Lock Mechanism for Wax Mold Clamping Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing clamp apparatus for wax mold injection molding struggles to maintain consistent sealing pressure during wax injection, leading to deformation of the rubber mold and variations in the wax mold shape, which affects the precision and quantity of noble metal products, requiring trial-and-error determination of clamp forces and injection pressures.
Innovation Solution
A clamp apparatus with a lock mechanism that fixes the vertical position of the clamp plate relative to the mounting table, minimizing the decrease in elastic force during wax injection, thereby maintaining consistent deflection and preventing wax bleeding, allowing for precise control of clamp forces without varying injection pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional clamp apparatus is used without a lock mechanism, then the clamp plate can move vertically to adjust positioning, but the sealing pressure decreases during wax injection causing rubber mold deformation and wax bleeding
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is activated before wax injection to fix the clamp plate position, preventing any vertical movement during the injection process. This preliminary action ensures that the elastic force remains constant, maintaining stable sealing pressure and preventing wax bleeding, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If trial-and-error determination of clamp forces is used, then various manufacturing conditions can be tested, but the process becomes time-consuming and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism changes the system parameter from variable clamp plate position to fixed position, eliminating the need for repeated trial-and-error adjustments. Once the optimal clamp force is determined, the lock mechanism ensures consistent reproduction of results, reducing time loss while maintaining adaptability for different manufacturing conditions.
3Ease of operation
If the clamp plate position is not fixed, then adjustment is easier, but the elastic force decreases during injection leading to deformation of the rubber mold
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp apparatus operation is segmented into two distinct phases: adjustment phase where the clamp plate can move vertically for positioning, and injection phase where the lock mechanism fixes the position to prevent deformation. This segmentation allows easy operation during setup while ensuring manufacturing precision during the critical injection process.
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
This solution ensures faithful reproduction of the model shape, reduces the need for trial-and-error determination of manufacturing conditions, and stabilizes the metal usage in products, enhancing the quality and consistency of precision components.
Implementation Method 1
maintaining consistent deflection and preventing wax bleeding, allowing for precise control of clamp forces
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a clamp apparatus capable of securely clamping a rubber mold 3 with a small clamp force F1, a clamp apparatus capable of easily determining a clamp force F1, and a method of manufacturing a wax mold. The clamp apparatus includes a mounting table 9 for mounting a rubber mold 3; a clamp plate 10; and a clamp force generator 11 for changing a vertical position of the lamp plate 10 relative to the mounting table 9. A vertical position of the clamp plate 10 relative to the mounting table 9 is fixed by a lock mechanism 20A. The lock mechanism 20A fixes a position of the clamp plate 10 in a state that the rubber mold 3 is clamped between the mounting table 9 and the clamp plate 10.