Machine Tool Motor Nesting in Concave for Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machine tools have reduced rigidity due to the separation of the base and workpiece positioning device, leading to distortion and oscillation during cutting, as they are elongated to avoid contact and maintain sufficient space for rotation.
Innovation Solution
The machine tool design positions the motor in a concave area during rotation, allowing the tool support and workpiece to be closer, enhancing rigidity, and incorporates a dust management system with inclined planes and exhaust passages to efficiently discharge chips and coolant, including a concave surface on the tool support and trapezoidal columns for improved strength and dust collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the base and workpiece positioning device are separated in the Y-axis direction to avoid contact during rotation, then the workpiece positioning device can rotate freely, but the machine tool becomes elongated and rigidity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary table is rotated to nest the motor within the concave portion of the tool support, allowing the motor to approach the tool support during rotation while being contained within the concave space. This eliminates the need for large separation distance and reduces the machine tool's total length, thereby improving rigidity while maintaining rotation freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The concave portion is formed in the vertical direction (Z-axis) of the tool support, creating a three-dimensional space that accommodates the motor's rotational path. By utilizing the vertical dimension rather than only horizontal separation, the design allows the motor to approach the tool support closely while maintaining rotation freedom, thus reducing the machine tool's total length and improving rigidity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the machine tool is elongated to provide space for rotation, then the motor can rotate without obstruction, but the total length increases and rigidity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is nested within the concave portion of the tool support during rotation, allowing the rotational motion to occur within a compact space. This eliminates the need for the machine tool to be elongated, thereby reducing the total length while maintaining sufficient rotation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The concave portion utilizes the vertical dimension (Z-axis) to provide the necessary space for motor rotation. By transitioning from a two-dimensional horizontal layout to a three-dimensional vertical structure, the design accommodates rotation within a compact footprint, reducing the machine tool's total length while maintaining adaptability for rotation.
3Productivity
If the exhaust passage width is narrower at the exhaust port side, then dust collection efficiency improves, but the passage becomes more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust passage has different widths at different locations: narrower at the exhaust port side to concentrate and efficiently collect dust, and wider at the opposite side to facilitate dust flow toward the exhaust port. This local variation in geometry optimizes dust collection efficiency while managing the passage structure complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A machine tool is provided in which a device for supporting a jig can sufficiently be close to a device for supporting a tool. When a motor rotates a rotary table (12) to the front side by approximately 90 degrees, the rotary motor (14) is positioned inside a concave (130). A predetermined space is present between the rotary motor and the concave. Even if the rotary table rotates, the rotary motor does not touch the tool support (30). Even if the rotary motor approaches the tool support due to rotation of the rotary table, the rotary motor is positioned in the concave and the rotary motor does not touch the tool support. Thus, the entire length of the tool support and support platforms (10) can be shortened.