Dovetail Cutting Insert Mounting for Anti-Slip Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cutting inserts experience displacement and orientation changes due to high forces during machining operations, leading to precision issues in machining processes.

Innovation Solution

A cutting insert with a dovetail anti-slip arrangement featuring non-parallel dovetail portions forming acute angles with the base surface, providing both clamping and lateral anti-slippage functions, allowing for secure positioning without the need for large screw holes or complex constructions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cutting inserts are secured to a machine tool using conventional clamping methods, then the cutting insert can be held in place, but high forces during machining operations cause displacement or change of orientation of the cutting insert

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning stabilityVSAvoidinsert orientation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting insert employs asymmetric dovetail portions with different lengths and angles on opposite sides. The first dovetail portion has a first angle and the second dovetail portion has a second angle different from the first, creating an asymmetric geometry that prevents both lateral displacement and rotational movement, thereby maintaining insert orientation under high machining forces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from conventional single-plane clamping to a multi-dimensional constraint system using dovetail portions that engage in both lateral and rotational dimensions. The non-parallel dovetail portions create constraints in multiple directions simultaneously, preventing displacement and orientation changes through geometric interlocking in three-dimensional space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Force

If large screw holes are used to secure the cutting insert, then the clamping force can be increased, but the structural strength and weight of the cutting insert are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping forceVSAvoidinsert structural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the clamping function from the cutting insert body by using external tool surfaces and a clamp to provide the clamping force. The cutting insert itself only needs to provide the dovetail anti-slip arrangement, eliminating the need for large screw holes and complex internal clamping structures, thereby preserving structural strength and reducing weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the clamping function with the tool rather than the insert. The tool's clamp and base surface provide the clamping force, while the insert's dovetail portions provide the anti-slip constraint. This separation allows the insert to maintain a solid, strong construction without compromising clamping capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If complex constructions are used to prevent slippage, then the positioning accuracy can be maintained, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidanti-slip arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses parameter changes in the dovetail geometry (different angles, lengths, and orientations of the dovetail portions) to achieve precise positioning and anti-slip functionality. By optimizing these geometric parameters, the system maintains positioning accuracy under high forces without requiring complex mechanical structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the cutting insert itself the active clamping element, the invention inverts the approach by making the tool the active clamping element and the insert the passive constrained element. The insert's dovetail portions are designed to be constrained by the tool's clamp, simplifying the insert construction while maintaining positioning accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3079849B1Cutting insert having a dovetail Anti-slip arrangement
Publication Date: 2021.12.29 ISCAR LTD
  • EP3079849B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3079849B1 patent drawingFigure 1D~2
  • EP3079849B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

A cutting insert has a dovetail anti-slip arrangement for securing the cutting insert to a machine tool. The anti-slip arrangement includes first and second insert abutment surfaces having dovetail portions, each of which form an external and acute dovetail angle with an insert base surface. The dovetail portions are configured with one or more geometric features related to a cutting edge geometry of the cutting insert.