Retractable Ball Screw Protector for Close-Coupled Machine Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine tool protectors obstruct the movement of structures, making it difficult to position tool posts and headstocks close to each other, thereby reducing machining convenience.
Innovation Solution
A retractable protector system that includes a housing portion in the base of the structures, allowing the protector to extend and retract with the movement of the structures, thus minimizing interference and enabling closer positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protector is disposed among the structures to cover the ball screw, then the ball screw is protected from cutting chips, but the distance between the structures cannot be decreased and the structures cannot be positioned close to each other
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the protector extendable and retractable. The protector can be extended to cover the ball screw when needed for protection, and retracted when the structures need to be positioned close to each other for machining operations. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt between protection mode and compact positioning mode, resolving the contradiction between ball screw protection and minimizing structure distance.
2Reliability
If a fixed protector is interposed between the first headstock or the second headstock and the tool post, then the ball screw is protected, but it is difficult to position the tool post close enough to the first headstock or the second headstock
Solution Approach 1:
The protector is designed with extendable and retractable functionality, allowing it to dynamically adjust its state. When extended, it provides full protection to the ball screw. When retracted, it clears the space between structures, enabling the tool post to be positioned close to the headstock for convenient machining operations. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between protection and operational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The protector can be housed within a protector housing portion when retracted, creating a nested configuration. This nesting capability allows the protector to occupy minimal space when not in use, eliminating its obstruction effect and enabling close positioning of structures for machining while maintaining protection capability when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine tool includes a bed that includes a guide unit, a first structure and a second structure that are each mounted over the bed, a first drive unit that moves the first structure along the guide unit, and a protector that covers at least part of the first drive unit. The protector is extendable and retractable with movement of the first structure, at least one of the first structure and the second structure includes a protector housing portion that houses at least part of the protector, and the protector housing portion is a space that is provided in a base portion of at least one of the first structure and the second structure and opened in a movement direction of the first structure. Accordingly, structures such as a headstock and a tool post can easily approach each other and the convenience of machining a workpiece by a machine tool can be increased.