Sensorized Clamping Jaw Structure for Precise Chuck Force Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The clamping force of existing chucks is subject to interference variables like centrifugal forces and wear, making it difficult to precisely determine the clamping force, which can lead to slippage or deformation of the workpiece, and is complicated and costly to produce due to complex production processes.
Innovation Solution
A clamping jaw design with planar base legs, offset threaded bores, and cylindrical screw heads that allow precise force detection and increased rigidity, along with features like console angles and T-shaped guide strips to reduce notch stresses and ensure precise positioning of clamping inserts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If guide strips and grooves are used to connect the clamping insert, then the clamping insert can be positioned, but the production process becomes complicated and costly with many work steps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the complex guide strips and grooves from the clamping jaw structure. Instead of using these additional guiding elements, the patent relies on the precise positioning capability provided by the offset between the threaded bore and passage opening, combined with the planar base leg geometry, to achieve accurate clamping insert positioning without the need for extra guiding components.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset between the threaded bore and passage opening serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides positioning for the clamping insert, ensures proper orientation, and enables force transmission. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate guide strips and grooves, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining positioning accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the clamping force detection is implemented with complex structures, then the clamping force can be detected, but the rigidity of the clamping jaw decreases and notch stresses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes unnecessary guiding structures like grooves and guide strips that create stress concentration points and reduce structural rigidity. By eliminating these elements, the clamping jaw maintains higher rigidity and lower notch stresses while still achieving precise clamping force detection through the sensor positioned on the end face of the step head.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific geometric configuration with the offset between threaded bore and passage opening, and by providing a planar base leg surface. This localized geometric design ensures that forces are transmitted efficiently to the sensor location without creating stress concentrations elsewhere in the structure, maintaining overall rigidity while enabling precise measurement.
3Reliability
If the screw head supports itself on the recesses of the clamping insert during workpiece stress, then the connection is secured, but the flow of force is disrupted and prevents accurate clamping force detection
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses asymmetric positioning of the threaded bore relative to the passage opening. This asymmetric offset ensures that during workpiece stress, the screw head does not align with and support itself on the recesses of the clamping insert. Instead, the asymmetric geometry directs the force flow along a different path that maintains connection reliability while allowing accurate force detection by the sensor.
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 design simplifies production, ensures precise clamping force detection, reduces wear, and increases the useful lifetime of the clamping jaw by eliminating complex guide strips and promoting uniform surface pressure, thereby enhancing machining precision and preventing vibrations during clamping.
Implementation Method 1
the offset that exists between the threaded bore and the passage opening and brings about a deformation of the clamping insert when force is applied
Implementation Method 2
the base legs are formed to be planar on the side facing the step head, and can be produced in a very simple manner, wherein only the passage opening additionally needs to be introduced
Data Source
AI summary
A clamping jaw for a chuck includes a jaw body on which there is formed at least one jaw step having a step head, which has a sensor on its end face, for holding a clamping insert which is formed from a base leg and two fastening legs projecting from the base leg. On each of the opposite longitudinal sides of the step head there is formed a threaded bore for receiving a fastening screw whose screw head is received in a through-opening which is formed in the fastening leg of the clamping insert that is assigned to the longitudinal side, wherein, on each side, the longitudinal axes of the threaded bore and of the through-opening assigned thereto have an offset when the base leg bears against the end face. Also, a chuck has a chuck body, in which such clamping jaws are arranged in uniformly-distributed radial jaw guides.