Modular Polishing Machine Platform for Optical Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polishing machines for optical elements, such as ophthalmic lenses, lack modularity and ease of maintenance, making them difficult to repair and replace, and often suffer from fluid leakage issues that damage motorized parts.
Innovation Solution
A modular polishing machine design with a separable platform for mechanical parts, a fluid-tight work chamber, and a polishing fluid circuit with a quick-release mechanism to prevent fluid contact with motorized components, featuring a spindle-driven polishing tool and a motor-belt system for efficient lens polishing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If polishing machines use integrated mechanical and electrical components, then structural compactness is improved, but ease of repair and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The polishing machine is divided into separate modules: a work chamber containing polishing components and a separate platform containing motorized components. This segmentation allows independent access to each module for maintenance and repair, resolving the contradiction by maintaining compact overall structure while enabling easy module-specific servicing.
Solution Approach 2:
Motorized components are extracted from the work chamber and placed on a separate platform. This extraction allows the polishing tools to be easily removed and replaced without dealing with motorized parts, improving ease of repair while maintaining structural compactness through modular design.
2Stability of the object's composition
If polishing machines use fixed mechanical assemblies, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability for replacement and repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is designed with mobile capabilities, allowing it to move relative to the work chamber. This dynamic design enables flexible reconfiguration and replacement of components while maintaining structural stability during operation, resolving the contradiction between fixed stability and replacement adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical assembly is segmented into the work chamber and platform as separate replaceable units. This segmentation maintains structural stability within each unit while enabling easy replacement of entire modules, improving adaptability for repair and replacement.
3Productivity
If polishing fluid circuits are integrated into the work chamber, then fluid delivery efficiency is improved, but risk of fluid leakage to motorized parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
Motorized components are extracted from the work chamber and placed on a separate platform, physically separating them from the polishing fluid circuit. This extraction eliminates the risk of fluid leakage damaging motors while maintaining efficient fluid delivery to polishing tools within the work chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
A physical barrier (platform structure) is introduced as an intermediary between the polishing fluid circuit and motorized components. This intermediary prevents direct contact between fluid and motors, ensuring reliability while allowing independent optimization of fluid delivery efficiency.
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
Facilitates easy maintenance and repair of the machine, prevents fluid damage to motorized parts, and ensures precise and efficient polishing of optical elements by maintaining fluid-tight operations and precise tool movement.
Implementation Method 1
the sliding means are driven by a ball screw mounted on the platform
Implementation Method 2
the motor rotationally drives the spindle by way of a belt
Data Source
AI summary
A polishing machine for optical elements, comprising:—a spindle arranged to rotationally drive an optical element;—a polishing tool mobile relative to the spindle; wherein the polishing machine further comprises a platform mounted on top of a work chamber, the work chamber comprising the spindle, and the platform holding a body on which is mounted the polishing tool.