Honeycomb Surface Plate Thermal Control via Conduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional precision surface plates fail to provide satisfactory workpiece machining and measurement precision during variable-temperature operations due to complex configurations and slow temperature changes, which hinder quick adaptation to desired temperatures and lead to thermal deformations and misalignments.
Innovation Solution
A precision surface plate incorporating a honeycomb structure with ventilation openings or a highly heat-conductive element, allowing heat transfer between cells, and a forced ventilator for efficient temperature control, enabling rapid and even temperature changes while maintaining high stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional solid metal plate with electronic cooler and temperature sensor is used for temperature control, then temperature control capability is improved, but device complexity increases and temperature response speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the electronic cooler and temperature sensor from the temperature control system, extracting only the essential thermal conduction function through the heat transfer device integrated into the honeycomb structure, thereby simplifying the device configuration while maintaining temperature control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The honeycomb structure with heat transfer device automatically responds to temperature changes through passive thermal conduction without requiring external control systems, sensors, or power sources, making the system self-regulating and eliminating complex control machinery
2Stability of the object's composition
If a honeycomb structure with enclosed cells is used, then temperature stability is improved, but temperature response speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer device acts as an intermediary element within the honeycomb cells, facilitating thermal conduction between cells to accelerate temperature response while the enclosed cell structure maintains temperature stability through thermal insulation
Solution Approach 2:
The honeycomb structure implements local thermal conduction through heat transfer devices at strategic positions while maintaining overall enclosed cell structure for stability, creating different thermal properties in different regions to simultaneously achieve fast response and high stability
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 surface plate achieves quick temperature adjustments and high stability, preventing throughput and precision degradation during variable-temperature operations while maintaining lightweight, high rigidity, and high temperature stability, supporting both variable- and constant-temperature operations effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a heat transfer device, allowing heat transfer between cells
Implementation Method 2
a forced ventilator for efficient temperature control
Data Source
AI summary
A precision surface plate has a hollow casing with a reference plane used as a surface on which either or both of a workpiece and mechanical equipment are placed, a honeycomb structure, which is a collection of substantially identically-shaped enclosed cells disposed inside the casing, and a heat transfer device provided in the honeycomb structure to allow cells of the honeycomb structure to communicate with each other and transfer heat. The precision surface plate further includes casing ventilation openings provided in a wall of the casing to allow cells of the honeycomb structure inside the casing to communicate with the outside of the casing, and a shutter for opening and closing the casing ventilation openings. The heat is transferred effectively between the cells of the honeycomb structure through the heat transfer device.