Mobile Tap Centering Mechanism for Vibration-Stable Threading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tapping machines experience significant vibrations during the threading process, leading to out-of-axis issues, imprecise machining, and frequent tool wear, resulting in low-quality products and increased rejects, especially when dealing with varied tool lengths and materials like stainless steel or aluminum.

Innovation Solution

An anti-vibration and centring device is introduced, mounted on a mobile frame that translates parallel to the tapping tool's longitudinal axis, constraining the tool radially while allowing free rotation, effectively minimizing vibrations and ensuring precise centring, even with tools of different lengths, by integrating with existing tapping machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed anti-vibration and centring device is mounted on the base of the machine, then the device structure is simple, but it is not adaptable to different tool lengths and shaft lengths, resulting in non-optimal centring and anti-vibration operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different tool lengthsVSAvoiddevice structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anti-vibration and centring device is made mobile rather than fixed, allowing it to translate along guides parallel to the tapping tool axis. This dynamic positioning capability enables the device to adapt to different tool lengths and shaft lengths while maintaining optimal centring and anti-vibration performance, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If the anti-vibration and centring device is fixed in position, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot optimally serve tools with varying lengths, leading to reduced machining quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachining qualityVSAvoiddevice structural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates a mobile frame that can translate along guides, enabling dynamic adjustment of the device position relative to the tapping tool. This allows optimal centring and anti-vibration operation for tools of varying lengths, thereby improving machining quality without requiring an overly complex fixed structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile frame acts as an intermediary between the fixed base and the tapping tool, providing the necessary flexibility to accommodate different tool lengths while maintaining precise centring and anti-vibration control during the machining process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the tapping tool is constrained radially during rotation, then vibrations are reduced and centring is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the mobile frame and translation mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevibrationsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device uses a mobile frame with translation capability that can dynamically position the centring mechanism at the optimal location along the tool axis. This dynamic approach reduces vibrations effectively while avoiding the need for a completely complex fixed multi-component structure, as the same components serve multiple positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3541557B1Tapping machine for screw threading of perforated products provided with a centring device
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 NIPPON TAPPER CO LTD
  • EP3541557B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3541557B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP3541557B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A tapping machine (10), for tapping perforated products such as nuts (14), bushings or the like, comprises a spindle (11) on the longitudinal axis (12) of which a tapping tool (13) is rotatably mounted which tapping tool (13) is provided with a stem (21) having a longitudinal axis and a head having a threading to be inserted inside an appropriate hole provided in a nut (14) to be threaded, as well as pusher devices (16) for pushing a nut (14) against the threading surface of the tapping tool (13). Said machine further comprises an anti-vibration centring group (19) which acts on the stem of the tapping tool (13), substantially constraining the tapping tool (13) in a radial direction, preventing a de-alignment of the longitudinal axis (12) of the stem of the tapping tool and maintaining freedom of rotation thereof. Said anti- vibration centring group (19) is selectively movable along the stem of the tapping tool (13) in a parallel direction to the longitudinal axis of said stem (21).