Rotary Ball Track Milling Holder for Shorter Chip-to-Chip Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ball track milling machines have a long chip-to-chip time when machining multiple workpieces sequentially, leading to inefficient production.
Innovation Solution
A ball track milling machine with a rotary holder featuring multiple rotary positioning devices, allowing for simultaneous machining and workpiece exchange, with adjustable and lockable workpiece holders to optimize tool utilization and reduce processing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single workpiece holder is used on the rotary holder, then the machine structure is simple, but the chip-to-chip time is long due to sequential machining of multiple workpieces
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary holder is segmented into multiple independent workpiece holders (at least two), each capable of holding and positioning a workpiece. This segmentation allows parallel processing where one workpiece is being machined while another is being prepared or transferred, thereby reducing chip-to-chip time without requiring a completely new machine architecture
Solution Approach 2:
Each workpiece holder on the rotary holder is designed as a multi-functional unit that can perform multiple operations: holding the workpiece, positioning it at the correct rotational angle, and transferring it between machining and transfer positions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated devices for each operation, balancing productivity improvement with structural complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If the workpiece holder rotational position is fixed, then the machining precision is maintained, but the adaptability to different machining positions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece holder incorporates a rotary positioning device that enables dynamic adjustment of the rotational position during the machining process. This allows the workpiece to be repositioned to different rotational angles as needed for machining multiple ball tracks or adjusting for different tool orientations, while maintaining precision through controlled positioning and locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary positioning device includes self-locking functionality that automatically maintains the selected rotational position once adjusted. The system can independently lock the workpiece holder at the desired angle without continuous external intervention, ensuring machining precision is maintained while allowing flexible repositioning when needed
Data Source
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AI summary
A ball track milling machine (1) for producing ball tracks (33) in workpieces (6, 13, 30, 31) for homokinetic joints, comprising - a tool spindle (2) that is rotatable about a tool-spindle axis (WSA), and - a ball track milling tool (4, 5; 20), which is held on the tool spindle (2), is characterized in that the ball track milling machine (1) has a rotary holder (10) on which at least two rotational positioning devices (11a-11d) are arranged, wherein each rotational positioning device (11a-11d) has a workpiece holder (12a-12d), in that the rotary holder (10) is formed so as to be pivotable about a rotary-holder axis (DA) such that each of the workpiece holders (12a-12d) is pivotable at least between a machining position (BP) and a transfer position (TP), wherein a workpiece (6, 13, 30, 31) arranged on a workpiece holder (12a-12d) is machinable by means of the ball track milling tool (4, 5; 20) when the workpiece holder (12a-12d) is in the machining position (BP), and in that, using a respective rotational positioning device (11a-11d), a rotational position of the workpiece holder (12a-12d) about a positioning axis (PAa-PAd) is settable in a variable manner with respect to the rotary holder (10), wherein the rotational position of the workpiece holder (12a-12d) with respect to the rotary holder (10) is lockable in the machining position (BP) for machining with the ball track milling tool (4, 5; 20). Using the ball track milling machine according to the invention, a shorter chip-to-chip time can be achieved in the ball track milling of several workpieces in succession.