Clamping Device for Cutting Inserts with Segmented Thrust Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping devices for mechanical attachment tools, such as cutting inserts, suffer from non-uniform force distribution, leading to tool instability, frequent breakages, and inaccurate positioning, resulting in poor work quality and increased downtime for replacement and calibration.
Innovation Solution
A clamping device with a screw having a larger transverse size than the tool's through hole, allowing stable abutment on the tool's upper surface, combined with an anchoring member and thrust mechanism, ensures precise and stable positioning by guiding the screw in a first attachment direction and inducing a second positioning direction to correct errors, preventing tool lifting and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional clamping device with a lever and screw is used to clamp a cutting insert, then the cutting insert can be attached to the tool-bearing head, but the force distribution becomes non-uniform causing the working top to lift, resulting in poor work quality and frequent breakages
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping device is segmented into multiple functional components: a clamping screw for axial attachment, a lever element pivoting on a fulcrum for force amplification, and a thrust means (screw or cam) for positioning. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, ensuring uniform force distribution and preventing tool lifting while maintaining work quality.
2Ease of operation
If a rotating pin with truncated-conical end is used for clamping, then the cutting insert can be clamped in the insertion seating, but the device lacks stability and reliability because the pin rotates and the collar abuts at a point rather than a surface
Solution Approach 1:
The lever element is designed to pivot dynamically on a fulcrum during the clamping operation. As the clamping screw is tightened, the lever rotates around the fulcrum, dynamically adjusting the clamping force and positioning the tool. This dynamic mechanism ensures stable and reliable support while maintaining ease of operation, eliminating the rotation problem of the pin-based system.
3Reliability
If a clamping device with multiple screws is used to attach the tool, then the tool can be secured to the support seating, but univocal and precise positioning is not achieved, leading to operative disadvantages
Solution Approach 1:
The lever element acts as an intermediary between the clamping screw and the tool. It translates the axial motion of the clamping screw into both clamping force and positioning action. The fulcrum serves as a precise pivot point that ensures the lever moves in a controlled manner, achieving univocal and precise positioning of the tool in the support seating while maintaining secure attachment.
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 provides stable and precise clamping, reducing tool breakages and wear, ensuring consistent work quality and minimizing interruptions due to replacement and calibration, while simplifying construction and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a screw having a larger transverse size than the biggest transverse size of a through hole developed along a longitudinal axis substantially in correspondence with a center of the tool
Implementation Method 2
The lever element comprises a fulcrum, a clamping hole for the clamping screw, and an external surface able to pivot with a contrasting surface made in the shape of a step in the cavity
Implementation Method 3
there is also a thrust means, with a screw or a cam for example, able to induce an action on the lever element, and therefore on the tool, in a second positioning direction different from the first attachment direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Clamping device (10) to clamp a mechanical attachment tool (11) on a tool-bearing head (12) comprising a support seating (13) in which said tool (11) is disposed. The device (10) comprises a through hole (15), and clamping members (18) disposed through the through hole (15), which act on the tool (11) in a first attachment direction (F), in order to consolidate the positioning of the tool (11) in the support seating (13). The device (10) also comprises an anchoring member (16) disposed in a relative cavity (19) made in the tool-bearing head (12) and communicating with the support seating (13). The anchoring member (16) is provided with a clamping seating (21) inside which, during use, the clamping members (18) are disposed, and with an external surface (22) which cooperates with a contrasting surface (23, 25, 26) provided inside the cavity (19), in order to generate a direct action on the clamping members (18) such as to determine a consequent thrust on the tool (11) in a second positioning direction (G), different from the first attachment direction (F).