Flexible Canister Toolholder Assembly for Compact Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toolholder assemblies require significant space due to the use of spring packs for clamping, which provide high stiffness but also necessitate a certain amount of compliance to accommodate geometric tolerances, making them bulky.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating flexible features into the design of the canister, such as slots and flanges, to eliminate the need for spring packs, thereby reducing the overall size of the clamping unit and adjusting stiffness for optimal clamping force distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If spring packs are used in the clamping unit, then high clamping force and compliance are provided, but the size of the clamping unit becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the spring pack from the clamping unit by incorporating flexibility directly into the canister structure through flexure features. This removes the separate compliance component while maintaining the necessary flexibility to accommodate geometric tolerances and provide clamping force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the clamping function and compliance function into a single integrated canister structure. The flexure features within the canister simultaneously provide the structural support for clamping and the necessary compliance to accommodate tolerances, eliminating the need for separate spring packs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If spring packs are used to provide compliance, then geometric tolerances are accommodated, but the clamping unit requires more mounting space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexure features within the canister structure that act as flexible elements to accommodate geometric tolerances. These flexure features allow the canister to adapt to variations in toolholder dimensions while maintaining a compact mounting footprint, eliminating the need for bulky spring packs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic flexibility into the otherwise rigid canister structure through flexure features. This allows the canister to dynamically adapt to geometric tolerances during operation, providing the necessary compliance without requiring additional mounting space for separate compliance mechanisms.
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 implementation of flexible canister features results in a reduced stiffness of approximately 30% compared to traditional designs, allowing for a more compact toolholder assembly while maintaining effective clamping performance across varying manufacturing tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible canister includes at least one flexible feature that reduces a stiffness of the flexible canister
Data Source
AI summary
A toolholder assembly includes a toolholder having a rearwardly facing toolholder shank, a base member having a bore configured for receiving the toolholder shank, a lock rod with an axial forward and an axial rearward end, at least one locking member in communication with the axial forward end of the lock rod, and a flexible canister configured for receipt in the bore of the base member. The flexible canister includes at least one flexible feature that reduces a stiffness (i.e., increases flexibility) of the flexible canister. In one aspect, the flexible feature is a slot proximate a locking passageway of the canister.