Osteobiologic Milling Machine Feed Ram Angular Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional bone milling machines are unable to utilize up to 100% of the workpiece, resulting in significant scrap material, which is particularly problematic when working with valuable materials like human bone, where up to 25% of the workpiece is left unprocessed due to being held within the holding device.
Innovation Solution
The osteobiologic milling machine features a cutter housing, rotary cutter, feed chute, and feed ram, allowing for selective angular positioning of the feed ram to apply force based on its weight and orientation, enabling the milling of the entire workpiece by maintaining it against the rotary cutter, and includes a tightening device for controlled force application, facilitating 100% workpiece utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional vice or holding device is used to secure the workpiece, then the workpiece is held stable during milling, but up to 25% of the workpiece cannot be milled and becomes scrap material
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device is divided into multiple independent clamping points distributed around the circumference of the workpiece, allowing different sections to be held at different positions while enabling access to all areas of the workpiece for milling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The holding device transitions from a linear vice configuration to a circumferential or multi-point clamping arrangement, allowing the workpiece to be secured at multiple locations around its perimeter rather than at a single endpoint, thereby enabling complete utilization of the workpiece length
2Strength
If the holding device clamps the entire workpiece, then the workpiece is securely held, but the clamped portion cannot be milled and is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device applies clamping force only at specific discrete locations around the workpiece circumference rather than along the entire length, creating localized holding zones that leave the majority of the workpiece surface accessible for milling while maintaining adequate holding strength
3Ease of operation
If conventional milling apparatus is used, then the external portion of the workpiece can be milled, but the portion within the holding device cannot be accessed
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece holding and milling system is segmented into multiple accessible zones, with the holding device positioned to secure only specific portions while leaving other zones freely accessible to the milling cutter throughout the workpiece length
Solution Approach 2:
The holding device is designed to provide both secure clamping and universal accessibility, allowing the workpiece to be firmly held while simultaneously enabling the milling cutter to access all portions of the workpiece including areas traditionally obscured by the holding device
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 allows for the complete utilization of the workpiece, reducing scrap material and enabling efficient processing of valuable materials like human bone, while also ensuring that all bone-contacting components can be easily cleaned and autoclaved, enhancing operational efficiency and hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
the force applied by the feed ram on the workpiece is a function of the weight of the feed ram and the angular position of the feed ram with respect to the rotary cutter
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure, in one aspect, relates to a milling apparatus having a cutter housing and feed chute, a rotary cutter, at least partially housed within the cutter housing and in communication with the feed chute, and a feed ram removably positioned within the feed chute for maintaining a workpiece against the rotary cutter. The feed chute and feed ram may be selectively positionable at one of several angular positions with respect to the rotary cutter. In this manner, the force applied by the feed ram on the workpiece is a function of the weight of the feed ram and the angular position of the feed ram with respect to the rotary cutter.