Elastic Hose Cooling for Fast-Tool Servo Lathe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fast tool lathes face challenges in ensuring reliable and precise delivery of liquid cooling lubricant to the cutting edge of turning tools during oscillating movements, particularly when machining non-round plastic spectacle lenses, leading to insufficient cooling and chip removal issues.
Innovation Solution
A cooling lubricant supply device with an elastic hose section that connects a stationary cooling lubricant source to a nozzle channel in the tool holder, allowing the lubricant jet to be directed accurately to the cutting edge, even during dynamic movements, by being longer than the clear distance between connections and running in an arc shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stationary segment hose system is used to supply cooling lubricant, then the system is simple and vibration-resistant, but the cooling lubricant jet cannot consistently reach the machining location during dynamic tool movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the hose system flexible rather than rigid. The elastic hose can dynamically adapt its shape and position to follow the oscillating tool holder movements, ensuring continuous alignment between the cooling lubricant jet and the cutting edge throughout the tool's stroke range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an elastic hose as a flexible connection between the stationary cooling lubricant source and the moving tool holder. This flexible hose can bend and deform to accommodate the dynamic movements of the tool holder while maintaining a continuous fluid pathway, solving the problem of inconsistent cooling lubricant delivery.
2Manufacturing precision
If the outlet is fixed on the housing, then the device structure is simple, but the cooling lubricant cannot be delivered precisely to the cutting edge during oscillating movements
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet is mounted on the oscillating tool holder rather than the stationary housing, allowing it to move dynamically with the tool. This ensures the cooling lubricant jet is always positioned at the correct location relative to the cutting edge throughout the oscillation cycle, achieving precise delivery despite the increased structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid hose is used to connect cooling lubricant source to tool holder, then the connection is stable, but it cannot accommodate the oscillating movements of the tool holder
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastic hose instead of a rigid hose to connect the cooling lubricant source to the oscillating tool holder. The elastic hose provides the necessary flexibility to accommodate the tool holder's oscillating movements while maintaining a stable fluid connection, preventing leakage and disconnection during dynamic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic hose system transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic flexible connection that can adapt its configuration during tool holder oscillation. This dynamic adaptation allows the hose to follow the tool's movement path while maintaining connection stability and preventing fluid loss.
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
This solution ensures consistent and optimal cooling lubricant delivery, improving surface quality, chip removal, and reducing process forces, which in turn minimizes defects and enhances the subsequent polishing process by reducing friction and wear.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic hose section (30), which is longer than a greatest clear distance between the first connection (24) and the second connection (70), runs in an arc shape, namely in a C-shape or U-shape, between them
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
A device (10) for supplying a liquid coolant to a cutting edge (12) of a turning tool (14), which is operatively connected to a Fast-Tool servo (18) via a tool holder (16) in order to perform oscillating movements in a feed direction (F) together with the tool holder, comprises a first connection (24) for a coolant source that is stationary relative to a housing (22) of the Fast-Tool servo and an outlet (28) fluidly connected to the first connection for delivering a coolant jet onto the turning tool. The outlet is provided on the tool holder and fluidly connected to the first connection via an elastic hose section (30), so that the coolant jet delivered via the outlet always strikes the cutting edge of the turning tool at a predetermined position, even during stroke movements of the tool holder.