Cup Grindstone Machine Tool for Convex Spherical Grinding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional honing machines for grinding convex spherical surfaces are expensive and have complex structures, leading to high manufacturing costs and inefficient machining due to their complicated operations, making them unsuitable for small production quantities.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool comprising a workpiece spindle unit, tool spindle unit, first-axis and second-axis movement mechanisms, and a controller to efficiently grind convex spherical surfaces using a simple configuration with a cup grindstone, allowing for low-cost production and efficient machining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a dedicated honing machine with complex swing mechanisms is used to grind convex spherical surfaces, then machining precision can be maintained, but device complexity and equipment cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential grinding function from the complex honing machine by removing unnecessary swing mechanisms and uncoupling devices. The simplified machine tool uses a basic lathe structure with a single-point diamond tool that can grind convex spherical surfaces through controlled linear movements, eliminating over-engineering while maintaining grinding precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex honing machine designed for internal cylindrical surfaces, the invention inverts the approach by using a simplified external machining setup. A single-point diamond tool on a lathe, combined with specific movement patterns of the tool and workpiece, achieves convex spherical surface grinding without requiring the original machine's complex internal geometry handling capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a dedicated honing machine with multiple swing mechanisms is used, then curved surfaces can be machined, but ease of operation decreases due to complicated mechanical operations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes a standard lathe perform the specialized function of convex spherical surface grinding through a programmable control system. The controller coordinates the main spindle rotation, feed movement, and tool positioning to achieve spherical grinding, allowing a universal machine tool to perform what was previously considered a specialized operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical swing mechanisms with a controller-based system. Instead of mechanical linkages and swing arms, the control system programmatically coordinates linear feed movements with rotational movements to generate the spherical surface, substituting mechanical complexity with programmable control logic that is easier to operate and adjust.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simplified machine tool configuration is used to reduce equipment cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but machining efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex mechanical mechanisms with a controller-based coordination system that efficiently manages the simplified hardware. The controller optimizes the motion paths and speeds of the spindle and feed mechanisms, ensuring that the simplified machine tool achieves machining efficiency comparable to or exceeding that of complex dedicated machines through intelligent control rather than mechanical complexity.
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 machine tool achieves efficient grinding with a simple mechanical operation, reducing equipment costs and maintaining machining accuracy by monitoring grindstone wear and coolant distribution, thus being suitable for small production runs.
Implementation Method 1
grinding the workpiece held by the workpiece spindle with the cup grindstone held by the tool spindle
Data Source
AI summary
A machine tool includes a workpiece spindle unit (15) including a workpiece spindle (17) and a workpiece spindle motor (20) and includes a tool spindle unit (25) including a tool spindle (27) and a tool spindle motor. The machine tool further includes a first-axis movement mechanism (6) and a second-axis movement mechanism (9) relatively moving, in a plane including an axis of the workpiece spindle (17) and an axis of the tool spindle (27), the workpiece spindle unit (15) and the tool spindle unit (25) in a first axis direction and a second axis direction intersecting the first axis direction, respectively, and further includes a controller. The tool spindle unit (25) is arranged such that the axis of the tool spindle (27) intersects the axis of the workpiece spindle (17). The controller relatively moves the workpiece spindle unit (15) and the tool spindle unit (25) along the axis of the tool spindle (27) through combined operation of the first-axis movement mechanism (6) and second-axis movement mechanism (9), thereby grinding a workpiece (W) with a cup grindstone (T).