, then the clamp is versatile for different pieces, but the jaws are not optimized for the particular piece to be worked
Solution Approach 1:
The retention portion is segmented from the jaw body and can be independently positioned at different locations on the jaw. This allows the retention portion to be configured for specific workpiece features while keeping the rest of the jaw structure standard and reusable. The segmented design enables adaptation to different pieces without requiring complete jaw redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention portion is designed with specific geometric properties (shape, size, orientation) that are locally optimized for engagement with particular groove features on the workpiece. This local optimization of the retention portion's geometry allows the jaw to be highly effective for specific piece types while the overall jaw structure remains relatively simple and potentially reusable for different applications.
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
Clamp (1) for retaining a piece (100) to be worked, which comprises a support body (2) and two jaws (3), at least one of which is movably connected to the support body (2) and is actuatable to be moved close to or away from the other jaw (3) along the movement direction (X). Moreover, the clamp (1) comprises at least one insert (5) mounted on each jaw (3) and the above inserts (5) are each provided with a retention portion (6) which is susceptible of being inserted in a corresponding first milled groove (101) substantially counter-shaped with respect to the same retention portion (6) and made on one side (102) of a piece (100) to be blocked in position. The retention portion (6) of each insert (7) has, on a first reference plane (P1), a section with a first external profile (7) extended along an arc of circumference and has, on a second reference plane (P2) transverse to the first reference plane (P1), a section with a second external tapered profile (8) that is extended, narrowing up to one end (36) thereof which has at least one point in common with the first external profile (7).