Workpiece Carrier Alignment for Parallel Tool Sharpening
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of machining tools and the need for regular sharpening of cutting edges, such as drills and milling cutters, leads to high acquisition and maintenance costs, necessitating efficient sharpening methods to extend tool life and maintain dimensional accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for machining similar workpieces with a workpiece carrier arrangement and tool carrier arrangement, where workpieces are aligned uniformly relative to each other and machining tools, allowing for parallel or synchronous processing, which simplifies control and increases output while maintaining high reproducibility and reducing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple workpieces are processed sequentially in a single machining position, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece carrier arrangement is segmented into multiple workpiece carriers (first, second, third, fourth carriers) that can be independently positioned and oriented. Each carrier can hold and position a workpiece separately, allowing parallel processing of multiple workpieces at different orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) relative to the machining tool, thereby increasing productivity without requiring a completely new machine design
Solution Approach 2:
The machining device is designed with universal capability to process workpieces at multiple orientations using the same machining tool. The workpiece carriers can be rotated and positioned to present workpieces at 0°, 90°, 180°, or 270° orientations, allowing a single machining tool to perform multiple machining operations on different workpieces without changing the tool itself, thus improving productivity while maintaining device simplicity
2Manufacturing precision
If workpieces are machined without uniform alignment, then the ease of operation is high, but the manufacturing precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece carriers are pre-configured with reference surfaces and positioning mechanisms that automatically align workpieces before machining begins. The carriers include features such as reference surfaces with predetermined orientations and positioning elements that ensure workpieces are correctly positioned relative to the machining tool before the actual machining operation starts, thereby ensuring manufacturing precision without requiring complex real-time alignment adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual alignment operations with automated positioning mechanisms. The workpiece carriers incorporate motorized rotation and positioning systems that automatically orient workpieces to the correct angles (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) relative to the machining tool, eliminating the need for manual measurement and adjustment, thereby ensuring consistent manufacturing precision while reducing operational complexity
3Productivity
If multiple workpieces are processed in parallel, then the productivity increases, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses copying of the same control program and parameters for machining different workpieces. Since workpieces are processed at standard orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°), the same machining cycle and tool paths can be copied and applied to each workpiece carrier, simplifying control complexity while enabling parallel processing of multiple workpieces with identical or similar geometries
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (10) for machining identical workpieces (28, 30) in a machining position, in particular for sharpening workpieces (28, 30) with cutting edges for machining, such as drills, milling cutters or the like, wherein each workpiece (28, 30) has a workpiece axis and a reference point (RP1, RP2) predefined with respect to the workpiece axis, wherein the device (10) comprises: a workpiece carrier arrangement (12) with a plurality of workpiece carriers (24, 26), wherein each workpiece carrier (24, 26) is configured to receive one of the identical workpieces (28, 30), wherein each workpiece carrier (24, 26) has a workpiece carrier axis (A1, A2), wherein each workpiece (28, 30) is received in the associated workpiece carrier (24, 26) such that the workpiece carrier axis (A1, A2) and the workpiece axis essentially coincide, wherein the workpiece carrier axes (A1,A2) the plurality of workpiece carriers (24, 26) are arranged in a predetermined orientation relative to each other, and a tool carrier arrangement (14) with a plurality of tool carriers (32, 34), wherein each tool carrier (32, 34) is configured to receive a machining tool (36, 38), and wherein the tool carriers (32, 34) each have a tool carrier axis (L1, L2), and wherein the tool carrier axes (L1, L2) are arranged in a predetermined orientation relative to each other, wherein the device (10) is configured to align the reference points (RP1, RP2) of the workpieces (28, 30) relative to each other with respect to the workpiece carrier axes (A1, A2) in a substantially uniform manner when receiving the workpieces (28, 30) in the associated workpiece carriers (24, 26) of the workpiece carrier arrangement (12).