Orbital Cutting Edge Motion for Smooth High-Feed Rail Machining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current machining processes for workpieces, such as rails, often result in surfaces with ripples and track patterns due to milling, and while planing reduces these issues, it requires lower feed speeds and higher power, necessitating additional grinding for surface smoothing.

Innovation Solution

A device with a rotating cutting edge that combines high-speed rotational movement with a superimposed linear movement, allowing for uninterrupted machining at high feed rates, mimicking planing's benefits while avoiding milling's drawbacks, and featuring adjustable cutting edge engagement for varying cross-sectional geometries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If milling is used to machine the workpiece surface, then high feed rates can be achieved, but machining marks such as waviness and track patterns appear on the surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeed rateVSAvoidsurface flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting edge is moved dynamically along an orbital path combining rotational and linear components. The carrier rotates about an axis while the cutting edge simultaneously moves linearly parallel to the workpiece surface, creating a dynamic cutting motion that eliminates stationary contact points and prevents machining marks while maintaining high feed rates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting motion is extended from simple rotation into a three-dimensional orbital path. By superimposing linear movement parallel to the workpiece surface onto the rotational movement, the cutting edge traces an extended orbital path that distributes cutting forces and eliminates the formation of waviness and track patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If planing is used to machine the workpiece surface, then flat surfaces with minimal machining marks are produced, but feed rate is reduced and power requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface flatnessVSAvoidfeed rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the advantages of both milling and planing by combining rotational cutting motion with linear movement parallel to the workpiece surface. This hybrid orbital motion achieves the high feed rates of milling while producing the flat, mark-free surfaces characteristic of planing, eliminating the need for post-grinding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic orbital motion allows the cutting edge to continuously change its position and orientation during machining, creating a planing-like cutting action that removes material cleanly without the high power requirements and low feed rates associated with traditional planing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the cutting edge is moved in a simple rotational orbit, then high-speed machining is achieved, but the cutting edge cannot adapt to varying cross-sectional geometries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachining speedVSAvoidgeometric adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting edge position is made dynamically adjustable during the orbital motion. The linear movement component can be varied in magnitude and direction, allowing the cutting edge to adapt to different cross-sectional geometries while maintaining high orbital speeds for efficient machining

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The orbital motion is segmented into independent rotational and linear components. This allows the linear movement parameter to be independently adjusted to match varying workpiece geometries without affecting the high-speed rotational aspect, providing versatility while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables high-speed machining with minimal surface irregularities, eliminating the need for post-processing like grinding, and allows for efficient processing of workpieces of infinite length with reduced wear and maintenance interruptions.

Implementation Method 1

The cutting edge 2 is moved by the carrier 4 along an orbit 15 in a machining movement 16

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOrbital movement:

Implementation Method 2

the movement of the cutting edge 2 along the orbit 15 is superimposed by a movement 17 of the cutting edge 2 out of the orbit 15

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuperimposed movement:

Data Source

PatentEP2177664B2Method and device for machine cutting a workpiece with a geometrically set blade
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 SCHWEERBAU
  • EP2177664B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2177664B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2177664B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves defining a geometrically cutting edge (2), and arranging the cutting edge at a carrier (4) that is circulated around an axis. The cutting edge is arranged by a retainer (5), where the cutting edge is moved with the retainer relative to the carrier. An independent claim is included for a device for machine cutting operation of a work piece, particularly rails of a track body.