Ski Sliding Surface Grinding Wheel for Custom Graphic Engraving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ski technologies fail to efficiently reproduce brands, drawings, and graphic symbols on the sliding surface without compromising the water drainage capability of the grooves, which are essential for reducing friction during skiing.
Innovation Solution
A working plant comprising a cylindrical rotating grinding wheel with projections and depressions, a tool for customizing the processing, and a logic control unit that adjusts the depth and pitch of the grooves to accommodate graphic elements, allowing for customizable and non-intrusive engraving on the ski surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If brands, drawings or graphic symbols are printed on the ski base material during construction, then customization is achieved, but the printing is defaced by scratches and water drainage is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The graphic symbols are reproduced on the base material before the grinding wheel creates the drainage grooves. This preliminary action allows the graphic elements to be in place and protected, while the grooves are subsequently formed around them, avoiding defacement and maintaining both customization and drainage functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The grinding wheel is configured with varying projection heights that create different groove depths in different locations. Areas with graphic symbols have shallower grooves that preserve the printing, while areas without symbols have deeper grooves for optimal drainage. This local differentiation maintains both graphic integrity and water drainage effectiveness
2Reliability
If grooves are made on the sliding surface to drain water, then friction is reduced, but the ability to reproduce brands and drawings is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The grinding wheel is designed with dynamically adjustable projection heights that can be varied along its circumference. This allows the system to adapt the groove depth and pattern in real-time based on the location being processed, enabling both effective drainage grooves and preserved graphic symbols to be created in the same workpiece
Solution Approach 2:
The grinding wheel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it creates drainage grooves in areas without symbols while preserving or minimally affecting areas with graphic symbols. The single tool achieves both water drainage and graphic preservation through its variable projection profile
3Reliability
If the grinding wheel creates deep grooves for optimal water drainage, then friction is minimized, but graphic symbols cannot be reproduced without ruining drainage effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The grinding wheel creates locally differentiated groove patterns: deep grooves in areas requiring drainage and shallow or no grooves in areas with graphic symbols. This local quality variation ensures that drainage effectiveness is maintained where needed while graphic reproduction is enabled where symbols are present
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
Enables the reproduction of brands and drawings on the ski surface while maintaining optimal water drainage, minimizing interference with the grooves' ability to reduce friction, and allowing for customization based on user-specific needs.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially cylindrical rotating grinding wheel (2) whose operating surface (3) has a plurality of projections and depressions
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A working plant of the sliding surface (S) of a ski (C) comprising: a rotating grinding wheel (2) whose operating surface (3) has a plurality of projections and depressions to make the grooves for water drainage from the sliding surface of the ski; a tool (4) configured to be in contact with the operating surface (3) of the grinding wheel (2) and make the projections and depressions thereon; a movement unit (5) of the tool (4) to manoeuvre it on the operating surface (3) of the grinding wheel (2); a logic control unit (8) operatively connected to the movement unit (5) and programmed to vary the processing depth of the tool (4) on the operating surface (3) of the grinding wheel (2) as a function of the rotation angle of the grinding wheel (2). The plant (1) further comprises data entry means (15) in the logic control unit (8) configured to insert graphic elements, drawings or the like to be reproduced on the sliding surface (S) of the ski (C) by means of the grinding wheel (2), the logic unit (8) controlling the movement unit (5) so as to vary also the distance along the longitudinal development axis of the grinding wheel (2) between the projections so that said projections have variable-pitch helical trajectories.