Micromechanical Collet Clamping With Fixed Reference Jaws
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Solution Overview
Problem
The precise positioning and clamping of micromechanical or horological components in manufacturing tooling is challenging due to the lack of a fixed reference bearing point in existing clamping systems, leading to deformation and positional inaccuracies, especially in rework machining and miniaturized tools.
Innovation Solution
A gripping device with a modified standard collet incorporating both movable and stationary jaws, where stationary jaws provide a fixed reference bearing point and movable jaws ensure centring and clamping, maintaining the collet's external dimensions and allowing for precise positioning and clamping without deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard spring collet with movable segments is used for clamping, then the component can be clamped by resilient deformation of segments, but there is no fixed reference bearing point ensuring precise height and location of the component
Solution Approach 1:
The collet is divided into movable segments (for clamping) and stationary segments (for positioning). The stationary segments remain fixed during actuation and provide reference bearing points, while the movable segments deform resiliently to clamp the component. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the clamping function from the positioning function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different segments of the collet have different properties: stationary segments are rigid and provide fixed reference surfaces for precise positioning, while movable segments are resilient and provide clamping force. This local differentiation of properties allows simultaneous achievement of positioning precision and clamping ease.
2Manufacturing precision
If customised solutions are used to provide a precision bearing point, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the device becomes less flexible, has larger overall dimensions and is more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The collet design integrates both positioning and clamping functions into a single universal component. The stationary segments provide reference bearing points for precision positioning, while the movable segments provide clamping, eliminating the need for separate customised positioning devices and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of separate positioning and clamping devices into a single collet structure. The stationary and movable segments work together in one integrated component, reducing the number of parts, simplifying the device structure, and lowering costs while maintaining precision.
3Force
If the collet segments pivot to clamp the component, then clamping force is applied, but the relative position of the component to the collet changes slightly due to friction and dimension variations
Solution Approach 1:
By separating movable and stationary segments, the invention ensures that the stationary segments maintain fixed reference positions while the movable segments apply clamping force without affecting the reference bearing points. This prevents position changes during clamping.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference bearing function is extracted from the movable segments and assigned to dedicated stationary segments. This extraction ensures that the positioning function is independent of the clamping force application, eliminating position drift caused by friction and dimension variations.
4Ease of operation
If the centre of the clamp is reserved for mechanical components transmitting clamping forces, then the clamping mechanism works, but space for a precision bearing point is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The collet is segmented into movable segments (for clamping force transmission) and stationary segments (for reference bearing points). This segmentation allows the centre area to accommodate both functions simultaneously, with stationary segments providing reference surfaces without interfering with the clamping mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the radial dimension by distributing stationary and movable segments around the circumference of the collet. This allows reference bearing points to be positioned radially outward while clamping forces are transmitted through the centre, resolving the spatial conflict between the two functions.
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 solution ensures cost-effective, precise, and repeatable positioning and clamping of components, enhancing machining accuracy and flexibility, while maintaining compactness and meeting the dimensional requirements of miniaturized micromechanical tools.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient return means such as a spring
Data Source
AI summary
A gripping device (100) for holding, centring and/or clamping a micromechanical or horological component (200) in a chamber delimited by a collet including at least one movable jaw (2) and at least one stationary jaw (3), wherein some of the movable jaws (2) and/or stationary jaws (3) include a reference surface (20) to support a component (200) bearing frontally thereagainst, and this gripping device (100) includes both, on the one hand, stationary jaws (3) including the reference surface (20) to support the component (200) bearing thereagainst, and movable jaws (2) for centring and/or clamping the component (200).