Modular Vise System Top Tightening for Workpiece Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current machine tool vise systems suffer from inefficiencies due to large footprints, limited workpiece density, and inaccurate part positioning, as they often require oversized components and restrictive clamping methods that hinder the arrangement and alignment of multiple vises on the machine tool surface.
Innovation Solution
A modular vise system with a moveable body that can be tightened from the top, featuring counterbored holes for flush bolting and tight tolerance dowels for precise alignment, allowing for a wide range of motion and enabling multiple vises to be used in tandem for increased workpiece density and machine efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard Kurt style vise is used to clamp workpieces, then the vise provides reliable work holding, but the vise body occupies excessive space on the machine tool working surface, reducing workpiece density
Solution Approach 1:
The vise system is divided into separate modular components: a compact vise body, interchangeable jaws, and a fixture plate with locating features. This segmentation allows the vise body to be minimized in size while maintaining functionality through modular attachments.
Solution Approach 2:
The vise is redesigned to tighten from the top (vertical dimension) rather than from the front (horizontal dimension). This dimensional change allows multiple vises to be arranged along the clamping axis without interfering with each other, significantly increasing workpiece density on the working surface.
2Device complexity
If the vise tightens from the front along the clamping axis, then the vise structure is simple, but multiple vises cannot be arranged along their clamping axes, limiting workpiece density
Solution Approach 1:
The tightening direction is changed from horizontal (front) to vertical (top). This allows the clamping axes of multiple vises to be stacked vertically rather than requiring horizontal spacing, enabling denser arrangement of multiple vises and workpieces on the working surface.
3Ease of manufacture
If jaws are attached using two countersunk socket head cap screws in oversized holes, then jaw attachment is simple and easy to install, but there are no precision locating features, eliminating positional repeatability when removing and replacing jaws
Solution Approach 1:
The locating features and attachment mechanism are merged into a single integrated system. Precision locating features (such as dowel pins or precision-machined surfaces) are combined with the jaw attachment mechanism, ensuring that jaws automatically achieve precise, repeatable positioning when attached.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the vise body is larger than the largest workpiece it can clamp, then the vise can accommodate various sized workpieces, but the excess vise body creates wasted space when clamping smaller workpieces
Solution Approach 1:
The vise system is segmented into a compact fixed body and interchangeable components (jaws, adapters). This allows the fixed body to be minimized in size while maintaining versatility through the ability to swap components for different workpiece sizes and configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The vise system incorporates adjustable and interchangeable components that allow dynamic adaptation to different workpiece sizes. Rather than a fixed-size vise body, the system can be reconfigured with different jaws and adapters to match the actual workpiece dimensions, minimizing wasted space.
5Ease of operation
If toe clamps or direct bolting through oversized holes are used to attach the vise body to the machine tool, then attachment is straightforward, but precision alignment is required during fitment, slowing changeover setup
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture plate incorporates pre-machined precision locating features (such as dowel pin holes or precision surfaces) that are prepared in advance. When the vise body is attached, these pre-prepared features automatically guide and align the vise, eliminating the need for time-consuming alignment operations during changeover.
Solution Approach 2:
A fixture plate serves as an intermediary component between the machine tool table and the vise body. The fixture plate contains precision locating features that mediate the alignment process, allowing the vise to be quickly and accurately positioned without requiring direct alignment operations on the machine tool table.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a modular vise system comprised of a fixed body, a moveable body, and a fixture plate, wherein the moveable body has a wide range of motion which enables it to grab a piece of any size that will fit within the confines of the fixture plate, the moveable body being tightened from the top of the modular vise. Tightening of the modular vise from the top allows for multiple work pieces to be placed along the moving axis of the modular vise which increases workpiece density and machine efficiency. The moveable body of the modular vise may be driven mechanically, electrically, or via a fluid driven actuator such as a pneumatic actuator or a hydraulic actuator.