Lathe Curved-Surface Machining With Reciprocating Cutter Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for machining curved surfaces using milling cutters often result in surface tracks due to intermittent contact, requiring additional polishing processes for a better finish, and existing machine tools are limited in their ability to efficiently machine three-dimensional curved surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A lathe with a feeding device that includes a cutter capable of high-speed movement along Cartesian coordinates, allowing the cutter to move backwards and forwards while the workpiece rotates, enabling precise machining of curved surfaces without the need for additional surface processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a milling cutter with different cutting edges is used for machining curved surfaces, then the curved surface can be machined, but tracks occur on the milled surface due to intermitted contact and interrupted milling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing continuous cutting through coordinated motion of the workpiece rotation and cutter reciprocation. The workpiece rotates continuously while the cutter moves back and forth, ensuring uninterrupted contact between the cutting tool and workpiece surface, thereby eliminating surface tracks caused by intermittent milling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by maintaining constant engagement between the cutter and workpiece. The feeding device controls the cutter to move backwards and forwards at high speed while the work table rotates the workpiece continuously, ensuring that cutting action is continuous without interruption, thus preventing track formation on the curved surface
2Manufacturing precision
If a polish process is performed to improve appearance, then surface finish quality is improved, but manufacturing time and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the polishing step from the manufacturing process by achieving high-quality surface finish directly during the machining operation itself. Through continuous cutting with the reciprocating cutter and rotating workpiece, the curved surface is machined to the desired finish quality without requiring separate polishing operations, thereby eliminating time loss and process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The machining process serves itself by producing the final high-quality surface finish during the cutting operation. The continuous cutting action with properly controlled feed rates and cutter motion automatically achieves the required surface quality, making the process self-sufficient without needing additional finishing operations
3Productivity
If existing machine tools are used for machining three-dimensional curved surfaces, then machining can be performed, but efficiency and quality are limited due to intermittent contact and interrupted milling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using a reciprocating cutter motion combined with continuous workpiece rotation. The feeding device controls the cutter to move backwards and forwards at high speed while the work table rotates the workpiece, creating dynamic continuous cutting contact that improves both machining efficiency and curved surface quality compared to traditional intermittent milling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by using a lathe with a modified feeding device that can machine three-dimensional curved surfaces. The feeding device is configured to move the cutter along multiple axes (X, Y, Z) and control its reciprocating motion, enabling the machine to perform complex curved surface machining in addition to traditional turning operations, thereby improving both productivity and precision for curved surfaces
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for machining curved surface includes the flowing steps. A lathe is provided. The lathe includes a work table and a feeding device. The feeding device has a cutter. A workpiece is held on the work table. The work table rotates the workpiece. The feeding device controls the cutter to move backwards and forwards at a high speed to machine the workpiece circumferentially. The feeding device moves in a plane relative to the work table to machine the curved surface.