Trimming Unit Servo Control for Woodworking Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trimming units for continuous woodworking machines face limitations in processing speed and accuracy due to the high masses of parts being moved and the complexity of controlling the swivel drive and transverse movement.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of two carriages with a linkage system for the traversing drive, allowing perpendicular movement and superimposed movements in both directions, along with a controllable servo motor for the carrier, eliminates the need for a gearbox and enables independent control of linear drives for each carriage, enhancing positioning accuracy and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single swivel drive and cross support are used for the traversing mechanism, then the structure is simpler, but the processing speed cannot be increased due to high masses and control complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The single swivel drive and cross support are divided into two separate carriages (first carriage and second carriage) that move independently along the guide. Each carriage has its own linear drive, separating the transverse movement function from the longitudinal traversing function, thereby reducing the mass that must be accelerated during speed changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static cross support to dynamic carriages that can independently adjust their positions and speeds. The carriages are equipped with separately controllable linear drives that enable synchronized movement with the panels, allowing the processing unit to maintain optimal positioning while moving at higher speeds.
2Measurement precision
If a gear train is used for the swivel drive, then the structure is compact, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to the masses and tolerances involved
Solution Approach 1:
The gear train mechanical transmission system is replaced with a servo motor that directly drives the carrier. This eliminates gear backlash and transmission errors, providing direct and accurate control of the processing unit's angular position without the complexity of multi-stage gear control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system transitions from mechanical gear ratios to electronic servo control with programmable parameters. The servo motor allows for precise control of angular position, speed, and acceleration through electronic parameters, enabling higher positioning accuracy while simplifying the control architecture.
3Speed
If the processing unit is moved with high acceleration, then the processing speed increases, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates due to the high masses
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamically controllable linear drives on each carriage that can independently adjust acceleration and deceleration profiles. This allows for high-speed traversing with optimized motion curves that minimize positioning errors during acceleration and deceleration phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses programmable control with feedback mechanisms to monitor and adjust the position and speed of the carriages and processing unit. This enables real-time compensation for inertial effects during high-speed operation, maintaining trimming accuracy even during rapid acceleration and deceleration.
Data Source
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AI summary
The machine has a unit for trimming edge strips applied on surface sides of plates (1) e.g. table top, and a processing unit (4) with a scanning unit (10) that scans a plate outline close to the strips. A carrier (5) is arranged at a shaft (11) of a rotation-angle controllable servo motor (12) that is connected to two slides (18, 19) by couplings (14-17) of a coupling gear. The slides are guided parallel to a passing direction and have process drives that are controllable independent of each other. The drives control process movements of the motor including the unit (4) in the direction.