Position-Aware Coolant Discharge in Machine Tools

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machine tools face issues with coolant adhesion to discharge inhibited portions, which can lead to component failure, and existing technologies do not effectively prevent this.

Innovation Solution

A machine tool system with a first discharge unit, a drive unit to adjust the relative position between the discharge unit and the inhibited portion, and a control unit to manage coolant discharge based on recognized positions to avoid adhesion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If coolant is discharged to remove chips, then chip removal efficiency is improved, but coolant adheres to discharge inhibited portions causing component failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechip removal efficiencyVSAvoidcomponent reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge port is made movable rather than fixed, allowing its position to be dynamically adjusted based on the real-time location of discharge inhibited portions. The second drive unit enables the discharge port to move to optimal positions that avoid directing coolant toward sensitive components while maintaining effective chip removal coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses camera imaging to detect the position of discharge inhibited portions and feeds this information back to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts the discharge port position accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that continuously adapts to prevent coolant adhesion while maintaining chip removal effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If the discharge port position is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but the coolant cannot avoid discharge inhibited portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge system complexityVSAvoidprotection against coolant adhesion

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge port is made movable rather than fixed, allowing its position to be dynamically adjusted based on the real-time location of discharge inhibited portions. The second drive unit enables the discharge port to move to optimal positions that avoid directing coolant toward sensitive components while maintaining effective chip removal coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses camera imaging to detect the position of discharge inhibited portions and feeds this information back to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts the discharge port position accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that continuously adapts to prevent coolant adhesion while maintaining chip removal effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4116033B1Machine tool, machine tool control method, and machine tool control program

Publication Date: 2025.06.25 DMG MORI CO LTD

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AI summary

A technique for preventing a coolant from adhering to a discharge inhibited portion is provided. A machine tool capable of machining a workpiece includes: a first discharge unit that discharges the coolant removing a chip of the workpiece; a portion inside the machine tool and to which the coolant should not be discharged; a first drive unit that changes a relative position between the first discharge unit and the portion by moving at least one of the first discharge unit and the portion; and a control unit that controls the machine tool. The control unit performs processing for recognizing a position in the machine tool of a moving object by the first drive unit between the first discharge unit and the portion, and processing for controlling the discharge of the coolant by the first discharge unit such that the coolant is not discharged to the portion based on the position recognized in the recognition processing.