Multifunctional End Effector Helical Milling CFRP Titanium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drilling techniques for assembling airplane wings, particularly with CFRP and titanium alloy materials, face challenges such as ablation, lamination, and low efficiency due to the difficulty in processing through-holes and elliptical recesses, which require complex and inefficient manual processing methods.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional end effector that integrates helical milling and reaming capabilities, utilizing sensors and precise measurement elements to ensure accurate orientation and feed rate control, allowing for simultaneous high-precision drilling and reaming of through holes and elliptical recesses, thereby overcoming the limitations of conventional methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional drilling and milling approaches are used to make through-holes in CFRP and titanium alloy, then the processing can be completed, but ablation and lamination occur to the CFRP and curving occurs to titanium alloy, resulting in poor hole quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the drilling parameters by using helical milling instead of conventional drilling. The cutting tool rotates around the central axis of the hole in a helical path rather than a straight line, which changes the cutting mechanism from direct axial cutting to incremental helical cutting. This parameter change reduces axial force, minimizes bur generation on titanium alloy, and restricts lamination in CFRP, thereby improving hole quality while reducing harmful effects.
2Manufacturing precision
If drilling-reaming-boring technique is repeatedly used to improve hole quality, then hole quality improves, but processing efficiency decreases and artificial factors have high impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple processing functions (drilling, reaming, and boring) into a single helical milling operation. The helical milling tool performs all these functions simultaneously in one pass, eliminating the need for repeated operations. This combines the benefits of multiple processes while improving efficiency and reducing dependence on artificial factors, as the process is more easily automated and controlled.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional drilling technique is used, then processing is simpler, but axial force is high causing bur generation and lamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces curvature into the cutting path by using helical milling. Instead of a straight axial cutting path, the cutting tool follows a helical (curved) path around the hole center. This curvature distributes the cutting force over a longer path, reducing the peak axial force at any given moment. The curved cutting trajectory minimizes bur generation on titanium alloy and restricts lamination in CFRP while maintaining processing effectiveness.
4Manufacturing precision
If elliptical recess is made by artificial processing with reciprocating swing of cutting tool, then precise orientation is required, but processing difficulty increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical reciprocating swing system with a numerical control (NC) driven system. Instead of mechanically swinging the cutting tool through complex linkages, the NC system controls the cutting tool to follow a programmed elliptical path. This substitution of mechanical complexity with programmable control simplifies the device structure while maintaining or improving precision, and significantly increases processing efficiency through automation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a multifunctional end effector, comprising a base (54) and a cutting tool (39); a feed slide (52) on the base (54) and a feed driving mechanism used to drive feed slide (52) to feed cutting tool (39); a swing slide (55) on the feed slide (52) and a swing driving mechanism used to drive swing slide (55) to realize circular arc swing of cutting tool (39); a mounting base (12) on the swing slider (55); a revolving rotation shaft (20) and a rotation shaft driving mechanism used to drive revolving rotation shaft (20) to make the cutting tool rotate in the mounting base (12); an eccentric slide (27) fixed to the end of revolving rotation shaft (20); cutting tool (39) is connected to the end of eccentric slide (27) via the electric spindle (37) and an eccentric regulating mechanism used to regulate eccentric slide (27) and control radial bias of cutting tool (39). Use feed driving mechanism to realize feed of cutting tool or feed of cutting tool along the swing trail through combination with swing driving mechanism; use eccentric regulating mechanism to realize radial bias of cutting tool; make use of rotation shaft driving mechanism to realize feed of cutting tool along the helical trail; it can realize such functions as drilling, boring, reaming, helical milling and reaming of elliptical recess.