Concave Chip Former for Controlled Threading Chip Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chip breakers with straight-edge inclined faces often result in material strings that wrap around or get stuck on the lathe, causing lost machine time, reduced tool life, and safety hazards due to their unpredictable direction and accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A chip former with a body featuring a concave geometry on its front side, designed to direct and accumulate material coming off a workpiece, preventing it from wrapping around the lathe by forming a controlled 'pig tail' that falls off due to its weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a straight-edge inclined face chip breaker is used, then the chip breaking function is provided, but the material stringer goes wildly in any direction and wraps around the threading bar
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing the straight-edge inclined face with a concave curved surface. This concave geometry guides the material stringer along a controlled path, preventing it from wrapping around the threading bar. The curved surface naturally directs the chip flow in a predictable manner, eliminating the wild directional behavior caused by straight edges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional aspect by adding depth to the chip breaker surface, creating a concave pocket or groove. This transforms the traditional two-dimensional flat surface into a three-dimensional structured surface that can contain and direct chips along a specific trajectory, adding spatial control over chip evacuation.
2Productivity
If conventional chip breakers are used, then threading operation is performed, but machine time is lost due to stringer accumulation and operator intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The concave geometry design enables self-service by allowing chips to accumulate naturally within the concave structure and then self-eject when full. The design eliminates the need for continuous operator intervention to remove chips, as the geometry itself facilitates automatic chip containment and periodic discharge, making the system self-regulating.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional chip breakers are used, then threading is performed, but tool life is reduced due to chip entanglement and insert chipping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful factor of chaotic chip motion by removing it from the threading zone. The concave chip breaker isolates chip accumulation to a specific containment area, separating the chip flow path from the threading insert. This extraction of chips from the critical zone prevents them from contacting and damaging the insert.
4Productivity
If conventional chip breakers are used, then material is cut from workpiece, but safety hazard exists due to whipping material stringer
Solution Approach 1:
The concave curved surface provides a controlled path for the material stringer, containing it within a predictable trajectory. This curvature prevents the stringer from whipping uncontrollably and projecting toward the operator, thereby eliminating the safety hazard while maintaining continuous material cutting capability.
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 chip former effectively directs and contains the material string, reducing machine downtime, extending tool life, and enhancing operator safety by preventing material accumulation and entanglement, allowing for smoother and safer operation.
Implementation Method 1
The chip former effectively directs and contains the material string, reducing machine downtime, extending tool life, and enhancing operator safety by preventing material accumulation and entanglement, allowing for smoother and safer operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A chip former for directing material cut from a workpiece. The chip former having a body with a top side, a bottom side, a front side, and a back side. The front side consists of a surface forming a wall with a section of the surface having a concave geometry configured to direct material that comes off a workpiece. A method for directing material cut from a workpiece.