Hydraulic Workpiece Holder for Wire EDM Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wire electric discharge machines face issues with machining time and precision when handling stacked plate-like workpieces, as current securing methods fail to maintain even pressure, leading to wire breaks and reduced machine availability due to uneven tightening forces and potential space generation between workpieces.
Innovation Solution
A plate-like workpiece holder with a cylindrical member, lid members, and a workpiece stage mount member that securely holds plate-like workpieces in a stacked state, using projections or elastic members to maintain close contact and prevent movement in multiple directions, ensuring precise alignment and efficient machining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If securing bolts are used to tighten stacked workpieces, then the workpieces are held together, but the tightening force becomes uneven causing spaces between workpieces and wire breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hydraulic press to apply uniform pressure to all stacked workpieces simultaneously. The hydraulic system distributes force evenly across the entire stack through fluid pressure, eliminating the uneven tightening problems associated with discrete securing bolts. This ensures all workpieces maintain consistent contact with the wire electrode during machining.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the workholding function into multiple independent pressing points using multiple hydraulic presses or a distributed pressing mechanism. Each pressing point independently applies force to specific regions of the workpiece stack, ensuring uniform pressure distribution across the entire stack and preventing localized gaps or deformations.
2Productivity
If workpieces are stacked for machining, then machining time per workpiece is reduced, but spaces between workpieces cause wire breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic pressing system maintains continuous, uniform pressure on the stacked workpieces throughout the machining process. This ensures that no spaces form between workpieces that could cause wire breaks, while still allowing multiple workpieces to be machined in sequence, thus maintaining high productivity without sacrificing reliability.
3Measurement precision
If workpieces are held in horizontal or anteroposterior directions, then deviation is prevented, but deformation occurs and spaces are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic pressing system applies force in the vertical direction only, avoiding horizontal or anteroposterior constraints that would cause deformation. The uniform vertical pressure prevents workpiece deviation while maintaining shape integrity, as the flexible workpieces can conform to the pressure without being constrained laterally.
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of plate-like workpieces held by a workpiece holder are subjected to discharge machining by a wire electric discharge machine. The workpiece holder includes a cylindrical member in which the plurality of plate-like workpieces are housed in a stacked state, lid members placed on upper and lower ends of the plate-like workpieces housed in the cylindrical member so as to press the plate-like workpieces, and a workpiece stage mount member having an insertion hole in which the cylindrical member is inserted and housed. Concave sections are formed in positions corresponding to a machining start point and a machining end point on an inner circumference surface of the cylindrical member.