Machine Tool Feed Motor Inversion for Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing machine tool design results in a higher gravity center and increased overall height due to the placement of heavy feed motors above the base, leading to reduced stability and increased volume, necessitating higher rigidity in supporting elements.

Innovation Solution

The feed screw and feed motor are positioned below the base, allowing the supporting means to directly receive downward forces, lowering the gravity center and reducing the overall height while maintaining rigidity, enabling faster and more accurate feed axis movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If feed motors are disposed above the base to drive vertical feed screws, then the feeding mechanism can be implemented, but the gravity center becomes higher and stability is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding mechanism functionalityVSAvoidmachine tool stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing feed motors below the base rather than above it. The feed motors are positioned on the floor level and connect to feed screws that pass through the base, with the motor brackets anchored to the floor. This inversion lowers the gravity center and improves stability while maintaining the feeding mechanism's functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If feed motors are disposed above the base, then vertical feeding can be achieved, but the overall height of the machine tool is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevertical feeding capabilityVSAvoidoverall height
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing feed motors below the base rather than above it. The feed motors are positioned on the floor level and connect to feed screws that pass through the base, with the motor brackets anchored to the floor. This inversion lowers the gravity center and improves stability while maintaining the feeding mechanism's functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If feed motors are disposed above the base, then the feeding mechanism works, but the volume of the machine tool is increased due to higher rigidity requirements for supporting elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding mechanism functionalityVSAvoidmachine tool volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing feed motors below the base rather than above it. The feed motors are positioned on the floor level and connect to feed screws that pass through the base, with the motor brackets anchored to the floor. This inversion lowers the gravity center and improves stability while maintaining the feeding mechanism's functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the floor as a counterweight support structure. By anchoring motor brackets to the floor and positioning heavy feed motors at the bottom, the system uses the floor's mass and rigidity to counterbalance forces, reducing the need for additional heavy supporting structures within the machine tool itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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 configuration enhances the machine tool's stability and rigidity, allowing for higher speed and accuracy in feed axis movement while downsizing the machine tool.

Implementation Method 1

a pair of parallel ball screws providing vertical feed screws

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 2

a pair of parallel ball screws providing vertical feed screws

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBall bearing: Ball Bearing

Implementation Method 3

the supporting means to receive directly the downward force acting on the bearing element of the feed screw and the motor bracket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2865483B1Machine tool
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 MAKINO MILLING MASCH CO LTD
  • EP2865483B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2865483B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2865483B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A work machine (10) for relatively moving between a tool mounted to a principal shaft and a workpiece attached to a table, and for machining said workpiece, the work machine (10) including: a bed (12) having a table (15) positioned on the upper surface thereof; sidewalls (14) positioned to the left and right of the bed and projecting to the rear of the rear surface of the bed (12); support members (11b, 11a) for each supporting the bed in relation to a floor surface by using two points on the sidewalls (14) to the left and right of the bed, and using at least one other point; a vertically moving body (21) for moving along a pair of left and right vertical guides (28) positioned in the vertical direction down to the vicinity of the floor surface on the rear surface of the bed (12); and a vertical drive means for moving the vertically moving body (21) as one of the abovementioned relative movements, and having a pair of left and right feed screws (35) positioned in parallel with the vertical guides (28) and to the inside of and near to the sidewalls (14) which are left and right of the bed, and feed motors (30) for rotating/powering the bottom end sections of the pair of feed screws (35), and attached to motor brackets (31) positioned on the sidewalls (14) to the left and right of the bed.