Internal Coolant Passage Geometry for Stable CNC Tooling Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coolant passages in tooling assemblies for CNC machines are prone to missed connections and overshoot, leading to backpressure and turbulent fluid flow, which diminishes tool life.
Innovation Solution
The tooling assembly features internal passages with a stem channel and curved channels extending from the stem, with optional linear channels, designed to improve coolant flow by reducing backpressure and ensuring even distribution to cutting edges, using materials like steel, molybdenum, or cemented tungsten carbide, and incorporating transition portions with varying cross-sectional dimensions to optimize fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If straight uniform passages are used for coolant flow, then the passage structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but missed connections and overshoot occur causing backpressure and turbulent fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by transitioning from straight uniform passages to curved passages with optimized radii. The curved passages eliminate sharp corners and abrupt direction changes, creating smooth transitions that prevent turbulent flow and backpressure while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through controlled curvature radii.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes geometric parameters of the coolant passages, specifically the radius of curvature and passage cross-sectional dimensions. By optimizing these parameters, the passages achieve smooth transitions that eliminate flow separation and reduce backpressure, thereby improving coolant flow stability without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
2Ease of manufacture
If straight uniform passages are used, then manufacturing process is simple, but backpressure increases and tool life diminishes
Solution Approach 1:
The curved passage design with optimized radii eliminates flow separation and reduces backpressure, ensuring consistent coolant delivery to cutting edges. This improves heat dissipation and lubrication effectiveness, thereby extending tool life while maintaining reasonable manufacturing complexity through controlled curvature.
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing passage geometric parameters including curvature radius and cross-sectional area distribution, the patent ensures uniform coolant velocity and pressure distribution. This prevents localized overheating and improves overall tool performance and longevity.
3Productivity
If curved channels with transition portions are used, then coolant flow efficiency improves and backpressure reduces, but passage structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements curved passages with specifically optimized transition portions that have controlled radii. These curved sections improve coolant flow efficiency by eliminating turbulence and backpressure, while the radii are kept within manufacturing capabilities to limit structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes geometric parameters of the curved passages, including transition portion radii and passage cross-sections, to achieve the best balance between flow efficiency and manufacturing complexity. The parameters are selected to ensure smooth flow transitions while remaining feasible for conventional manufacturing processes.
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
This design enhances coolant flow efficiency, reduces backpressure, and extends tool life by ensuring consistent coolant delivery to all cutting edges, improving machining performance in both MQL and fluid cooling applications.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant fluid (e.g., liquid and/or gas) is routed through internal passages to each cutting edge to prevent material buildup and control temperature
Implementation Method 2
control temperature
Implementation Method 3
a minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) machine uses a combination of lubricant and compressed air to coat the interface of the tooling assembly with a thin film to prevent heat buildup through friction reduction
Implementation Method 4
friction between the two components can generate heat
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed toward a tooling assembly for a machine having an automatic tool changing system. The tooling assembly includes a holder, a tool body, and an internal passage defined within and extending through the holder and the tool body. The holder includes a machine interface configured to engage with a spindle of the machine. The internal passage is operable to have a coolant fluid flow within, and has a stem channel and a curved channel extending from the stem channel.