Integrated Suction Workpiece Support to Prevent Chatter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional workpiece support systems fail to prevent chatter vibration, are not compact due to separate installation of suction clamps and supports, and cannot achieve multipoint contact, leading to deformation and inability to secure non-flat workpieces.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece support apparatus that integrates suction and rigid body support at the same location, using a support member with a compressive contact mechanism and a suction pad to secure the workpiece without causing deformation, thereby preventing chatter vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If suction clamp and workpiece support are separately installed, then suction and support functionalities are provided, but the apparatus cannot be made compact and multipoint contact cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the suction clamp and workpiece support into a single integrated apparatus. The suction pad is positioned to contact the workpiece at multiple points simultaneously, while the support structure provides rigid backing. This merging eliminates the need for separate suction and support devices, achieving compactness while maintaining multipoint contact capability through the unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated apparatus performs multiple functions simultaneously: suction for holding the workpiece, rigid support for preventing deformation, and multipoint contact for securing various workpiece shapes. The single device replaces what would traditionally require separate suction clamps and support structures, providing universal functionality in a compact form.
2Device complexity
If vacuum pad is used as head cap of workpiece support, then suction and support are integrated, but weight increases and stiffness of riser spring must increase causing large deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent redistributes the support function across multiple contact points on the workpiece surface rather than concentrating weight at a single head cap location. By achieving multipoint contact, the load is distributed, allowing the use of lighter springs at each contact point while maintaining overall support stiffness. This dimensional distribution of support forces eliminates the need for heavy centralized construction.
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 integrated support system effectively prevents chatter vibration and deformation while allowing secure attachment of various workpiece shapes, including curved and stepped surfaces, achieving a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
by causing there to be negative pressure at the interior of the suction pad
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
In order to achieve a workpiece support apparatus that performs suction and rigid body support at the same position, that attains compactness, and that can prevent chatter vibrations, the workpiece support apparatus has: a case member 3 that has an axial center 4 and that is provided to a workpiece support part 1 for supporting a workpiece 2; a support member 5 that is provided to the case member 3 so as to be movable in the axial center direction and that has one end part projecting outwardly from the case member 3 and supporting the workpiece 2 so as to serve as a projection end part 6; a suction pad 7 that is provided concentrically to the projection end part 6 and that suctions the workpiece 2; an adjustment device 8 that is provided between the support member 5 and the case member 3 in order to adjust contact pressure of the support member 5 with respect to the workpiece 2; an air intake path 9 that sets, to a negative pressure, the inside of the suction pad 7 contacting the workpiece 2 and that provides connection between a sucking port 11 provided to the case member 3 and an air intake port 10 provided to suction and fix the projection end part 6 to the workpiece 2; and a fixing device 13 that fixes the support member 5 to the case member 3 in a suction fixing state.