Surface Roughness Tester Skid Cleaning via Suction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Foreign substances, such as coolants, adhere to the surface of machined work, entering the gap between the skid aperture and stylus of a surface roughness tester, leading to declined measurement performance.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a foreign substance removing section, including a suction device, air jetting device, or ultrasonic wave cleaning device, is used to remove foreign substances from the gap between the skid aperture and stylus after measurement, preventing adherence and maintaining measurement accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If measurement is performed on machined work with foreign substances adhering to the surface, then measurement can be conducted on real working conditions, but foreign substances enter the gap between skid aperture and stylus causing measurement performance to decline

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement capability on working machineVSAvoidsurface roughness measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The suction device performs preliminary cleaning action by removing foreign substances from the gap between the skid aperture and stylus before measurement begins. This preventive cleaning ensures that foreign substances do not interfere with the measurement process, thus maintaining measurement precision while allowing measurement on machined work with adhering substances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The suction device extracts foreign substances from the critical gap area between the skid aperture and stylus. By removing these harmful foreign substances from the measurement zone, the system maintains measurement accuracy while continuing to measure workpieces that have foreign substances on their surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If compressed air is used to blow foreign substances out of the roughness tester, then foreign substances can be removed, but foreign substances may re-enter the gap between skid aperture and stylus

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforeign substance removalVSAvoidmeasurement performance stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The suction device uses pneumatic principles to create negative pressure that actively draws foreign substances out of the gap between the skid aperture and stylus. This controlled pneumatic removal is more reliable than compressed air blowing, as it prevents foreign substances from being blown back into the measurement zone, thus maintaining measurement performance stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Device complexity

If foreign substances are not removed from the gap between skid aperture and stylus, then device structure remains simple, but measurement performance declines due to foreign substance adherence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning mechanism complexityVSAvoidsurface roughness measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The suction device is configured to automatically clean the gap area during or after the measurement process. This self-service cleaning function maintains measurement precision without requiring complex manual intervention or additional complex cleaning mechanisms, as the system performs its own maintenance function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 method effectively removes foreign substances, preventing their adherence and maintaining the surface roughness tester's performance, ensuring accurate measurements and prolonging its usage.

Implementation Method 1

a suction device, air jetting device, or ultrasonic wave cleaning device, is used to remove foreign substances from the gap between the skid aperture and stylus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

a suction device, air jetting device, or ultrasonic wave cleaning device, is used to remove foreign substances from the gap between the skid aperture and stylus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressed air jetting: Jet

Implementation Method 3

a suction device, air jetting device, or ultrasonic wave cleaning device, is used to remove foreign substances from the gap between the skid aperture and stylus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic wave: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2410288B1Method for cleaning the skid of a surface roughness tester
Publication Date: 2016.11.16 MITUTOYO CORP
  • EP2410288B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2410288B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2410288B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for cleaning a skid of a surface roughness tester including the skid provided with a skid aperture in a vertical direction, and a stylus disposed in the skid aperture of the skid and capable of moving in the vertical direction, wherein the surface roughness tester measures surface roughness of an object by moving the skid along a surface of the object. The method includes removing a foreign substance existing in a gap between the skid aperture and the stylus after measuring the surface roughness of the object.