Thread Whirling Cutter Ring for Multi-Groove Screw Machining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machine tools struggle to efficiently form screws with multiple screw grooves of different shapes, such as two-threaded screws, which are required for medical applications like bone screws.

Innovation Solution

A machine tool with a spindle, turret, and cutter ring that holds multiple cutting tools of different shapes, controlled by a controller to rotate and move the workpiece and cutting tools in specific directions to form screws with alternating screw grooves of varying shapes and dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a machine tool performs thread whirling and turning process at the same time, then machining time is shortened, but it becomes difficult to form screws with multiple screw grooves of different shapes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachining timeVSAvoidability to form multiple screw groove shapes

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting tool is segmented into multiple types of cutting edges (first cutting edge, second cutting edge, third cutting edge) with different shapes, allowing the same tool to form different screw groove shapes by selecting different cutting edges during the thread whirling process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A single cutting tool is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating different cutting edges that can form various screw groove shapes, enabling the machine tool to produce multi-threaded screws without requiring multiple separate tools or processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cutting tools of different shapes are used to form different screw grooves, then screw groove shape variety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescrew groove shape varietyVSAvoidtool structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple cutting edges with different shapes are merged into a single cutting tool structure, eliminating the need for multiple separate tools and reducing tool change operations while maintaining the ability to form various screw groove shapes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12502746B2Machine tool and control method and control program thereof

Publication Date: 2025.12.23 CITIZEN WATCH CO LTD

AI summary

A machine tool according to the disclosure has a spindle rotatably holding a cylindrical workpiece, a turret holding a thread whirling tool having a cutter ring having a base on which a through hole is formed and a plurality of types of cutting tools disposed on the inner diameter side of the base and having different shapes, so as to rotatably holds the cutter ring, a controller controlling rotations and relative movements of the spindle and the turret, wherein the controller has the spindle hold a workpiece, disposes the workpiece in the through hole so that the workpiece penetrates the through hole, rotates at least one of the cutter ring and the workpiece, and switches movements of the thread whirling tool in an extending direction of the workpiece and a direction intersecting with the extending direction thereof based on a selected predetermined cutting tool.