Face Driver Workpiece Clamping Device for Rotary Entrainment

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing workpiece clamping devices face challenges in maintaining precise rotary entrainment and concentricity during machining, especially under alternating machining forces and varying workpiece conditions, leading to potential errors in tooth quality and workpiece position changes.

Innovation Solution

A machine tool device with driver elements arranged concentrically around a central axis, adjustable for axial engagement with the workpiece end face, and coupled to an actuator for selective engagement, ensuring secure clamping and precise rotary transmission through a combination of springs and clamping elements, allowing for adaptable force distribution and attachment configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If driver elements are pressed against the workpiece end face for rotary entrainment, then secure rotary transmission is achieved, but workpiece concentricity may be compromised due to non-uniform pressing forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotary entrainment stabilityVSAvoidworkpiece concentricity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The driver elements are designed with axial adjustability, allowing their pressing force and position to be dynamically optimized. This enables the system to adapt the contact conditions between driver elements and workpiece end face, ensuring uniform force distribution that maintains workpiece concentricity while achieving secure rotary transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing force parameters of the driver elements can be adjusted and optimized. By controlling the axial position and force magnitude of each driver element, the system achieves uniform force distribution across the workpiece end face, preventing concentricity errors while maintaining reliable rotary entrainment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If driver elements are fixed in position for stable machining, then rotary position precision is maintained, but alternating machining forces cause axial shifting and position changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotary position precisionVSAvoidworkpiece position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The driver elements are designed with axial adjustability, allowing their pressing force and position to be dynamically optimized. This enables the system to adapt the contact conditions between driver elements and workpiece end face, ensuring uniform force distribution that maintains workpiece concentricity while achieving secure rotary transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing force parameters of the driver elements can be adjusted and optimized. By controlling the axial position and force magnitude of each driver element, the system achieves uniform force distribution across the workpiece end face, preventing concentricity errors while maintaining reliable rotary entrainment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If driver elements are arranged concentrically with large distance from tip for high torque, then rotary transmission capability is improved, but workpiece concentricity control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorque transmission capabilityVSAvoidworkpiece concentricity control

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The driver elements are designed with axial adjustability, allowing their pressing force and position to be dynamically optimized. This enables the system to adapt the contact conditions between driver elements and workpiece end face, ensuring uniform force distribution that maintains workpiece concentricity while achieving secure rotary transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing force parameters of the driver elements can be adjusted and optimized. By controlling the axial position and force magnitude of each driver element, the system achieves uniform force distribution across the workpiece end face, preventing concentricity errors while maintaining reliable rotary entrainment.

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 solution ensures stable rotary entrainment without clearance, maintaining precise workpiece concentricity and guiding it securely during machining, even under fluctuating forces, thereby enhancing toothing quality and preventing positional changes.

Implementation Method 1

coupled to an actuator for selective engagement of the driver elements with the end face

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The clamping element is configured to retain the driver element in engagement with the end face

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9975181B2Workpiece clamping device with face driver

Publication Date: 2018.05.22 LIEBHER VERZAHNTECHNIK GMBH

AI summary

This present disclosure relates to a device for rotary entrainment of a workpiece clamped between two tips, which is mounted on a machine table of a machine tool, consisting of a base body with a centrically arranged tip and a plurality of concentrically arranged, axially shiftable driver elements which for the rotary entrainment of the workpiece are pressed against or into an end-face surface, wherein an axial position of the driver elements can be defined by active fixation after a centering operation of the workpiece, and to a receptacle opposite the base body, for example a tip or hollow tip, which serves a guidance of an opposite side of the workpiece.