Customizable Tool Station Shelving for Safe CNC Tool Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
CNC workshops face challenges in efficiently organizing and accessing a large variety of collets, tool holders, and tool assemblies due to the need for frequent tool changes and the risk of injury from sharp cutting tools.
Innovation Solution
A customizable tool station with a frame, swinging and sliding shelf supports, and interchangeable collet and tool holder shelves, allowing easy access and storage of tools while minimizing the risk of injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If tools are stored in a centralized location for easy access, then productivity is improved, but the risk of injury from sharp cutting tools increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool collection is segmented into multiple organized compartments and shelves within the station, separating sharp cutting tools from the access path. The swinging shelf mechanism further segments the retrieval process, allowing tools to be accessed from a protected position rather than requiring direct hand-over-hand retrieval from an open toolbox.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool station acts as an intermediary between the tool holder and the operator. The organized shelves, compartments, and swinging shelf mechanism serve as intermediate structures that protect the operator from direct contact with sharp tools during retrieval, while still providing efficient access to the needed tools.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large variety of tools are stored at a centralized location, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is divided into multiple shelves, compartments, and sections that can be independently organized. Each shelf can hold different types of tools (collets, tool holders, completed assemblies), creating a segmented organization system that manages complexity through structured division rather than random placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool station is designed as a universal storage system that can accommodate multiple types of CNC tools simultaneously - collets, tool holders, and completed tool assemblies. The standardized shelf and compartment design allows the same structure to serve multiple storage functions, managing diversity through uniform organization methods.
3Ease of operation
If tools are stored in an organized manner, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The organized storage is achieved through segmented shelves and compartments that create dedicated spaces for different tool types. This segmentation makes tools easier to locate and retrieve by category, while the modular nature of the shelving system allows for flexible organization without requiring an overly complex fixed structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The swinging shelf support provides a dynamic element to the organization system. The shelf can swing outward to present tools for easy viewing and selection, then return to a closed position for compact storage. This dynamic movement enhances ease of operation while keeping the overall structure relatively simple compared to fixed complex mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool station includes a frame, a first swinging shelf support pivotally attached to the frame and one or more sliding shelf supports. The tool station also includes a plurality of shelf receivers including at least one shelf receiver carried on the frame, at least one shelf receiver carried on the first swinging shelf support and at least one shelf receiver carried on the sliding shelf supports. Interchangeable collet shelves and tool holder shelves may be attached to the tool station at the various shelf receivers.