Rotatable Secondary Beam for Multiaxial Stone Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multiaxial machine tools for processing stone materials lack versatility, have high dead times due to limited tool throughput and require complex installations for additional tool-carrying heads, leading to inefficient processing and increased machine dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A multiaxial machine design featuring a primary beam with sliding guides, a rotatable secondary beam with removably mounted tool-carrying heads, and independent drive mechanisms for controlled movement and rotation, allowing for simultaneous processing operations and easy tool replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rotary work table is provided to enable processing in many different directions, then versatility is improved, but the work area increases and overall machine dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary beam is made rotatable relative to the carriage, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one. This allows the processing head to be positioned at different angular orientations without requiring a large rotary work table, thus maintaining versatility while reducing the overall work area.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rotating the work table in a horizontal plane (2D rotation), the invention introduces a vertical rotation axis for the secondary beam. This dimensional change allows the processing head to access different directions from above, achieving multiaxial processing capability without increasing the horizontal work area.
2Device complexity
If a single processing head is provided on the secondary beam, then device complexity is reduced, but throughput is limited and only one type of processing can be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary beam is designed as a universal mounting structure that can accommodate multiple different types of processing heads (cutting, drilling, dressing, etc.) through standardized mounting interfaces. This allows a single beam structure to perform multiple processing functions, increasing throughput and versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable and replaceable nature of the processing heads introduces dynamic flexibility to the system. Heads can be quickly swapped between different processing operations, allowing the machine to adapt its function dynamically rather than being fixed for a single operation type.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional tool-carrying heads are installed on the secondary beam, then processing versatility is improved, but installation difficulty increases due to requiring additional slides
Solution Approach 1:
A universal mounting interface is provided on the secondary beam that accepts different types of processing heads through a standardized mechanism. This eliminates the need to install separate slides for each head type, as the same mounting structure accommodates all head variations, thereby reducing installation complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting mechanism for the processing heads is extracted from the slide structure and integrated directly into the secondary beam. This separation of the mounting function from the slide allows for simpler, more modular installation of additional heads without requiring complex slide assemblies for each operation type.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the primary beam is permanently secured to floor-mounted end uprights, then structural stability is improved, but transverse movement capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The primary beam is designed with movable end uprights that can be positioned at different transverse locations and locked into place. This transforms the structure from a fixed permanent connection to a dynamic adjustable connection, maintaining structural stability at each position while enabling transverse repositioning of the entire beam assembly.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 6~8
AI summary
A multiaxial machine tool for working semi-finished products (P) such as stone slabs and/or blocks, comprises a primary beam (2) extending along a substantially horizontal first axis (X1), and having associated therewith first guide means (3) substantially parallel to the first axis (X1), second guide means (5) substantially parallel to a substantially horizontal second axis (X2), perpendicular to the first axis (X1), for slidably guiding the primary beam (2), a carriage (6), which is slidably mounted to the first guide means (3), a secondary beam (7) extending along a substantially horizontal third axis (X3) and having associated therewith third guide means (9) substantially parallel to the third axis (X3), means (8) for rotatably connecting the secondary beam (7) to the carriage (6) such that it may rotate about a substantially vertical fourth axis (X4), at least one tool-carrying head (11) which is slidably mounted to the secondary beam (7) to slide along the third guide means (9), a support table (12) for the products being processed (P). The secondary beam (7) is designed for removable installation of the at least one tool- carrying head (11) and for its removal and replacement with one or more tool-carrying head (11) having equal or different tools (16) for processing and handling respectively.