Magnetic Workpiece Carrier for Reconfigurable PCB Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printed circuit board separating devices require complex and costly workpiece carriers designed for specific geometries, limiting their versatility and economic use, especially for small series production.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece carrier utilizing magnetic holding elements that can be easily rearranged and reused, allowing for simpler and more cost-effective design, enabling use in various machining tasks without complex mechanical assembly, and supporting elements with pin-shaped or planar sections for precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If workpiece carriers are designed for specific geometries with mechanical fixing elements, then the holding stability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical fixing elements (screws, clamps, mechanical connectors) with magnetic holding elements. The magnetic elements are mounted on the workpiece carrier base and use magnetic fields to hold the circuit board substrate, eliminating the need for complex mechanical assembly structures while maintaining secure holding during the separating process.
Solution Approach 2:
The workpiece carrier is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate different circuit board geometries by simply repositioning magnetic holding elements rather than designing new carriers for each specific geometry. The magnetic elements can be moved to different positions on the carrier base to adapt to various workpiece shapes and sizes.
2Manufacturing precision
If workpiece carriers are designed for specific applications, then the positioning precision is improved, but the adaptability to different workpieces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece carrier transitions from a static, geometry-specific design to a dynamic, reconfigurable system. Magnetic holding elements can be easily repositioned along the carrier base to match different circuit board geometries, allowing the same carrier to adapt to various workpiece shapes while maintaining precise positioning through the magnetic holding force and programmable placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier system is segmented into modular components: a reusable base carrier and interchangeable/repositionable magnetic holding elements. This segmentation allows the magnetic elements to be independently positioned for different workpiece geometries while the base carrier remains constant, achieving both precision and versatility.
3Reliability
If complex mechanical assembly measures are used, then the holding stability is improved, but the ease of manufacture and reconfiguration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Complex mechanical assembly measures such as threaded fasteners, precision-machined locating features, and mechanical interlocks are replaced with magnetic holding elements that can be mounted using simple adhesive or mechanical attachment to the carrier base. The magnetic force provides sufficient holding stability without requiring complex mechanical structures.
4Manufacturing precision
If dedicated workpiece carriers are manufactured for each geometry, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the loss of time for reconfiguration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables rapid reconfiguration by allowing magnetic holding elements to be easily moved and repositioned on the carrier base according to different circuit board geometries. This dynamic repositioning capability eliminates the need to manufacture new carriers for each geometry, significantly reducing reconfiguration time while maintaining positioning accuracy through programmed placement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding or storing specialized carriers after use, the magnetic holding elements are recovered and repositioned on the same carrier base for the next workpiece geometry. This approach recovers the investment in the carrier infrastructure and eliminates the time and cost of manufacturing new dedicated carriers.
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective separation of printed circuit boards with automated, numerically controlled processes, allowing for quick reconfiguration of the workpiece carrier for different tasks and precise positioning of circuit boards, reducing production costs and increasing versatility.
Implementation Method 1
The holding or supporting element or its foot section can have a recess on the end face facing away from the workpiece, into which a permanent magnet is embedded
Data Source
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AI summary
The circuit board divider comprises a mechanically influencing or laser based numerically controllable separation device, and a workpiece carrier. The circuit board substrate (4) and the circuit board (5) are held in a course during the separation process of the workpiece carrier. The workpiece carrier comprises a basic base (28) and magnetic holding or supporting element (26) cooperating with the basic base for the guiding plate substrate. A foot section of the holding or supporting element cooperates magnetically with the basic base. The workpiece carrier has a magazine-like reception (32). The circuit board divider comprises a mechanically influencing or laser based numerically controllable separation device, and a workpiece carrier. The circuit board substrate (4) and the circuit board (5) are held in a course during the separation process of the workpiece carrier. The workpiece carrier comprises a basic base (28) and magnetic holding or supporting element (26) cooperating with the basic base for the guiding plate substrate. A foot section of the holding or supporting element cooperates magnetically with the basic base. The workpiece carrier has a magazine-like reception (32) for holding and supporting elements and the separation device is equipped with a gripper by which the holding or supporting elements are removed from the reception and are positionable on the basic base. The removing and positioning of the supporting elements is carried out in numerically controllable manner. The holding or supporting elements have a rejuvenating gripping or centering means by which it grips the circuit board substrate in the gripping or centering means. A permanent magnet is integrated in to the holding or supporting element or in the foot section of the holding or supporting elements. The basic base is formed from iron or iron containing and/or magnetic or magnetizable material. The reception is arranged on the basic base. The holding or supporting elements are equipped in the form of side stop means for positioning or referencing the substrate on the workpiece carriers that are magnetically fixable, are equipped vertically to the circuit board plain over the substrate and are applied in the plain of the substrate externally against the substrate. The side stop element has a graduation or slit-like groove stretching parallel to the plain of the basic base in which an edge of the substrate grips and the substrate is fixable in vertical direction to the workpiece carrier. For positioning and referencing the substrate, two first holding or supporting elements are equipped with the gripping or centering means and the two second holding or supporting elements are equipped with the gripping or centering means. The gripping or centering means of the first holding or supporting means are intended in Z-direction as the second elements. The first holding or supporting elements have a pre-positioning and the second holding or supporting elements have a final fine positioning. The holding or supporting elements are arranged simultaneously on the foot section and have a slight interval than the dimension of the foot sections in the plain of the basic base. A mounting program is mounted for the reception and positioning of the holding or supporting elements in a programmable control device. The gripper comprises a sleeve that is put over the respective holding or supporting element, which is magnetically fixable in the sleeve so that it grips and is manageable. The separation device comprises a chip lining for a tool for milling in which the gripper is introduced for carrying out the mounting process. An independent claim is included for a method for operating a circuit board divider.