Cutting Oil Supply by Workpiece Cutting Time and Tank Level

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for supplying cutting oil to machine tools do not adequately account for the varying quantities needed for different types of work pieces, leading to inefficiencies and potential machine tool stoppages due to insufficient oil levels.

Innovation Solution

A method is implemented to set specific cutting times and oil quantities for each work piece, ensuring continuous supply by maintaining a minimum reference quantity in the cutting-oil tank, with adjustments made based on inequalities and formulas to prevent oil depletion and overflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If cutting oil is supplied in a fixed quantity to the cutting-oil tank, then the supply method is simple, but the cutting oil may be depleted when cutting work pieces that require larger quantities, causing machine tool stoppages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupply method simplicityVSAvoidcontinuous operation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting oil supply quantity is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control unit adjusts the supply quantity based on the type of work piece being cut, selecting from multiple predetermined quantities. This dynamic adjustment ensures sufficient oil supply for different work piece requirements while maintaining automated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The supply quantity parameter is changed according to work piece type. The system stores multiple supply quantity values in memory and selects the appropriate value based on the work piece type, allowing the supply parameter to adapt to different cutting requirements without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If cutting oil supply quantity is increased to prevent depletion, then continuous operation is maintained, but the cutting-oil tank may overflow when cutting work pieces that require smaller quantities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operation capabilityVSAvoidcutting oil quantity control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The supply quantity is dynamically adjusted based on work piece type rather than using a fixed high quantity. The control unit selects from multiple predetermined quantities stored in memory, increasing supply for work pieces requiring more oil and decreasing supply for those requiring less, thereby preventing both depletion and overflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The supply quantity parameter is changed according to work piece type. By storing multiple supply quantity values and selecting the appropriate one based on the work piece type, the system optimizes the oil quantity to match actual consumption requirements, preventing both depletion and overflow conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If manual monitoring of cutting oil levels is performed, then oil depletion can be detected, but work efficiency decreases due to required operator intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil level monitoringVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-monitoring and self-supply of cutting oil. The control unit automatically detects when the cutting oil quantity in the tank falls below a predetermined level and autonomously supplies additional oil from the cutting oil supply unit, eliminating the need for manual monitoring and maintaining continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements automatic feedback control for cutting oil quantity. The control unit continuously monitors the oil level in the tank and, when it drops below a predetermined threshold, automatically triggers the supply mechanism to replenish the oil, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains optimal oil levels without operator intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Manufacturing precision

If different supply quantities are used for different work piece types, then optimal cutting performance is achieved, but the control system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting performance optimizationVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple supply quantity values are predetermined and stored in the control unit's memory before cutting operations begin. When a work piece is loaded, the operator inputs the work piece type, and the control unit automatically retrieves and applies the corresponding predetermined supply quantity, eliminating the need for complex real-time calculations while achieving optimized supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The supply quantity parameter is changed based on work piece type through a lookup mechanism. The control unit stores multiple supply quantity values corresponding to different work piece types and automatically selects the appropriate value based on operator input, providing optimized control without requiring complex computational algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10946490B2Method for supplying cutting oil
Publication Date: 2021.03.16 MATSUURA MACHINERY CO LTD
  • US10946490B2 patent drawing
  • US10946490B2 patent drawing
  • US10946490B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for supplying cutting oil which is able to attain the above object by adopting the following processes in a machine tool for cutting work pieces.a. setting of individual cutting times to each work piece and selection of cutting oil to be used,b. setting of a quantity of the cutting oil supplied per unit time to a cutting area where the cutting oil selected by the process a is used,c. supplying the cutting oil to a cutting-oil tank, with a state kept that the cutting oil remains in the cutting-oil tank, andd. supplying the cutting oil to the cutting area on cutting each of the work pieces by setting a quantity of the cutting oil as a quantity obtained by multiplying individual cutting times according to the process a with a cutting quantity per individual unit times according to the process b.