Drilling Machine Feed Screw Alignment for Accurate Ram Feeding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drilling machines face challenges in manufacturing ease and feeding accuracy.

Innovation Solution

The drilling machine design includes a spindle, spindle motor, box-shaped frame with linear motion guide support, slider, feed screw, and feed motor, featuring a spline shaft and spline hole for precise alignment and adjustment, allowing for easy manufacturing and high feeding accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional drilling machine structure is used, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but feeding accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is divided into multiple support plates (linear motion guide support plate, motor support portion, ram support plate) with specific height relationships. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and assembled independently, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining the precision required for high feeding accuracy through the reference surface and guide alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reference surface is manufactured by cutting on the linear motion guide support plate before assembling other components. This preliminary action establishes a precise baseline for positioning the linear motion guide and other components, ensuring high feeding accuracy is achieved through pre-established geometric relationships rather than complex post-assembly adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If complex alignment adjustments are made, then feeding accuracy is improved, but manufacturing ease deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The slider height is designed to be substantially the same as the motor support portion height, creating an equipotential relationship that simplifies alignment. This height equivalence eliminates the need for complex angular adjustments and ensures natural parallelism between the screw shaft and linear motion guide, achieving high feeding accuracy through geometric design rather than complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Solution Approach 2:

The height parameter of the ram support plate is specifically set to be lower than the motor support portion, while the slider height matches the motor support portion. This parameter change creates a built-in alignment system where the reference surface and component heights work together to ensure the screw shaft is parallel to the linear motion guide, achieving high precision through parameter optimization rather than complex adjustment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design enables easy manufacturing and maintains high feeding accuracy, with the adjustment jig ensuring the screw shaft is parallel to the linear motion guide, reducing manufacturing complexity and improving processing precision.

Implementation Method 1

a linear motion guide disposed on the reference surface; a slider having a nut mounting hole at an upper portion, the slider having a lower end connected to the linear motion guide configured to reciprocate along the linear motion guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLinear motion guide:

Implementation Method 2

a feed screw including a screw shaft having a rear end supported by the motor support portion and a front end that is a free end, the screw shaft disposed above the ram, and a nut fastened to the nut mounting hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP3991894A1Drilling machine
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 SUGINO MACHINE
  • EP3991894A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3991894A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3991894A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The drilling machine includes a spindle (31), a spindle motor (41), a frame (11) including, a linear motion guide support plate (11a), a motor support portion (11c), and a ram support plate (11b) disposed at a front end of the linear motion guide support plate (11a), and having a height lower than the motor support portion (11c), a linear motion guide (15) disposed on the reference surface (llg), a slider (17) having a nut mounting hole (17b) to reciprocate along the linear motion guide (15), and having a height substantially the same as the motor support portion (11c), a ram (27) penetrating the first ram guide hole (11f), a feed screw (19) including a screw shaft (19a) having a rear end supported by the motor support portion (11c) and a front end that is a free end, and a nut (19b) fastened to the nut mounting hole (17b); and a feed motor (25) connected to the screw shaft (19a).