Five-Axis CNC Processing of Assembled Metal Cabinets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for processing metal cabinets are limited in their ability to handle volumetric objects with complex shapes and sizes, requiring manual re-positioning and disassembly, which leads to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in creating openings and slots.
Innovation Solution
A five-coordinate CNC machine with three translational and two rotational digitally controlled axes, equipped with a laser cutting tool and drilling head, allowing for arbitrary placement and smooth movement in space, enabling precise processing of volumetric metal objects in an assembled state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual re-positioning and disassembly are used for processing metal cabinets, then the machine can process individual surfaces, but the processing time and labor intensity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from processing flat 2D surfaces to processing 3D volumetric metal cabinets by adding rotational degrees of freedom. The five-coordinate system enables the working body to access surfaces at various orientations and angles, allowing the cabinet to be processed in its assembled state without disassembly, thus resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine is designed with multi-functionality to handle both thermal cutting and drilling operations on complex 3D surfaces. The working body can perform multiple processing tasks on different surfaces of the cabinet without requiring separate machines or manual repositioning, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If manual re-positioning is performed to process different surfaces, then individual surfaces can be accessed, but processing accuracy decreases due to re-positioning errors
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing rotational axes (B and C axes) in addition to translational axes, the system can access all surfaces of the cabinet from a fixed position. This eliminates the need for manual repositioning and the associated positioning errors, while maintaining full surface accessibility through programmed rotational movements of the working body.
Solution Approach 2:
The CNC control system uses feedback from the five-coordinate system to precisely track and control the position and orientation of the working body. This ensures high accuracy in opening and slot creation by continuously monitoring and adjusting the tool position relative to the cabinet surfaces, eliminating cumulative positioning errors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional laser cutting machines are used, then flat sheet metal can be processed, but volumetric objects with complex shapes cannot be processed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the capability from 2D flat sheet processing to 3D volumetric object processing by adding two rotational degrees of freedom to the conventional three-axis system. This enables the machine to reliably process complex-shaped metal cabinets with tilted and non-flat surfaces, maintaining consistent processing capability across diverse geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine is designed as a universal processing system that can handle both flat sheets and volumetric objects with the same working body. The five-coordinate system provides the versatility to adapt to any surface geometry while maintaining reliable and consistent processing results through precise CNC control.
4Manufacturing precision
If the cabinet is disassembled for processing, then individual components can be processed accurately, but the processing time increases and labor intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The machine enables the assembled cabinet to be processed in its own state without disassembly. The five-coordinate working body can access all surfaces of the complete cabinet structure, allowing the cabinet itself to serve as the processing target rather than requiring breakdown into components, thus maintaining accuracy while dramatically improving efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing system is designed to handle both disassembled components and assembled cabinets with the same five-coordinate working body. This universality allows the machine to process the cabinet in its final assembled state, eliminating the need for disassembly and reassembly operations while maintaining the same level of processing accuracy on all surfaces.
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
Significantly reduces labor intensity and processing time for metal cabinets by enabling precise and efficient cutting of slots and holes on complex surfaces, improving accuracy and versatility in the electric industry.
Implementation Method 1
thermal cutting of holes and random contours in metal cabinets
Implementation Method 2
laser cutting of holes and random contours in metal cabinets
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention refers to a machine for 3D processing of volumetric metal objects with random shapes and sizes, in particular for thermal and/or laser cutting of holes and random contours in metal cabinets in their assembled state. The machine consist frame /1/, on the horizontally oriented beams /5/ are fixed linear guide ways, on which are placed two vertical oriented carriages /6/, wherein at their upper end the carriages /6/ are connected with a cross beam /7/ oriented toward axis X and perpendicular to axis Y, and on the cross beam /7/ are mounted at least two linear guide ways to which a horizontally oriented carriage /8/ is connected, with the possibility of movement along the axis X, as to the carriage /8/ is mounted a ram /9/, which move in the carriage /8/ with the possibility of movement in the vertical direction along axis Z.