Work Holder with Dovetail Slot for Secure Machining Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machining technologies face challenges in securely holding workpieces during operations without leaving residual protuberances on the finished products, as conventional fixtures often require permanent modifications or attachments that cannot be easily removed.
Innovation Solution
A work holder with a dovetail slot and modified clamps securely grips a workpiece with a dovetail protuberance, allowing for firm engagement during machining and easy removal of the protuberance post-processing by unscrewing the clamps and machining away the protuberance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fixtures are used to hold workpieces during machining, then the workpiece is securely fixed, but permanent modifications or attachments are left on the finished product
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece is segmented by adding a separate dovetail protuberance that can be independently removed after machining. This allows the fixture attachment feature to be separated from the final product, enabling secure fixation during machining while leaving no permanent marks on the finished surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The dovetail protuberance is designed as a temporary feature that is discarded after serving its purpose of securing the workpiece to the fixture during machining. It is removed by grinding after the machining operations are complete, recovering the clean finished surface while maintaining the benefits of secure fixation during the process.
2Reliability
If a dovetail protuberance is added to the workpiece for fixture attachment, then secure gripping during machining is achieved, but an additional machining step is required to remove the protuberance
Solution Approach 1:
The dovetail protuberance is prepared in advance as part of the workpiece setup, allowing for quick and secure attachment to the fixture without requiring complex fastening mechanisms during the machining process. This preliminary preparation streamlines the overall process despite the additional removal step.
3Ease of operation
If modified clamps with dovetail engagement are used, then the clamps can be easily unscrewed and repositioned, but the clamp structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The dovetail interface acts as an intermediary mechanism between the clamp and the workpiece protuberance. This intermediate engagement feature allows the clamp to be easily attached and detached through simple screwing and unscrewing actions, providing ease of operation while the complexity is contained within the standardized dovetail geometry rather than the clamp mechanism itself.
Data Source
AI summary
A work holder which is adapted to hold a workpiece firmly in place for machining operations with respect to a machine tool. The workpiece is fashioned with a dovetail protuberance, which protuberance is designed to affix the workpiece to the work holder to the machining operations. Once the machining is completed, the dovetail protuberance may be removed in any convenient manner. Thus, the finished product may not then exhibit the former protuberance.