Cutting Blade Handling Aid for Precision Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cutting blades for chip-removing tools, especially those smaller than 10 mm, are difficult to handle and position correctly due to their small size and challenging assembly conditions, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.

Innovation Solution

A cutting blade is connected to a blade holder via a predetermined breaking point, allowing for easy insertion and anchoring into a tool, with the blade holder breaking off once the blade is securely positioned, ensuring correct placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If cutting blades are made smaller to achieve finer cutting precision, then cutting precision is improved, but handling difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting precisionVSAvoidhandling difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting blade system is segmented into two functional parts: the cutting blade itself and the blade holder. The holder serves as a handling aid that facilitates insertion and positioning, while the blade performs the cutting function. This segmentation allows the blade to be small for precision work while the holder provides ease of handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blade holder acts as an intermediary between the operator's hand and the small cutting blade. It provides a convenient grip and manipulation interface, making it easy to handle and position small blades (1.9 mm to 5 mm) without directly handling the blade itself, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining cutting precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If cutting blades are made smaller for precision work, then cutting precision is improved, but assembly difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting precisionVSAvoidassembly difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The blade holder is pre-attached to the cutting blade at a predetermined breaking point before insertion into the tool. This preliminary assembly creates a unified structure that is easy to handle and insert as a single unit, significantly simplifying the assembly process compared to handling and positioning a small blade separately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The assembly process is segmented into two simple steps: insertion of the blade-with-holder assembly, and subsequent breaking off of the holder. This segmentation transforms a complex precision assembly task into two straightforward operations, improving ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If a handling aid is attached to the cutting blade, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling easeVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade holder is designed as a disposable component that is attached to the blade, used for insertion and positioning, and then broken off. This temporary handling aid simplifies the overall device structure because it does not require complex retention mechanisms - the holder itself serves as the insertion tool and is discarded after use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The handling function is extracted from the permanent tool structure and embodied in the separate, removable blade holder. This extraction allows the main tool to remain simple while the holder provides the necessary handling capabilities during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Manufacturing precision

If the blade holder is broken off after insertion, then assembly precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The blade holder contains a predetermined breaking point with reduced cross-sectional area and strength. During insertion, this weakened section breaks at a specific location (e.g., at the insertion opening or slightly beyond), ensuring the blade is precisely positioned within the tool recess. This parameter change creates a self-positioning mechanism that improves assembly precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The blade holder's breaking mechanism is self-actuating during the insertion process. The act of inserting the holder into the tool recess automatically stresses and breaks the predetermined section, positioning the blade correctly without requiring additional adjustment or positioning steps. This self-service mechanism simplifies the overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2208566B1Cutting tool with a machining cutting blade and method for attaching said cutting blade in said cutting tool
Publication Date: 2019.02.13 HEULE WERKZEUG
  • EP2208566B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2208566B1 patent drawingFigure 3~7

AI summary

Cutting blade (9) for chip-removing cutting tools that are difficult to manipulate by hand, which is held replaceably in a blade window (14) of a rotating tool shaft of a base body, wherein at least one blade holder (10) serving for handling is attached to the cutting blade (9) via a predetermined breaking point (13), which is broken off to put the tool shaft into use.