Flexible Vice Fixturing for Distortion-Release Machining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processing methods for deformable workpieces, such as aircraft components, fail to minimize distortion after clamping, particularly in the thickness direction, leading to accuracy issues during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A processing device and method that clamp workpieces in the width direction without constraining them in the thickness direction, using a tool for machining in the thickness direction and a clamping fixture with a position adjustment mechanism to prevent xy-plane displacement, allowing for distortion release and maintaining accuracy in the width direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the workpiece is clamped in the thickness direction to fix and support it during processing, then the workpiece stability is improved, but the processing distortion increases due to constraint of distortion release
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping fixture divides the clamping function into two independent parts: clamping in the width direction (xy-plane) to maintain positional stability, and releasing in the thickness direction (z-direction) to allow distortion release. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by applying constraints only where needed while permitting freedom in the distortion-prone direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the clamping approach from three-dimensional full constraint to selective two-dimensional constraint in the xy-plane, while intentionally leaving the z-direction (thickness direction) unconstrained. This dimensional differentiation allows the workpiece to release distortion in the thickness direction while maintaining stability in the width direction.
2Ease of manufacture
If the workpiece is clamped without considering thickness direction distortion, then the workpiece can be easily fixed and supported, but distortion remains in the thickness direction after unclamping
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping fixture segments the constraint function to apply clamping only in the width direction (xy-plane) while intentionally releasing the thickness direction (z-direction). This segmentation enables easy clamping operation while simultaneously allowing distortion release in the thickness direction to maintain accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the thickness direction constraint from the clamping system, removing the z-direction clamping function while retaining xy-plane clamping. This extraction allows the workpiece to release distortion in the thickness direction without compromising overall fixturing effectiveness.
3Manufacturing precision
If the workpiece position is adjusted after clamping to release distortion, then the processing distortion is minimized, but the device complexity increases due to position adjustment mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping fixture incorporates a position adjustment mechanism that transitions from a fixed state during clamping to an adjustable state after clamping. This dynamic capability allows the fixture to adapt to workpiece distortion by adjusting the position of clamping elements, thereby minimizing processing distortion without requiring a completely complex fixture design.
Solution Approach 2:
The position adjustment mechanism operates based on feedback from workpiece distortion detection. After clamping, the system detects positional changes caused by distortion release and adjusts the clamping elements accordingly to maintain accuracy. This feedback-based adjustment minimizes distortion while keeping the overall device complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
This processing device is provided with: a tool for machining a workpiece W along the thickness direction thereof, the width-direction external shape of the workpiece W being substantially finished; and a flexible vice 7 that clamps the workpiece W in the width direction without clamping the workpiece W in the thickness direction. The flexible vice 7 is provided with a position adjustment mechanism that prevents the position of the workpiece W from changing in a plane along the width direction before and after the workpiece W is clamped. The present invention is provided with a rough processing tool for performing processing at a rough-processing position, a finishing processing tool for performing processing at a finishing-processing position, and a control unit that causes the position adjustment mechanism to move between the processing performed by the rough processing tool and the processing performed by the finishing processing tool.