Rotating Gripping Means for Block Machining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Machines for machining materials in blocks or slabs, such as stone, face complexity in managing the displacement of tool-holder and manipulator units along distinct axes, leading to precision issues and system coordination challenges.
Innovation Solution
A machine design where the gripping means are rotated between inoperative and operative positions, eliminating the need for a linear actuator and allowing the tool-holder and manipulator units to share the same coordinate system, simplifying operation and avoiding collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a manipulator unit is mounted on the bridge by means of an autonomous moving apparatus, then the piece of material can be repositioned during machining, but the machine complexity increases substantially due to managing two independent coordinate systems and avoiding collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The manipulator unit is fixedly mounted to the head of the tool-holder unit, merging two previously independent units into a single integrated system. This allows both the tool and manipulator to share the same coordinate system (X, Y, Z axes), eliminating the complexity of managing two separate reference systems while maintaining the repositioning capability during machining operations
2Device complexity
If the manipulator unit is fixedly mounted to the tool-holder unit head, then the machine complexity is reduced, but the gripping means require additional vertical translation distance along axis Z to reach the piece
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping means are made rotatable between an inoperative position (distal from the working surface) and an operative position (proximal to the working surface). This dynamic repositioning allows the gripping means to reach the piece without requiring excessive vertical translation, reducing the travel distance needed while maintaining the simplified integrated structure
3Ease of operation
If the gripping means are taken into a lower position to contact the piece, then the piece can be gripped and repositioned, but the machining tool must be kept away from the piece surface requiring coordination of two distinct units
Solution Approach 1:
By fixing the manipulator unit to the tool-holder unit head, both units operate within the same coordinate system. The control unit can independently manage the tool-holder for machining and the manipulator for repositioning without complex correlation calculations, simplifying the coordination while enabling the gripping means to contact the piece at the required lower position
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for machining materials in blocks or slabs includes: a) a tool-holder unit displaceable above an external working surface, in a parallel and orthogonal directions with respect to the working surface; b) a manipulator unit which is coupled to the tool holder unit, and includes gripping means of a material in block or slab to be worked; wherein the gripping means are moveable between a first inoperative position, which is distal with respect to the working surface, and a second operative position, which is proximal with respect to the working surface. The gripping means are rotatable between the first inoperative position and the second operative position.