Curved Part Machining Rollers With Adjustable Cutting Depth

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing manufacturing processes struggle to achieve tight profile tolerances on curved parts, often resulting in undesirable manufacturing artifacts that require manual rework, which is laborious, time-consuming, and imprecise.

Innovation Solution

A system for surface machining of curved parts, comprising a chassis with rollers and a cutting tool, where the distance between the cutting tool and the chassis is adjustable, allowing for precise removal of material to conform to desired curvature or surface profile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If known manufacturing processes are used to machine curved parts, then production can proceed with standard equipment, but tight profile tolerances cannot be achieved and manufacturing artifacts are created

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile toleranceVSAvoidsurface quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamic adjustment of the cutting tool position relative to the chassis, allowing real-time adaptation to varying surface curvatures. The distance between the cutting tool and chassis is adjustable, enabling the system to maintain optimal cutting conditions across different locations on the curved part, thereby achieving tight profile tolerances that static systems cannot accomplish.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the machining system by adjusting the distance between the cutting tool and chassis. This parameter adjustment allows the system to conform to different curvatures and achieve the desired surface profile tolerances. The rollers' contact points and the cutting tool's position are variable parameters that adapt to the workpiece geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If manual rework is performed to remove manufacturing artifacts, then surface quality can be improved, but labor time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface qualityVSAvoidrework time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The machining system is designed to automatically produce surfaces that meet the required tolerance specifications without requiring subsequent manual intervention. By incorporating adjustable cutting tool positioning and roller support mechanisms, the system self-adjusts to achieve the desired surface quality, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual rework operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs the machining operation in a single pass with properly adjusted parameters, preparing the surface to the final required quality before assembly. The adjustable cutting tool and roller configuration enable the system to anticipate and compensate for surface variations during the initial machining, preventing the formation of artifacts that would require later removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If manual rework is used to achieve desired tolerance, then surface quality can be improved, but worker ergonomics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface qualityVSAvoidworker ergonomics
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces manual mechanical rework operations with an automated machining system. The adjustable cutting tool and roller assembly automatically perform the precision machining task, substituting human physical effort with a controlled mechanical system. This eliminates ergonomic issues associated with manual rework while maintaining or improving surface quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Manufacturing precision

If the cutting tool distance to chassis is fixed, then the system structure is simpler, but it cannot adapt to different curvatures and achieve tight tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprofile toleranceVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates dynamic adjustability in the cutting tool positioning mechanism, allowing the distance between the cutting tool and chassis to be varied. This dynamic feature enables adaptation to different curvatures and tolerance requirements without fundamentally changing the overall system architecture. The adjustability is achieved through controlled mechanisms that maintain system coherence while providing necessary flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4537977A1System for surface machining a curved part
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 THE BOEING CO
  • EP4537977A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4537977A1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4537977A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A system for surface machining of a preferably curved part, the system including a chassis, a first and second roller, and a cutting tool. The first and second rollers each being coupled to the chassis and configured to contact the surface of a curved part. The cutting tool is disposed between the first and second rollers and coupled to the chassis such that a distance between the cutting tool and the chassis is adjustable. (Fig. 5)