Cutting Tool Wear Tracking Using Surface Texture Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting tool management systems require special devices to form two-dimensional codes on tool surfaces, which can become unidentifiable due to wear or damage during use, making it difficult to estimate the remaining lifespan of cutting blades accurately.
Innovation Solution
A cutting tool management system that uses an individual identification camera to capture unique textures on the insert or shank part, along with a blade condition confirmation camera, to estimate the remaining lifespan without marking the tool surface with an identifier, utilizing a database to store and analyze wear performance data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a two-dimensional code is formed on the insert surface to identify the tool, then individual identification is achieved, but the code becomes unidentifiable due to wear or damage during cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification function from the blade surface (which contacts swarf) and relocates it to the seat surface (which does not contact swarf). The individual identification camera captures images of the seat surface to obtain unique identifiers, separating the identification function from the cutting function and protecting it from wear and damage.
2Reliability
If a special device is used to form two-dimensional codes on the insert, then individual identification is enabled, but the system complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical two-dimensional code forming device with an optical identification system. Instead of using a special device to create physical codes on the insert, the system uses an individual identification camera to capture images of the seat surface and extract unique identifiers through image processing, eliminating the need for complex mechanical code formation equipment.
3Loss of information
If the main surface of the insert is marked with an individual identifier, then tool identification is possible, but the marking becomes damaged or unidentifiable during cutting operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification function from the blade surface (which contacts swarf) and relocates it to the seat surface (which does not contact swarf). The individual identification camera captures images of the seat surface to obtain unique identifiers, separating the identification function from the cutting function and protecting it from wear and damage.
4Ease of manufacture
If no individual identification system is used, then the tool surface remains simple and free from markings, but the remaining lifespan of cutting blades cannot be estimated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical two-dimensional code forming device with an optical identification system. Instead of using a special device to create physical codes on the insert, the system uses an individual identification camera to capture images of the seat surface and extract unique identifiers through image processing, eliminating the need for complex mechanical code formation equipment.
Data Source
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Figure 3(a)~4(b)
AI summary
Provided is a cutting tool management system which can estimate the remaining lifespan of each cutting blade from the wear amount of the cutting tool, without requiring a special device for forming a two-dimensional code or the like near a blade part and without having to previously mark the tool surface as an individual identifier. The system includes an individual identification camera (12) for capturing a seat (Ia) of an insert attached to a tool or a shank part of a tool, a blade condition confirmation camera (56) for capturing a blade part of the insert or the tool, an individual identification database (23) in which there are stored characteristics of an image of the seat of the insert or the shank part captured by the individual identification camera in association with the tool ID, a wear performance database (24) in which there is stored wear performance data obtained from the image of the blade part of the insert or the tool captured by the blade condition confirmation camera for each tool ID stored in the individual identification database, and a controller (21) for estimating a remaining lifespan of each tool from the wear performance data.