Drill Jig Alignment Assembly for Accurate Multi-Hole Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drill stencils wear out quickly, provide low accuracy and precision, and are time-consuming for drilling multiple holes in a workpiece, due to their material limitations and inability to maintain consistent hole alignment.
Innovation Solution
A drill jig system with an edge alignment guide, hole spacing assembly, biasing members, and an actuator that allows for precise alignment and spacing of holes, reducing wear and improving ergonomics, featuring adjustable components and a rigid body design for enhanced accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a drill stencil is used to mark hole positions, then hole spacing can be established, but the stencil wears out quickly and loses accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional drill stencil (which requires manual positioning and marking) with a mechanical drill guide system that physically constrains the drill bit to predetermined positions. The guide assembly with adjustable positioning mechanisms eliminates the need for stencils, directly addressing the wear and accuracy loss problems by using durable mechanical components instead of consumable marking tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a drill guide assembly as an intermediary device between the workpiece and the drill bit. This guide assembly includes positioning mechanisms and physical guides that mediate the hole drilling process, ensuring accurate hole spacing without requiring direct contact between the drill bit and a wearing stencil. The intermediary guide protects the accuracy over time through robust mechanical construction.
2Measurement precision
If a drill stencil is used to mark hole positions, then hole positions can be indicated, but the degree of accuracy and precision is very low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual stencil-based positioning system with a mechanical drill guide system that provides both positioning and angular guidance. The guide assembly includes features that physically constrain the drill bit to the correct angle and position, eliminating the imprecision inherent in stencil methods where users must manually align and mark hole locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The drill guide assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it positions the drill bit at accurate locations, maintains correct bore angles, and provides repeatability across multiple holes. This multi-functional mechanical system addresses both position accuracy and angle precision in a single integrated device, overcoming the limitations of single-function stencils.
3Productivity
If a drill stencil is used to mark multiple holes, then hole positions can be marked, but the process is relatively time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates preliminary action by pre-configuring the drill guide assembly with predetermined hole positions and spacing before the drilling operation begins. The adjustable positioning mechanisms are set in advance, and the physical guides are in place to direct the drill bit, eliminating the time-consuming steps of manually positioning and marking each hole location during the drilling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical drill guide system replaces the time-consuming manual stencil process with an automated-guided system. The guide assembly physically directs the drill bit to each hole location in sequence, eliminating the repeated manual operations of aligning, marking, and verifying positions that characterize stencil-based drilling. This mechanical guidance system dramatically reduces the time required to achieve accurate multiple-hole drilling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The drill jig system enables quick, precise, and consistent drilling of multiple holes with reduced wear and effort, maintaining high accuracy and precision over time, and can be adapted for various drill presses and workpiece materials.
Implementation Method 1
a first biasing member coupled to the hole-spacing assembly and operative to exert a force on the hole-spacing assembly in a direction parallel to the second straight line
Data Source
AI summary
A novel drill jig includes an edge alignment guide, a hole-spacing assembly, a second guide, a biasing member, and an actuator. The edge alignment guide is configured to abut an edge of a workpiece to facilitate movement of the workpiece along a first straight line. The hole-spacing assembly includes a protrusion disposed to engage a preexisting hole in a workpiece positioned by the edge alignment guide. The second guide is coupled to the hole-spacing assembly and is configured to facilitate movement of the hole-spacing assembly along a second straight line perpendicular to the first straight line. The first biasing member is coupled to the hole-spacing assembly and is operative to exert a force on the hole-spacing assembly in a direction parallel to the second straight line. An actuator moves the hole-spacing assembly along the second straight line via the first biasing member.