Machine Tool Spindle Balancing With Contactless Update and Diagnostics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing balancing systems for rotating spindles in machine tools face challenges such as complex software updates, limited diagnostics, and inefficient communication during mechanical processing, leading to reduced productivity and potential damage due to unaddressed malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A balancing system with a control method that utilizes a two-way optical communication system and wireless power transmission, enabling seamless software updates and continuous diagnostics through a service and management application, allowing for real-time anomaly detection and prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the rotating part is disassembled to update software, then software can be updated, but productivity is reduced and operation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical disassembly operations with wireless communication technology. Software updates are transmitted wirelessly to the rotating part's control system, eliminating the need to disassemble the rotating part while maintaining software update capability. This resolves the contradiction by substituting a mechanical process with a wireless electronic process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication interface as an intermediary between the external update source and the rotating part's control system. This intermediary enables software updates without direct physical connection or disassembly, thereby maintaining productivity while enabling software adaptation.
2Loss of information
If the communication channel transmits analog vibration sensor readings, then vibration data can be transmitted, but digital diagnostic signals cannot be sent during mechanical processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges analog vibration sensor reading transmission with digital diagnostic signal communication into a unified communication channel. The control system of the rotating part can simultaneously or alternatively transmit both types of information through the same wireless interface, enabling comprehensive diagnostics during mechanical processing without requiring separate communication paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is designed with multi-functionality, capable of transmitting both analog vibration data and digital diagnostic signals through the same channel. This universal communication interface resolves the limitation by allowing the single communication path to serve multiple diagnostic and control functions.
3Ease of manufacture
If the control system hardware is physically connected to external computer, then software can be updated, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical cable connections and manual hardware interfacing with wireless communication technology. Software updates are transmitted wirelessly to the rotating part's control system, eliminating the time-consuming disassembly, connection, and reassembly operations while maintaining complete software update capability. This dramatically reduces update time and simplifies the update process.
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
Facilitates quick and cost-effective software updates, enhances system reliability by continuous diagnostics, and prevents potential damage by promptly addressing malfunctions, thereby improving productivity and machine tool performance.
Implementation Method 1
A two-way contactless communication system is provided which transmits analog and/or digital information between the rotating part, in particular the control system, and a processing and control electronics
Implementation Method 2
the power transmission system includes an air-core transformer having the primary winding arranged in a component fixed to the frame of the machine tool and the secondary winding arranged in the rotating part
Data Source
AI summary
Balancing system for a rotating spindle (3) of a machine tool (1); the balancing system has a rotating part comprising a balancing head (7) with at least one balancing mass (8) and at least one electric motor (9) which is adapted to regulate the position of the balancing mass; the rotating part also includes a vibration sensor (10) and a control system (11) with at least one hardware (12) and at least one software (13) executed by the hardware; the balancing system also includes a two-way contactless communication system (14) which establishes communication between the rotating control system and a fixed processing and control electronics (15) connected to a machine tool control unit (20). The software of the control system features: a management application (19) which performs all the management of the balancing head and the vibration sensor during normal operation, and a service application (18) which, when the control system is powered after a suspension of the power supply, automatically starts up and starts the management application or, if a software update is required, overwrites the existing version of the management application with a new version.