Segmented Pressing Arm Fixture for Uniform Workpiece Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for fixing workpieces during friction stir welding, such as using hydraulic lever cylinders or whole plates, fail to uniformly distribute force, leading to deformation issues and reduced production efficiency, with surface profile tolerances exceeding 3mm.
Innovation Solution
A pressing device with a supporting member, pressing arm, and driving assemblies that provide long-distance compression and uniform force distribution, featuring adjustable gaskets and positioning members to stabilize the workpiece, allowing for precise and stable fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a hydraulic lever cylinder is used to press the perimeter of the battery tray, then the structure is simple, but the surface profile tolerance reaches about 8mm which is far beyond the desired 3mm
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing mechanism is divided into multiple pressing arms (first pressing arm, second pressing arm, third pressing arm) that can independently press different regions of the workpiece. Each pressing arm can be adjusted to apply force at specific locations, enabling precise control of surface profile tolerance while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.
2Manufacturing precision
If a whole plate with strip-shaped holes is used to press the workpieces, then both perimeter and middle part are covered, but the pressing mechanism is heavy and turning over takes long time reducing production efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The single heavy whole plate is segmented into multiple lighter pressing arms that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation reduces the weight of each component, enabling faster movement and turning over while still providing comprehensive coverage of the workpiece perimeter and middle parts through coordinated positioning of multiple arms.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing arms are designed to be adjustable and repositionable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adaptation to different workpiece sizes and positions. This dynamic capability enables rapid reconfiguration between different pressing tasks, significantly improving production efficiency compared to a static whole plate system.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a whole plate is used to press the workpieces, then it is a rigid body, but some workpieces are tightly pressed while others are not, resulting in non-uniform force distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid whole plate is divided into multiple independent pressing arms, each capable of independent adjustment. This allows each pressing arm to be individually positioned and force-adjusted according to the specific requirements of different workpiece regions, ensuring uniform force distribution across all workpieces while maintaining overall system stability through the coordinated rigid structure of multiple arms.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pressing arm can be independently adjusted to provide locally optimized pressing force based on the specific characteristics of different workpiece regions. This local adjustability ensures that areas requiring tighter pressing receive appropriate force while avoiding over-pressing in other areas, achieving uniform force distribution across the entire workpiece set.
4Device complexity
If the whole plate cannot adjust the displacement of each workpiece, then the structure is simple, but deformation of workpieces after welding cannot be properly controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing system is segmented into multiple independently adjustable pressing arms, each capable of individual displacement adjustment. This segmentation enables precise control of pressing displacement for each workpiece position, allowing proper compensation for workpiece deformation after welding while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through modular adjustable mechanisms.
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 device achieves a surface profile tolerance of 3mm or less, enhancing production efficiency by ensuring uniform pressure and reducing deformation, while maintaining a compact structure.
Implementation Method 1
a pressing arm (2) connected to the first end (101) of the supporting member (1), wherein the pressing arm (2) is rotatable around the first end (101) of the supporting member (1) between a clamping state and a releasing state
Implementation Method 2
a pressing device for fixing a workpiece onto a worktable... a pressing arm (2) connected to the first end (101) of the supporting member (1)
Implementation Method 3
a locking assembly (5) arranged on the supporting member (1) and configured to lock the pressing arm (2) at a predetermined position when the pressing arm (2) is in the clamping state
Implementation Method 4
the pressing device may provide long-distance compression for the workpiece on the worktable. Moreover, the force applied onto the workpiece may be uniformly distributed, such that the compression is stable
Implementation Method 5
featuring adjustable gaskets and positioning members to stabilize the workpiece, allowing for precise and stable fixation
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a pressing device for fixing a workpiece onto a worktable, comprising: a supporting member extending in a first direction and comprising first and second ends opposite to each other in the first direction and first and second sides opposite to each other in a second direction normal to the first direction; a pressing arm connected to the first end of the supporting member and being capable of rotating between a closed state and an opened state with respect to the supporting member, wherein a space for receiving the workpiece is formed between the pressing arm and the supporting member when the pressing arm is in the closed state; a first driving assembly arranged on the first side of the supporting member and configured to drive the pressing arm to rotate between the closed state and the opened state with respect to the supporting member; a locking assembly arranged on the first side of the supporting member near to the second end of the supporting member and configured to lock the pressing arm when the pressing arm is in the closed state; and a second driving assembly coupled to the second side of the supporting member and configured to drive the supporting member to move in the second direction.