Titanium Alloy Connecting Rod Bolt Hole Machining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Titanium alloys are harder to cut than steels, leading to high cutting resistance and requiring cutting tools with high rigidity, which are difficult to achieve due to interference issues and reduced tool lifetime during processing of titanium-alloy connecting rods.

Innovation Solution

The production method involves forming bolt holes by inclining the cutting tool's longitudinal direction with respect to the rod's longitudinal direction, allowing for a larger cutting tool diameter and enhanced rigidity, reducing processing time, and increasing the thickness of the big end for improved rigidity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a cutting tool with high rigidity is used to cut titanium alloy, then cutting resistance is reduced and processing precision is improved, but the tool diameter must be large which causes interference with the workpiece structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting tool rigidityVSAvoidtool interference with workpiece structure
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the cutting direction from the conventional longitudinal direction (parallel to rod axis) to an inclined direction forming an angle of 10-30 degrees with the longitudinal direction. This dimensional change in cutting orientation allows the use of larger diameter cutting tools without interference with the big end structure, thereby improving tool rigidity while avoiding structural interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If the cutting tool diameter is increased to improve rigidity, then processing precision and tool lifetime are improved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing precisionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By cutting in an inclined direction rather than longitudinally, the patent enables the use of larger diameter cutting tools that have higher rigidity and can remove material more efficiently. The inclined cutting path, while slightly longer, allows for higher feed rates and deeper cuts due to the improved tool rigidity, resulting in net reduction of processing time compared to using smaller tools in the conventional longitudinal direction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Weight of moving object

If titanium alloy is used for connecting rod to reduce weight, then weight reduction is achieved, but cutting resistance increases making machining difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnecting rod weightVSAvoidcutting resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses the high cutting resistance of titanium alloy by changing the cutting orientation to an inclined direction. This allows the use of larger diameter cutting tools with higher rigidity that can effectively cut through the hard titanium alloy material, reducing cutting forces and improving machinability despite the material's inherent difficulty to machine

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3015204B1Production method for titanium-alloy connecting rod
Publication Date: 2017.07.19 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3015204B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3015204B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3015204B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a production method for a titanium-alloy connecting rod that ensures high rigidity of a cutting tool. One embodiment of the present invention provides a production method for a titanium-alloy connecting rod (1) in which a rod portion (33) and a cap portion (34) of a big end (30) are fixed by using a bolt (40). The production method for the titanium-alloy connecting rod (1) includes a step of forming a bolt hole (32) for the bolt (40) to extend therethrough. The step of forming the bolt hole (32) includes: forming a first hole (61) in the cap portion (34) and the rod portion (33) in a direction from the cap portion (34) toward the rod portion (33); and forming a second hole (62) in the rod portion (33) in a direction from the rod portion (33) toward the cap portion (34). Once the first and second holes are formed, the first hole (61) and the second hole (62) communicate with each other. The longitudinal direction (LD2) of a cutting tool (52) used for forming the second hole (62) is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction (y) of the rod main body (10) of the titanium-alloy connecting rod (1).