Furniture Part Machining Layout for Dimension-Variable Custom Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing CAD/CAM systems for furniture manufacturing are limited by the need for dedicated machining machines and require expert knowledge to alter part dimensions, making it difficult for small and medium-sized manufacturers to produce custom furniture efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows for the registration of machining operations such as holes, grooves, and notches in a master data memory, enabling the selection and placement of these operations on a rectangular parallelepiped model, with the ability to alter dimensions and generate toolpaths for general-purpose machining machines, independent of specific tool types or machining systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If CAD/CAM systems use dedicated machining machines with specific control systems, then manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and system adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal machining data format that can be processed by any general-purpose machining machine regardless of its specific control system or tool type. The system defines a standardized data structure for machining operations (drilling, grooving, notching) that translates customer customization requests into machine-independent instructions, enabling one system to serve multiple machining machines with different capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data processing layer that converts customer customization requests into standardized machining data. This intermediary system acts as a translator between the customer's dimensional requirements and the actual machining machine operations, eliminating the need for dedicated CAM systems for each machine type.
2Manufacturing precision
If dedicated CAM systems are used for each NC machine, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of manufacture deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a single universal machining data format that can be processed by any general-purpose machining machine. Instead of developing separate CAM systems for each NC machine type, the invention defines a standardized data structure that handles drilling, grooving, and notching operations uniformly, significantly reducing system complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential machining operations (drilling, grooving, notching) from complex dedicated CAM systems and represents them in a simplified universal data format. By separating the core machining functions from machine-specific control details, the system reduces complexity while preserving the necessary precision for furniture manufacturing.
3Manufacturing precision
If expert knowledge is required to alter part dimensions in CAD/CAM, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to automatically process customer customization requests without requiring expert knowledge. The machining data format and processing system are designed to self-adapt to dimensional changes by automatically calculating and generating the appropriate machining operations, eliminating the need for skilled operators to manually program each customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a pre-defined universal machining data format and processing framework before customer orders arrive. This preliminary setup includes standardized data structures for handling drilling, grooving, and notching operations, allowing the system to automatically process any customization request without requiring expert intervention during the ordering process.
4Adaptability or versatility
If general-purpose machining machines are used, then adaptability and ease of manufacture are improved, but manufacturing precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal machining data format that enables general-purpose machining machines to perform specialized operations with precision comparable to dedicated machines. By standardizing the data representation for drilling, grooving, and notching operations, the system ensures that any general-purpose machine can accurately execute the required machining tasks regardless of its specific tool capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
[Object] To make it possible for a general- purpose machining machine to provide a machining to a part member of a customizable furniture product having an altered dimension on a commercial basis. [Means] A furniture product is designed as a rectangular parallelepiped space such that dimension of the space can be altered. Shape and size of a plurality of kinds of machining to be provided on a face of a part member face is registered in a machining master. Toolpath of controlling a tool of a machining machine is produced by CAM for each machining in advance. Machining selected from the machining master is registered on a face of a rectangular parallelepiped space of the part member. Upon receiving the data of rectangular parallelepiped space of the part member having altered dimension, the machining machine can apply the selected machining at a position after alteration of the dimension by controlling the tool in accordance with the toolpath.