Vibrating Support for Complex Geometry Surface Finishing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface finishing machines are unable to treat the inner surfaces of pieces with complex geometries, such as those with long and/or curved ducts, resulting in unsatisfactory finishing results.
Innovation Solution
A support system that includes a fastening device with a joint, counterweight, and vibrator, fixed to a vibrating tank, allowing for adjustable vibration frequencies and rotational movement of pieces within the tank to ensure comprehensive surface finishing, including inner surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pieces are not fastened to any support in the vibrating tank, then the machine structure is simple and easy to operate, but the inner surfaces of pieces with complex geometries cannot be treated homogeneously
Solution Approach 1:
The support system segments the treatment process by dividing the piece into multiple positions during vibration. The support allows the piece to assume different orientations relative to the abrasive flow, ensuring all surfaces including inner ducts receive uniform treatment. This segmentation of spatial positioning resolves the contradiction between simple structure and homogeneous finishing.
Solution Approach 2:
The support system introduces dynamic positioning capabilities, allowing the piece to move and rotate during the vibration process. The support structure with its specific geometry enables the workpiece to dynamically change its orientation, ensuring homogeneous treatment of all surfaces including complex inner ducts, while maintaining a relatively simple overall machine structure.
2Productivity
If the support induces vibrations close to the resonant frequency of the support, then the speed and quality of surface finishing is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components like joints, counterweights, and actuators
Solution Approach 1:
The support system incorporates counterweights that are strategically positioned to balance the dynamic forces generated during vibration. These counterweights enable the support to operate at resonant frequencies more effectively by reducing unwanted vibrations and improving the efficiency of the surface finishing process, thereby increasing productivity without requiring excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support system is designed to exploit mechanical vibration at resonant frequencies to enhance the surface finishing process. By tuning the support structure to operate at its resonant frequency, the system amplifies the beneficial vibrational effects on the workpiece surface, improving both speed and quality of finishing. The joint and counterweight mechanisms are minimized to only what is necessary to achieve and maintain this resonant operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the machine rotates the support around a horizontal axis, then the piece can be arranged both inside and outside the mass of abrasive elements for adjusted processing times, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation mechanism is designed with multi-functionality, serving both to position pieces for optimal treatment and to control processing times. By integrating the rotation capability into the existing support structure rather than adding a completely separate mechanism, the system achieves versatility in handling different piece types and treatment requirements while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
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
Enables effective finishing of both outer and inner surfaces of pieces, improving the quality and speed of surface treatment by synchronizing vibrations with the resonant frequency of the support and utilizing the movement of abrasive elements.
Implementation Method 1
The support is preferably fixed to the vibrating tank of the machine to vibrate with it and induce further vibrations to the piece, in particular vibrations close to the resonant frequency of the support, so as to optimize the effect of the vibrations for the surface finishing of the piece.
Implementation Method 2
Known machines for surface finishing comprise a vibrating tank that can contain pieces and abrasive elements suitable to treat the outer surface of these pieces when the tank is vibrated.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
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Figure 9~11
AI summary
Support (10) comprising a fastening device (11) which is suitable to be joined to at least one piece (1) to be treated in a vibrating tank (31; 41) and is connected through at least one elastic member (16) to at least one joint (17) suitable to be fixed to a vibrating body (30, 40), wherein the elastic member (16) extends along a longitudinal axis (L), so that the elastic member (16) can flex and/or twist if the joint (17) is vibrated. The present description also relates to a machine and a process which can use such a support (10).