External Reconfigurable Surface Mold for Heat-Stable Precision Forming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-point forming equipment with built-in motors faces issues such as limited movement space, high maintenance costs, and reduced forming accuracy due to motor magnetism loss and damage from prolonged heating.
Innovation Solution
An external, numerically controlled, rapid reconfigurable surface mold is introduced, featuring an external shape-adjusting component with a motor outside the mold box, allowing for increased movement space, reduced maintenance complexity, and improved forming accuracy by separating the motor from the heating process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a built-in motor is used in each basic body unit, then the forming equipment can achieve automatic shape adjustment, but the movement space of the basic body unit is limited and operation space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is extracted from the basic body unit and relocated to an external position. The patent uses an external motor that drives the basic body units through a transmission mechanism, separating the actuation function from the forming elements. This extraction resolves the contradiction by providing automatic control while freeing up the limited space within each basic body unit for actual forming operations.
2Measurement precision
If a built-in motor is used in each basic body unit, then the forming equipment can achieve precise control, but long-term heating causes motor magnetism loss and damage, affecting forming accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is extracted from the heating environment by positioning it externally to the mold box. The patent employs an external motor that operates outside the heated zone, connected to the basic body units through a transmission mechanism. This separation protects the motor's magnetic components from thermal degradation while maintaining precise control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A transmission mechanism acts as an intermediary between the external motor and the basic body units. This mediator transfers the motor's rotational motion to the forming elements without requiring the motor to be in direct contact with the heated material, thus protecting the motor from thermal damage while maintaining control precision.
3Ease of repair
If a built-in fixed module is used instead of motor, then equipment maintenance cost is reduced, but the mold needs to be re-made to match the module when processing different materials or shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The external motor and transmission mechanism provide a universal actuation system that can control multiple different basic body unit configurations. The patent designs the basic body units as interchangeable modules that can be arranged in various patterns to accommodate different forming requirements, while the external motor system remains constant and adaptable to all configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic, adjustable basic body units that can be repositioned and reconfigured based on different forming requirements. The external motor provides flexible control that can adapt to various mold configurations without requiring physical changes to the motor itself, enabling versatility while maintaining ease of maintenance.
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 external mold design enhances movement space, reduces maintenance costs, improves equipment stability, and increases forming accuracy, enabling wider processing ranges for both sheet metal and composite materials.
Implementation Method 1
an output end of the motor is coaxially connected with an upper end of the height-regulating rod
Implementation Method 2
under an action of a force of the lower end of the height-regulating rod, the height between the upper end of the basic body unit and the lower end of the basic body unit is adjusted
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an external, numerically controlled, rapid reconfigurable surface mold and forming method thereof In this mold, an external shape-adjusting component is composed of a height-regulating rod, a motor, and a sliding guide rail module. The height-regulating rod is connected to the sliding guide rail module, and the motor is coaxially connected to the height-regulating rod. In addition, the molding module consists of a plurality of basic body units with the same structure, the lower end of the basic body unit is installed in the mold box, the upper end of the basic body unit is matched with the lower end of the height-regulating rod, and the height of the basic body unit is adjustable. Subsequently, in the forming method, driven by the motor and under the action of the force of the lower end of the height-regulating rod, the height-regulating rod moves above the basic body units.