NC Lathe Opening Cover Slit for Clean Chip Bucket Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chips and cutting oil adhered to the inside surface of the opening cover in machine tools can fall off and contaminate the outside of the machine tool during removal and disposal, leading to environmental contamination.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool design with a slit in the opening formation portion allowing the opening cover to be inserted into the housing, supported by a support member, and an opening cover with a protruding portion to prevent the opening cover from being pulled out, ensuring chips and cutting oil remain inside the machine tool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the opening cover is removed from the housing and placed on the outside of the machine tool, then the chip bucket can be accessed for chip removal, but chips and cutting oil adhered to the inside surface of the opening cover may fall off and contaminate the outside of the machine tool
Solution Approach 1:
The opening cover is inserted into the housing through a slit, with the lower part of the opening cover nested inside the housing while the upper part remains outside. This nesting arrangement allows the chip bucket to be accessible while keeping the contaminated lower surface of the opening cover contained within the housing, preventing chips and cutting oil from falling to the outside.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening cover is divided into two functional parts: the upper part that remains outside the housing for operational access, and the lower part that is inserted inside the housing through the slit to contain chips and cutting oil. This segmentation allows the different surfaces of the opening cover to serve different functions - the outside surface for access and the inside surface for containment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the opening cover is detachably attached to close the opening, then chips and cutting oil are contained during machining, but the opening cover must be completely removed for chip bucket access, causing contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of complete removal, the opening cover is partially inserted into the housing through the slit, creating a nested configuration where the lower part is inside and the upper part is outside. This maintains containment functionality while improving operational ease by eliminating the need to place the cover on the outside surface.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a slit is added to the opening formation portion, then the opening cover can be inserted into the housing to prevent contamination, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The opening formation portion is segmented into an opening and a slit, allowing the opening cover to be divided into functional zones. The slit provides a minimal structural addition that enables the insertion function without requiring major structural changes to the housing or opening cover design.
Data Source
AI summary
An NC lathe 1 for machining a work W includes a housing 11, a chip bucket 8 that is placed inside of the housing 11 in order to receive chips produced when the work W is machined, an opening formation portion 112 that is provided in the housing 11 and has an opening 1121formed therein through which the chip bucket 8 can be pulled out to the outside of the housing 11, and an opening cover 15 that is detachably attached to the housing 11 so as to close the opening 1121 in an attached state attached to the housing 11, wherein the opening formation portion 112 has a slit 1122 that is formed continuously with the opening 1121 so as to extend in a width direction of the opening 1121, and that allows the opening cover 15 removed from the housing 11 to be inserted into the housing 11.