Retractable Work Stop Spring Bias Gap Creation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional positioning work stops for machine tools are cumbersome and prone to causing work pieces to shift out of position during machining, leading to errors and increased manufacturing time and cost, as they require manual spacer installation and lack an efficient mechanism for creating gaps during operations.
Innovation Solution
A retractable positioning work stop with a cylindrical barrel and biasing element, such as a spring or electronic system, that automatically extends to contact the work piece for proper positioning and retracts to create a gap as needed, ensuring uninterrupted machining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rigid positioning stop is used to ensure accurate work piece positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but a gap cannot be created during cutting operations without using time-consuming spacers and holding apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning stop incorporates a retractable element that can dynamically change its position between extended (contacting the work piece for positioning) and retracted (creating a gap for cutting operations). This dynamic capability eliminates the need for separate spacers and holding apparatus, resolving the contradiction between maintaining positioning accuracy and enabling gap creation during machining.
2Ease of operation
If a spacer is inserted to create a gap during cutting operations, then the cutting blade can pass without binding, but the work piece may be jarred out of position during spacer installation
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable element is biased by a spring mechanism that automatically maintains it in the extended positioning position. When the cutting blade passes through, the element naturally retracts to create the gap, and then automatically returns to the extended position without requiring manual intervention. This self-service mechanism eliminates the jarring associated with manual spacer installation while maintaining positioning accuracy.
3Device complexity
If manual spacer installation is required to create a gap, then the positioning stop remains simple in structure, but the operator must hold the work piece and install the spacer simultaneously, increasing complexity and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning stop incorporates a retractable element with a spring biasing mechanism that automatically creates gaps during cutting operations. This dynamic feature, while adding some structural complexity, eliminates the need for manual spacer installation and holding apparatus, significantly reducing operator tasks and increasing productivity by allowing uninterrupted machining operations.
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 retractable positioning work stop ensures accurate placement of work pieces, reduces the likelihood of shifting, and allows for gap creation without interrupting the machining process, thereby minimizing errors and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing element that operates to bias the retractable element into its retracted position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the biasing element is a spring.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a positioning work stop for use with a with a machining apparatus for performing a machining operation on a work piece, the positioning work stop comprising a retractable element having an extended position for contacting a work piece to ensure that the work piece is in its proper position for machining and a retracted position that provides a gap between the positioning work stop and the work piece, a biasing element that exerts a rearward biasing force of the retractable element, and a stop pin, wherein during the machining operation, when the machining apparatus contacts the stop pin the rearward biasing force automatically moves the retractable element into its retracted position creating a gap between the positioning work stop and the work piece.