Interlocking Abrasive Assembly for Precise Ceramic Surface Machining
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing abrasive assemblies for ceramic and stone artifacts face challenges with difficult tool insertion, tight machining tolerances, and imprecise positioning, leading to increased production costs and inhomogeneous machining results.
Innovation Solution
An abrasive assembly with interlocking seats and abrasive tools featuring a coupling portion with variable thickness, allowing easy insertion and precise positioning through perpendicular or parallel walls, ensuring uniform tool placement and consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If double dovetail coupling is used between supporting body and abrasive tool, then tool clamping in multiple directions is achieved, but tool insertion becomes difficult and machining tolerances must be tight
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is divided into two independent parts: a coupling portion on the abrasive tool and a corresponding seat on the supporting body. The coupling portion has a first portion that fits into a first seat and a second portion that fits into a second seat, allowing independent insertion and clamping of each portion, thereby simplifying the insertion process while maintaining strong clamping.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system uses two different directional components (first and second portions of the coupling portion fitting into corresponding seats) instead of a single complex dovetail structure. This dimensional separation allows tools to be inserted more easily while achieving clamping in multiple directions through the combined action of both coupling portions.
2Strength
If double dovetail coupling with specific inclination is used, then tool clamping is achieved, but precise axial positioning becomes difficult due to sensitivity to inclination variations
Solution Approach 1:
The axial positioning function is separated from the clamping function. The first and second coupling portions independently engage with their respective seats, and each can be positioned axially without being affected by inclination variations in the other portion. This segmentation makes the system less sensitive to manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the geometric parameters of the coupling seats and coupling portions to reduce sensitivity to inclination variations. By optimizing the dimensions and angles of the coupling interfaces, the system achieves precise axial positioning even with normal manufacturing tolerances, while still providing effective clamping.
3Ease of operation
If tight machining tolerances are applied to double dovetail coupling, then tool insertion difficulty is reduced, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system is segmented into independent first and second portions that can be manufactured separately with standard tolerances. Each portion engages with its corresponding seat independently, allowing for easier manufacturing without requiring tight overall tolerances on the complete coupling mechanism, thereby reducing production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling portion is designed as a replaceable component that can be manufactured cost-effectively. If wear or damage occurs, only the coupling portion needs to be replaced rather than the entire abrasive tool or supporting body, reducing long-term costs while allowing for simpler, more economical manufacturing of the individual components.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The abrasive assembly (1) for the surface machining of ceramic and/or stone artifacts, comprisese: - a supporting body (2) associable with a rotating head (30) of a machine tool and configured to rotate around a relevant axis of work (X), wherein the supporting body (2) defines a perimeter surface (3) substantially parallel to said axis of work (X) and on which is obtained a plurality of seats (4) arranged radially with respect to the axis of work (X), each of the seats (4) defining a relevant base wall (14) which develops parallel to the axis of work (X); - a plurality of abrasive tools (8) each of which is inserted within one of the seats (4) in a removable manner; wherein the coupling between the abrasive tools (8) and the seats (4) is of the interlocking type, wherein the seats (4) are of the through type and have at least one set of containment walls (9, 10, 19) contiguous to each other, of which at least one lateral containment wall (9, 19) develops perpendicular to the base wall (14) and at least one upper containment wall (10) arranged facing and parallel to the base wall (14), and wherein the abrasive tools (8) have at least one coupling portion (11) insertable by interlocking within said seat (4), the coupling portion (11) defining at least one abutment surface (12) adapted to interact with the upper containment wall (10), the latter being adapted to prevent the abrasive tool (8) from escaping from the seat (4) along a direction perpendicular to the axis of work (X).