Automated Dental Milling Chuck with Translational Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing numerically controlled machines for machining dental prostheses face challenges in efficiently and safely positioning and fixing workpieces due to manual intervention required for clamping mechanisms, which increases the risk of injury and production time while also being complex and costly.
Innovation Solution
A numerically controlled machine design that automates the clamping mechanism using translational movement of the chuck, eliminating the need for manual intervention, with a locking mechanism actuated by the machine's carriage, ensuring secure fixation and easy release of the workpiece without accessories, reducing the risk of injury and simplifying production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual intervention is used to operate the locking mechanism, then the workpiece can be secured and released, but the risk of injury increases and production time is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically secure and release the workpiece through the translational movement of the chuck itself. The cam feature on the carriage automatically engages with the groove in the gripping shank during chuck translation, eliminating the need for manual operation and reducing both safety risks and production time loss
2Ease of operation
If manual operation of the locking mechanism is required, then the workpiece can be clamped, but the complexity of the mechanism increases and costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged with the existing translational movement of the chuck. The cam and groove features are integrated into the chuck and carriage structures that already exist for workpiece positioning, eliminating the need for separate manual locking mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The chuck's own translational movement performs the locking function automatically. The cam feature on the carriage and groove in the gripping shank work together through the natural movement of the chuck to secure and release the workpiece without requiring additional manual mechanisms
Data Source
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AI summary
The numerically controlled machine for machining a workpiece (1) equipped with a gripper shank comprises at least one tool-holding spindle and at least one workpiece-holding chuck carried by a carriage (21) mounted on guide rails, and movable in translation along the rails by a motor assembly, characterized in that the workpiece-holding chuck comprises: - a workpiece-holding shaft (200) the front part of which is provided with a blind bore (201) intended to receive the gripper shank of the workpiece, - a sleeve (210) engaged in translation on the front part of the workpiece-holding shaft (200), - a locking mechanism disposed in the front part of the chuck, which locking mechanism is capable of acting by clamping in the blind bore (201), on the gripper shank to ensure the fixing of the workpiece to the chuck,said locking mechanism being actuated in the tightening and loosening direction by translation of the sleeve (210) and the workpiece-carrying shaft (200) relative to each other.