Linear Rail Support Plates for Precision Guide Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guide devices for machine tools require labor-intensive and costly machining of contact surfaces to achieve desired accuracy in shape and position, which is inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A guide device with exchangeable support plates that can be precisely positioned along the guide axis to compensate for manufacturing inaccuracies, allowing for the adjustment of the guide rail's position and shape without complex machining, using horizontal and vertical support plates to achieve high accuracy in linear movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If complex manual post-machining is performed on support surfaces to achieve desired accuracy, then manufacturing precision of the guide rail is improved, but labor intensity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of guide rail position and shapeVSAvoidlabor intensity and cost of machining
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces support plates as intermediary elements between the base body and the guide rail. These support plates serve as mediators that compensate for manufacturing inaccuracies of the base body, allowing the guide rail to achieve high positioning accuracy without requiring complex post-machining of the base body support surfaces. The support plates are adjustable and can be precisely positioned to correct deviations in the guide rail's location and orientation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the support structure into multiple separate support plates rather than using a monolithic support surface. Each support plate can be independently adjusted and positioned, allowing for localized compensation of manufacturing errors. This segmentation enables fine-tuning of the guide rail's position at multiple points along its length, achieving high overall accuracy through cumulative adjustment of individual segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If complex manual post-machining is performed on support surfaces, then accuracy of linear movement is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of linear movementVSAvoidadjustment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The support plates act as adjustable intermediaries that can be quickly positioned and fixed without time-consuming machining operations. Each support plate can be independently adjusted to the required position and then secured, significantly reducing the time and effort required compared to traditional post-machining methods. This intermediary approach maintains high linear movement accuracy while dramatically improving adjustment productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support plates can be pre-positioned and pre-adjusted before final assembly of the guide rail. This preliminary action allows for optimization of the support plate positions independently of the guide rail installation, reducing the overall adjustment time. The support plates are prepared in advance with precise positioning features, enabling rapid deployment when the guide rail is installed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If support surfaces are extensively post-machined, then shape accuracy of guide rail is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape accuracy of guide railVSAvoidcomplexity of machining process
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support plates serve as simple intermediary components that compensate for base body inaccuracies without requiring complex machining processes. Instead of extensively machining the base body support surfaces, the patent uses adjustable support plates with standardized geometries that can be easily positioned and fixed. This approach achieves high guide rail shape accuracy while maintaining simplicity in the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support plates are relatively simple, inexpensive components compared to the complex machining operations traditionally required. They can be manufactured using standard processes and are easily replaceable if needed. This use of simple, affordable intermediary components avoids the need for expensive and complex post-machining equipment and processes while achieving the desired shape accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS11819967B2Guide device, precision support for a linear rail and adjusting method
Publication Date: 2023.11.21 DECKEL MAHO PFRONTEN GMBH
  • US11819967B2 patent drawing
  • US11819967B2 patent drawing
  • US11819967B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A guide device for a machine tool including a base body having at least one contact surface, a guide rail having at least one bearing surface and a guide axis, and a plurality of exchangeable support plates for positioning the guide rail on the base body.