Steady Rest With Segmented Control Track For Compact Workpiece Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steady rests for machining large, rotationally symmetrical workpieces are limited by space constraints in machine tools, requiring larger sizes and reduced swiveling ranges to accommodate varying workpiece diameters, necessitating frequent installation and removal.
Innovation Solution
The steady rest design features a guide slide with multiple control sections and rollers that adjust their contact points based on the workpiece diameter, allowing for maximum swiveling range and compact size, enabling the clamping of workpieces with different diameters without significant space increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the steady rest is designed with larger size to accommodate workpieces with different diameters, then the swivelling range of the outer steady rest arms is improved, but the space occupied by the steady rest increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control track is divided into multiple control sections with different orientations. The first control section has a first orientation and the second control section has a second orientation different from the first. This segmentation allows the outer steady rest arms to follow different swivelling paths depending on which control section is active, enabling adaptation to workpieces of different diameters without increasing the overall steady rest size.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide slide is designed to be movable along the longitudinal axis of the housing shells. By moving the guide slide to different positions, different control sections become active, which in turn activates different swivelling ranges for the outer steady rest arms. This dynamic adjustment allows the steady rest to adapt to varying workpiece diameters while maintaining a compact size.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the guide slide is positioned to maximize swivelling range for large workpieces, then the outer steady rest arms can clamp large diameters, but the steady rest cannot accommodate small workpieces effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The guide slide can be moved along the longitudinal axis to different positions. When positioned at a first location, the first control section is active for large workpieces. When positioned at a second location, the second control section is active for small workpieces. This dynamic repositioning allows a single steady rest to handle a wide range of workpiece diameters without complex mechanical adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation parameter of the control track is changed by selecting different control sections. The first control section has a specific orientation optimized for large workpieces, while the second control section has a different orientation optimized for small workpieces. By changing which control section is active through guide slide positioning, the system adapts to different workpiece sizes without physical reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
In a steady rest (1) for centring a rotationally symmetrical workpiece (2) in the space, consisting of: two housing halves (4, 5) arranged at a distance from one another and firmly connected together, a middle steady rest arm (6) arranged between the two housing shells (4, 5) that is mounted in the housing shells (4, 5) by means of an actuation piston (7) so as to be moved in an axial direction (3) towards the workpiece (2), and two outer steady rest arms (11, 12) that are in a driving connection with the middle steady rest arm (6) by means of a guide slide (13) which has a control track (14) on two opposite outside sides, on which a roller (16) attached to the free ends (15) of both outer steady rests (11, 12) is arranged which roll along the control track (14), workpieces (2) with different diameters should be held in the space. This is achieved in that the particular control track (14) of the guide slide (13) has at least two control sections (21, 22, 25) and that at least two rollers (16) spaced apart from one another are provided on the particular outer steady rest arm (11, 12), which are in an active contact with one each of the control sections (21, 22, 25) depending on the position of the guide slide (13) in the housing shells (4, 5).