Lathe and Scraping Cutter Layout for Non-Circular Surface Machining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current machine tools face inefficiencies in machining metallic members with non-circular surfaces due to intermittent contact and difficulty in machining non-rotating surfaces, leading to additional processes and reduced efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A machine tool with a lathe feeding mechanism and a scraping feeding mechanism that allows for three-dimensional movement along Cartesian coordinates, enabling the lathe tool to create a spiral curve track and the scraping cutter to efficiently machine peripheral sidewalls, including corners, without the need for disassembly or additional processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a scraping process is employed to machine the metallic member, then the top portion can be machined, but tracks occur on the top portion due to intermittent contact and interrupted scraping, requiring additional polishing processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachining efficiencyVSAvoidsurface finish quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous machining action by coordinating the rotation of the workpiece with the linear movement of the scraping cutter along a spiral path. The cutter continuously engages with the workpiece surface without interruption, eliminating the intermittent contact that causes tracking. This is achieved through the synchronized operation of the workpiece rotation mechanism and the cutter feeding mechanism, ensuring uninterrupted material removal and producing a uniform surface finish that eliminates the need for additional polishing processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Adaptability or versatility

If a lathe process is adopted to machine the metallic member, then rotational surfaces can be machined, but it is difficult to machine surfaces that are not made for rotating, and the peripheral sidewalls with four corners cannot be machined effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachining capability for different surface typesVSAvoidmachining efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional lathe machining (rotational symmetry) to three-dimensional multi-axis machining. The scraping cutter moves along a spiral path while the workpiece rotates, creating a complex three-dimensional machining trajectory that can access and machine all surfaces including peripheral sidewalls with corners. This dimensional expansion allows the machine tool to effectively machine non-rotational surfaces and complex geometries that were previously inaccessible to conventional lathes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional machining processes are used for metallic members with non-circular surfaces and peripheral sidewalls, then simple surfaces can be machined, but additional machining processes must be added to machine complex surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidoverall machining efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal machining system that can perform multiple machining operations in a single setup. The coordinated rotation of the workpiece and linear movement of the scraping cutter along spiral paths enables the machine to machine various surface types including top portions, peripheral sidewalls, corners, and non-circular surfaces using the same tool and process. This multi-functional capability eliminates the need for multiple specialized processes and tool changes, simplifying manufacturing while improving overall efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2745959B1Machine tool with lathe tool and scraping cutter
Publication Date: 2021.03.24 FUXIANG PRECISION IND KUNSHAN
  • EP2745959B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2745959B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2745959B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A machine tool with lathe tool and scraping cutter includes a machine support, a worktable, a moving device, a lathe feeding mechanism and a scraping feeding mechanism. The worktable is positioned on the machine support. The moving device is slidably assembled to the machine support along a first direction and located above the worktable. The lathe feeding mechanism and the scraping feeding mechanism are slidably assembled to the moving device along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the lathe feeding mechanism includes a feeding assembly and a lathe tool connected to the feeding assembly, the feeding assembly is configured for driving the lathe tool to move along a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second direction reciprocally, the scraping feeding mechanism includes a scraping cutter and is configured for driving the scraping cutter to move along the third direction.