Veined End Mill Blanks With Locator Notch for Precise Grinding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high manufacturing costs of veined end mill tool blanks made from superabrasive materials limit their use due to the cumbersome and time-consuming process of manually aligning and grinding these tools, which can result in unintentional removal of the superabrasive material during the grinding process.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a locator notch on the veined end mill tool blank in a relative position to the superabrasive material, serving as a reference point to aid in precise location and alignment, thereby eliminating the need for manual measurement and reducing the risk of material removal during grinding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment and grinding process is used for veined end mill tool blanks, then the superabrasive material can be processed, but the process is time-consuming and risks unintentional removal of the superabrasive material
Solution Approach 1:
A locator notch is carved or engraved on the veined end mill tool blank in a relative location to the veined superabrasive material before the grinding process. This preliminary action creates a reference point that guides the grinding operation, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual alignment and measurements during the grinding process.
2Reliability
If manual alignment process is used to locate superabrasive material coordinates, then grinding can be performed, but the process is cumbersome and risks cutting off parts of the superabrasive material
Solution Approach 1:
The locator notch on the tool blank serves as a self-guiding reference point that automatically indicates the location of the superabrasive material. This eliminates the need for complex manual alignment operations and measurements, making the grinding process easier to perform while ensuring the superabrasive material is not accidentally cut off.
3Manufacturing precision
If high precision grinding is performed without reference points, then material can be processed, but manual measurements are required which increase the risk of errors
Solution Approach 1:
The locator notch acts as an intermediary reference element between the tool blank and the grinding operation. This simple geometric feature provides a reliable reference point that simplifies the alignment procedure and reduces the risk of errors during the grinding process, eliminating the need for complex manual measurements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The locator notch enables accurate grinding without unintentionally cutting off parts of the superabrasive material, improving the efficiency and precision of the tool fabrication process, reducing manufacturing costs and time.
Implementation Method 1
slots (e.g. also interchangeably referred to as veins or channels in the art of veined end mill tool blanks) in the WC cylinders may be filled with for example diamond powder, and subsequently sintered, in order to form the veined PCD (i.e, integrally bonded in a high pressure high temperature, HPHT process)
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a veined end mill tool blank including a body having at least one cutting edge formed of a veined superabrasive material. An anchoring substrate supports the superabrasive material, the substrate including tungsten carbide (WC). An interface integrally joins the veined superabrasive material with the substrate. For each cutting edge, the tool blank is provided with a slot having a curved surface sintered with the superabrasive material. A locator notch is carved on the veined end mill tool blank relative to the veined superabrasive material as a reference point to aid in locating the superabrasive material on the tool blank. The locator notch engraved on the veined end mill tool blank indicates the location of the superabrasive material on the tool blank, thereby eliminating the need for manually locating coordinates of the superabrasive material during a grinding process by a tool fabricator to achieve a precise grinding.