High-Precision Manufacturing Machine With Swappable Tool Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-precision manufacturing machines face challenges in accommodating multiple tools without increasing size, cooling requirements, and maintenance costs, particularly when combining multiple extruders or integrating different tools like extruders and laser engraving tools into a single unit.
Innovation Solution
A high-precision manufacturing machine with a movable platform and base station that allows for the selective engagement and disengagement of tools, enabling the use of a large number of printer heads or tools without crowding the work area, using a transportation and engagement mechanism to manage tool placement and reduce unnecessary tool presence on the platform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple extruders are combined into a single unit, then the number of available tools increases, but the machine size and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides tools into two separate locations: base tool holders mounted on the frame and platform tool holders on the movable platform. This segmentation allows multiple tools to be stored in the base station without increasing the size of the movable platform, resolving the contradiction between having multiple tools and maintaining compact machine size.
Solution Approach 2:
The transportation and engagement mechanism acts as an intermediary that transfers tools between the base station and movable platform. This mediator enables tool access without requiring all tools to be present on the platform simultaneously, allowing versatile tool availability while maintaining a compact platform design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple extruders are combined into a single unit, then the number of available tools increases, but cooling requirements and energy consumption increase due to excessive heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the tool storage into base tool holders and platform tool holders, the system ensures that only one or a few extruders are active on the platform at any time. This reduces the total heat generation from multiple extruders while maintaining the capability to access many different tools through the base station.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple extruders are combined into a single unit, then the number of available tools increases, but maintenance cost increases as failure of one extruder requires replacement of the entire assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates individual extruder tools from the platform assembly. Each extruder can be independently removed and replaced from the base tool holders without affecting the platform or other tools. This modular segmentation enables easy maintenance and replacement of individual components while preserving the entire tool system.
Solution Approach 2:
The base tool holders and platform tool holders use universal engagement mechanisms that can accommodate different extruder types. This universality allows individual tools to be replaced or upgraded without requiring replacement of the entire tool assembly, reducing maintenance costs while maintaining versatility.
4Ease of operation
If tools are kept on the movable platform, then quick access is enabled, but the platform becomes crowded and limits the number of available tools
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts unused tools from the movable platform and stores them in the base station. This extraction keeps the platform uncluttered for quick access to active tools while the base station serves as a repository for the full inventory of available tools, resolving the contradiction between platform space and tool availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The transportation mechanism serves as an intermediary that rapidly transfers tools between the base station and platform. This mediator enables quick tool access by bringing needed tools to the platform on demand, maintaining ease of operation while allowing a larger total number of tools to be available in the base station.
Data Source
AI summary
A high-precision manufacturing machine used in precision manufacturing processes, such as a 3-D printer, is described. The machine has a frame, a movable platform supported by and movable relative to the frame, on which are mounted one or more platform tool holders for holding one or more tools such as an extruder, a base station that may include one or more bays, each of the bays having a number of base station tool holders, for storing tools that are not in use, and a supporting base, which may be movable relative to the frame, for holding one or more work items to be processed by the tool or tools selected and held by the movable platform.