Collet Chuck Spindle with Integrated Air-Lubricant Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collet chuck maintenance processes in machine tools are time-consuming, unreliable, and pose health risks due to manual handling and the use of harmful chemicals, leading to inconsistent quality and increased risk of tool failure.
Innovation Solution
A spindle system with integrated lubricant and compressed air supply, a maintenance tool, and a method for automated maintenance that includes a collet chuck design allowing for automated lubrication and cleaning, reducing manual intervention and ensuring consistent maintenance through controlled lubricant and air distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual maintenance with chemical cleansers and brushes is used, then cleaning can be performed, but health risks increase and maintenance quality becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning (brushes and chemical applicators) with an automated maintenance tool that uses compressed air and controlled lubricant application. The automated tool delivers cleaning media through a nozzle system, eliminating direct human contact with harmful chemicals while ensuring consistent application parameters through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The collet chuck maintenance system performs its own cleaning and lubrication through an automated tool that is inserted into the collet chuck. The system uses internally stored compressed air and lubricant to clean and lubricate the clamping surfaces without requiring external manual intervention or harmful chemical cleansers.
2Productivity
If manual maintenance is performed, then cleaning and lubrication can be applied, but maintenance time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual maintenance operations with an automated maintenance tool that can be quickly inserted into the collet chuck and executed through automated sequences. The automated system performs cleaning, drying, and lubrication in rapid succession without the setup and execution time required for manual operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated maintenance system performs cleaning, drying, and lubrication operations in continuous sequence without interruption. Compressed air removes contaminants, immediately dries surfaces, and lubricant is applied in a continuous automated process, eliminating the downtime associated with manual maintenance steps.
3Manufacturing precision
If aggressive chemical cleansers are used, then contamination can be removed, but deposits may be driven deeper into the collet chuck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces aggressive chemical cleansers with compressed air for contaminant removal. The high-velocity air stream effectively removes chips and drilling dust from contact surfaces through pneumatic force, avoiding the penetration issue associated with liquid chemicals while achieving equivalent or superior cleaning results.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance system uses compressed air delivered through a nozzle to clean and dry the collet chuck clamping surfaces. The pneumatic system removes contaminants and moisture without driving deposits deeper into the structure, and subsequently applies lubricant to protect the cleaned surfaces.
4Reliability
If chemical lubricants are applied manually, then lubrication can be achieved, but the lubricating film may be degraded by chemical cleansers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual chemical lubricant application with automated lubricant delivery through the maintenance tool. The system applies lubricant only after the compressed air drying phase, ensuring that no chemical cleanser remains to degrade the lubricating film. The automated control sequence prevents harmful chemical-lubricant interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance system performs preliminary cleaning and drying operations with compressed air before applying lubricant. This preliminary action removes all contaminants and moisture that would otherwise interfere with lubricant adhesion and film formation, ensuring optimal lubricating film integrity from the start.
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 enables efficient, automated, and repeatable maintenance of collet chucks, improving tool reliability, reducing downtime, and ensuring consistent precision in machining operations by maintaining clean and lubricated contact surfaces, thus enhancing the overall performance and longevity of machine tools.
Implementation Method 1
the shank element (110) is arranged so that it can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the spindle by a compressed air supply that takes place via the at least one additional compressed air inlet
Implementation Method 2
the connecting plate is set up to supply the compressed air as well as the lubricant to the through hole (113) of the shank element (110)
Implementation Method 3
supplying compressed air and/or lubricant via a through hole (113) of a shank element (110) of a spindle (1) into the collet chuck (200)
Implementation Method 4
ensuring consistent precision in machining operations by maintaining clean and lubricated contact surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a spindle (1) of a machine tool, in particular a machine tool for machining workpieces, as well as to other components of a machine tool for in particular automatedly maintaining and cleaning collet chucks. To this end, the spindle (1) has a connecting plate (100) for connecting the spindle (1) to a compressed air unit and a lubricant supply of a machine tool, a shank element (110) that can be displaced in the longitudinal direction (L) of the spindle (1) and is mounted in the connecting plate (100) of the spindle (1), as well as a spindle shank (121) that can be rotated in the circumferential direction (U) of the spindle (1), with a connecting piece (124) for connecting a connecting element (202) of a collet chuck (200) set up to receive a processing tool or a maintenance tool (300) to the spindle. The shank element (110) has a through hole (113) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the spindle (1), wherein the connecting plate (100) has a lubricant inlet (105) for connection to the lubricant supply, and at least one separate compressed air inlet (104) for connection to the compressed air unit. The connecting plate is set up to fluidically connect the through hole (113) of the shank element (110) to the at least one compressed air inlet (104) as well as the lubricant inlet (105).