Machine Tool Sliding Surface Recess for Lubricant Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machine tools with slant sliding surfaces face issues with lubricant retention, leading to insufficient lubrication and smooth movement, particularly in slant bed designs, causing concern as the lubricant flows out during operation.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool design featuring a sliding surface with a continuously extending recess in the direction of movement, acting as a lubricant reservoir, and an associated method for producing this structure using a rotary tool to form the recess obliquely, ensuring the lubricant is retained and evenly distributed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a slant sliding surface is used in a machine tool, then the structure can support the weight of moving components and enable linear movement, but the lubricant flows out of the sliding surface during operation, leading to insufficient lubrication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a recess that extends in the direction of movement (adding a longitudinal dimension) to the sliding surface, transforming it from a simple planar surface to a three-dimensional structure with depth. This dimensional change creates a reservoir effect that retains lubricant on the sliding surface, preventing it from flowing out during operation and ensuring continuous lubrication.
2Loss of substance
If a recess is formed in the sliding surface to retain lubricant, then lubricant retention improves, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is formed in the sliding surface during the manufacturing process, before the machine tool is assembled and put into operation. By incorporating the recess formation as a preliminary step in manufacturing (using methods such as milling or grinding), the patent avoids the need for additional complex assembly steps or modifications after assembly, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving improved lubricant retention.
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
The design effectively holds lubricant on the sliding surface, preventing it from flowing out and ensuring smooth movement of the machine tool's components, enhancing slidability and reducing lubricant shortages.
Implementation Method 1
Although the lubricant supplied to the sliding surface stays on the sliding surface to some extent due to its viscosity, it would flow out of the sliding surface as the machine tool is operated.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A machine tool includes: a movably configured saddle; and a bed (11) having a sliding surface (12) supplied with a lubricant and allowing the saddle to slide thereon, and receiving the weight of the saddle. The sliding surface (12) has a recess (13) continuously extending in a direction in which the saddle moves. By this configuration, a machine tool which easily holds a lubricant on a sliding surface and a method for producing a structure for the machine tool having the sliding surface are provided.