Elastic Polishing Head for Precise Spiral Surface Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing polishing technologies for optical elements, such as aspherical lenses, face challenges in achieving high-precision polishing while maintaining a simple structure due to the complexity and increased inertia of the polishing block, which complicates precise control.

Innovation Solution

A polishing tool with a main shaft part and elastic parts that elastically deform to include axial and radial components, combined with a tool driving mechanism and control device that uses frequency signals to displace the polishing surface in a spiral motion, allowing for precise control of the polishing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple actuators (X-directional, Y-directional, Z-directional) are hung on the front end side of the polishing block, then the polishing surface can be controlled with high precision, but the polishing block becomes larger, increasing the inertia and making the structure complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing precisionVSAvoidpolishing block structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The polishing block is segmented into multiple independent actuator units, each responsible for specific directional control. The X-directional actuator, Y-directional actuator, and Z-directional actuator are positioned at different locations on the polishing block, allowing independent control of polishing surface movements in different directions. This segmentation enables precise control while distributing the structural complexity across modular components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from controlling polishing surface position to controlling polishing surface orientation and attitude. Instead of using multiple actuators to directly position the polishing surface in X, Y, and Z directions, the invention uses actuators to control the tilt angles (θx, θy) and vertical position (z) of the polishing surface, achieving precise control through a different set of degrees of freedom.

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

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple actuators are hung on the front end side of the polishing block, then the polishing surface can be controlled with high precision, but the polishing block becomes larger, increasing the inertia

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing precisionVSAvoidpolishing block mass
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the control functions from a centralized heavy polishing block structure and distributes them to multiple lighter actuator units positioned at different locations. By taking out the actuator components and positioning them separately on the polishing block rather than concentrating them on the front end, the overall mass distribution is optimized, reducing the moment of inertia while maintaining control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple actuators are hung on the front end side of the polishing block, then the polishing surface can be controlled with high precision, but various adjustments are required to control the polishing surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing precisionVSAvoidcontrol adjustment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements a unified control system that manages multiple actuators through a single controller. The controller receives polishing parameters and automatically coordinates the X-directional actuator, Y-directional actuator, and Z-directional actuator to achieve the desired polishing surface control. This multi-functional control approach eliminates the need for separate manual adjustments for each actuator, simplifying operation while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution enables high-accuracy polishing of workpieces with a simplified structure, ensuring precise control and efficient polishing processes.

Implementation Method 1

the plurality of elastic parts elastically deform and the main shaft part is displaced so as to include an axial component with respect to the polishing axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4653133A1Polishing tool, polishing head, polishing apparatus, and polishing method
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 ENABLE
  • EP4653133A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4653133A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4653133A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A polishing tool (200) for polishing a workpiece (W) by holding a polishing material between the workpiece (W) and its polishing surface, the polishing tool including: a main shaft part (210) that has the polishing surface (230) at a front end and that extends along a polishing axis (J); a plurality of elastic parts (310, 320, 330) that are continuous from the main shaft part (210) and that extend radially outward; and a plurality of seat parts (410, 420, 430) that are continuous to the radially outside of the plurality of elastic parts (310, 320, 330). A position at which the main shaft part (210) connects to each of the elastic parts (310, 320, 330) and a position at which the corresponding seat part (410, 420, 430) connects thereto are different in a direction of the polishing axis (J). As a result, when the respective seat parts (410, 420, 430) are applied with equal amounts of displacement radially by an external tool driving mechanism (140), the plurality of elastic parts (310, 320, 330) elastically deform and the main shaft part (210) is displaced along the polishing axis (J). Furthermore, when the respective seat parts (410, 420, 430) are applied with different amounts of displacement radially by the external tool driving mechanism, the main shaft part (210) is displaced along the polishing axis (J).