Laser Cutting Station for Sharpened Prosthetic Instrument Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of semi-finished components for prosthetic surgery instruments requires multiple machinery and generates excessive waste and repositioning errors due to the need for subsequent sharpening of holes after initial cutting, which decreases productivity.
Innovation Solution
An automated laser cutting station with a laser cutting head that inclines the laser beam to create holes with sharpened edges directly during cutting, eliminating the need for subsequent sharpening and reducing waste by using a robotic system with a rotating mandrel and control unit to orient the laser cutting head along specific cutting paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional chip removal machines are used to produce through holes, then holes can be created in the cutting body, but the edges are not sharpened and require subsequent sharpening in separate machines, leading to repositioning errors and decreased productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hole production function and edge sharpening function into a single laser cutting apparatus. The laser cutting head performs both operations simultaneously during one processing cycle, eliminating the need for separate sharpening machines and reducing repositioning errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser cutting process performs preliminary sharpening of the hole edges during the initial cutting operation. By inclining the laser beam at specific angles during hole production, the edges are pre-sharpened before final finishing, reducing the need for subsequent repositioning and sharpening operations.
2Manufacturing precision
If the sharpening machine operates on the entire edge of the hole, then edges are sharpened, but this disproportionately weakens the external surface of the cutting body and generates excessive waste and dust
Solution Approach 1:
The laser cutting process applies localized processing only to the specific regions where holes and edges are formed. The inclined laser beam selectively removes material only at the hole edges that require sharpening, rather than processing the entire external surface, thereby minimizing material waste and avoiding unnecessary weakening of the cutting body.
3Productivity
If laser cutting apparatuses are used to produce through holes, then productivity increases and chip/dust is minimized, but the edges still require subsequent sharpening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hole production function and edge sharpening function into a single laser cutting apparatus. The laser cutting head performs both operations simultaneously during one processing cycle, eliminating the need for separate sharpening machines and reducing repositioning errors.
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
This solution increases productivity by directly creating sharpened edges during the cutting process, reduces material waste, and enhances the robustness of the semi-finished components by minimizing unnecessary material removal, allowing for complex cutting profiles and reducing the need for additional working stations.
Implementation Method 1
a laser cutting head (20) configured to execute a plurality of laser cutting workings on one of the aforementioned untreated components (110)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Automated laser cutting station (10) for the production of semi-finished components (100) for prosthetic surgery instruments able, in use, to carry out tissue removal processes. Said automated station (10) comprises at least a first automated operator (12), a laser cutting apparatus (15), and a control unit (21). The present invention also relates to a relative method for the production of such a semi-finished component (100), and to the semi-finished component (100) thus obtained.