Oscillating Multi-Tool Blade Refurbishing With Two-Step Serration Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-tool blades wear out quickly due to misuse or application, leading to resource wastage and high replacement costs, necessitating a method to refurbish them effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for refurbishing a worn multi-tool blade by clamping it, cutting a new serrated end using a punch and die with serrated edges, and moving the blade laterally to sharpen the teeth, utilizing an eccentric rotating shaft for smooth cutting and a teeth setting device to bend the blade teeth for optimal sharpness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single-step cutting process is used to refurbish the blade, then the process is simple and quick, but the tooth tips become rounded and not sharp
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting process is divided into two distinct steps: first cutting the edge portion of the serrated end, then laterally moving the blade and performing a renewed cut to sharpen the tooth tips. This segmentation allows each cutting action to serve a specific purpose, resulting in sharp tooth tips while maintaining process simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade is moved laterally (in a direction perpendicular to the cutting direction) between the two cutting steps. This dimensional change in blade positioning enables the second cut to intersect with the first cut at the tooth tips, creating sharp edges through intersecting straight edges of the cutting tool.
2Reliability
If the blade is replaced instead of refurbished, then the tool is ready for immediate use, but resources are wasted and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the worn blade entirely, the invention recovers its functionality by removing the worn edge portion and creating a new serrated end with sharp tooth tips. This extends the service life of the blade while maintaining tool readiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting tool is positioned and the blade is clamped in preparation for the cutting operation. The edge portion is cut away first, and then the blade is laterally moved to position the newly formed tooth tips for the second cutting action that sharpens them.
3Ease of operation
If an eccentric rotating shaft with rolling bearing is used for the cutting tool, then friction is minimized and cutting is smooth, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A rolling bearing is introduced as an intermediary element between the eccentric rotating shaft and the cutting tool. This bearing minimizes friction by replacing sliding contact with rolling contact, enabling smooth rotation of the cutting tool while the eccentric shaft provides the necessary oscillating motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding friction mechanism is replaced with a rolling bearing mechanism. This substitution reduces frictional resistance and heat generation, making the cutting operation smoother and more efficient while using a well-established mechanical component.
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 extends the life of multi-tool blades by sharpening the teeth to a high working condition, reducing resource waste and costs by producing sharp, clean-cut tips through a two-step cutting process with minimal friction and complex tooling requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The eccentric rotating shaft may in turn engage the punch via a rolling bearing. Thereby there will be no frictional movement between the eccentric shaft and the punch.
Implementation Method 2
The cutting may be performed by shearing. Shearing will be relatively easy to accomplish by using a punch and a die with serrated cutting edges.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for refurbishing an oscillating multi-tool blade (10) having a serrated forward end. The blade (10) is clamped to a support surface, a new serrated end is formed by cutting away an edge portion of the serrated end, the blade (10) is moved across a cutting direction so far as tips of teeth (12) of the new serrated end will be cut away during a following renewed cut, and the renewed cut is performed.