Spindle Coupling Device for Additive Manufacturing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for coupling to machine tool spindles are complex and prone to mechanical errors, with inefficient power transmission and high control technology requirements, limiting their effectiveness in additive manufacturing processes like melt layering.
Innovation Solution
A device with a holder coupled to the spindle, featuring a gear system with a force absorbing element and a force output element, which conveys a filament purely mechanically, utilizing a combined toothed wheel and worm gear transmission, and pressure rollers to efficiently transmit torque and rotate the filament for 3D printing applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a combined gear and worm transmission is used, then the transmission reliability is improved and mechanical errors are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines gear transmission and worm transmission into a single integrated transmission unit. The gear transmission provides high-speed rotation while the worm transmission provides precise positioning and error correction, creating a hybrid system that leverages the advantages of both mechanisms to improve overall transmission reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission system uses composite mechanical structures combining different transmission mechanisms (gear and worm) with different functional properties. This composite approach allows the system to achieve both high speed and high precision simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If the force receiving element and force output element are designed separately with orthogonal axes, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission system is divided into distinct functional elements: a force receiving element with its own rotation axis and a force output element with a different rotation axis. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining precise orthogonal alignment through careful design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-axis transmission to a multi-axis transmission system where the force receiving element and force output element rotate about orthogonal axes. This dimensional change enables improved manufacturing precision by allowing independent optimization of each axis while the orthogonal relationship provides natural error isolation
3Ease of operation
If a purely mechanical transmission is used, then the control technology requirements are reduced and cost is decreased, but the adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The purely mechanical transmission system is designed to automatically adapt to different operating conditions through its inherent mechanical properties. The gear and worm transmission mechanisms self-adjust based on load conditions and speed requirements, eliminating the need for complex electronic control while maintaining operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical transmission system is designed with universal applicability to handle various additive manufacturing processes. By using standard gear and worm transmission components with appropriate ratio selections, the same basic mechanism can serve multiple functions and adapt to different material processing requirements without electronic reconfiguration
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 solution simplifies the power transmission process, reduces mechanical errors, and minimizes control technology needs, enabling efficient and cost-effective additive manufacturing by directly using the spindle's rotational energy to convey and heat filaments for forming molded parts.
Implementation Method 1
the transmission is designed as a combined transmission which combines a gear transmission comprising a first gear and a second gear with a worm transmission comprising a worm shaft and a worm wheel
Implementation Method 2
The conveying element has two opposing pressure rollers, one of the two opposing pressure rollers being designed as the worm wheel of the worm transmission
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (16) for coupling to a spindle (1) of a machine tool (15). A force of the spindle (1) can be purely mechanically transmitted to a conveyor element (25) for conveying a filament (51) in order to form a moulded part by means of additive manufacturing. The invention also relates to a machine tool (15) comprising such a device (16), and to a method for additive manufacturing using such a device (16).