Workpiece Cutout Holding for Aligned Sheet Metal Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manufacturing processes face inefficiencies in cutting and removing workpiece sections from sheet metal, particularly when dealing with thin materials, as they often result in misalignment and increased machine downtime due to the complexity of handling and positioning during the cutting and removal process.
Innovation Solution
A method and device where the first workpiece section cut free is fixed to a holding device, allowing for a common removal movement with the remaining workpiece, ensuring the workpiece sections are positioned correctly relative to each other to prevent misalignment and facilitate efficient cutting and removal, using a combination of vacuum or magnetic holding units and coordinated movement with the machine tool's cutting unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the first workpiece section cut free is removed immediately after cutting, then the cutting unit can start the next cutting operation, but the workpiece section may be misaligned during removal
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device is prepared in advance by establishing a common removal movement path that preserves the relative position between the first workpiece section cut free and the remaining workpiece. This preliminary setup ensures that when removal occurs, the workpiece section maintains its correct alignment without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.
2Manufacturing precision
If a complex handling mechanism is used to maintain alignment during removal, then workpiece section alignment is preserved, but machine downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the alignment-maintaining function from complex mechanical handling mechanisms and transfers it to the holding device through the common removal movement concept. This simplification removes unnecessary mechanical complexity while preserving alignment, thereby reducing machine downtime associated with complex handling operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If the workpiece is moved in complex paths during removal, then alignment can be maintained, but the removal process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the movement of the first workpiece section cut free with the movement of the remaining workpiece into a single common removal movement. This combination ensures that the relative position between the two remains constant throughout the removal process, maintaining alignment while executing a simple, time-efficient movement path.
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 approach enables time-optimized and reliable cutting and removal of workpiece sections over longer distances, minimizing machine downtime and ensuring high process reliability by maintaining the correct alignment of workpiece sections during the cutting and removal process, even when dealing with thin sheet metal.
Implementation Method 1
using a combination of vacuum or magnetic holding units
Implementation Method 2
using a combination of vacuum or magnetic holding units
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
In order to remove a workpiece cutout (5) cut free from a residual workpiece (49) from a cutting unit (38) of a machine tool, the cut-free workpiece cutout (5) and the residual workpiece (49) are moved with a common removal movement relative to the cutting unit (38). During the common removal movement of the cut-free workpiece cutout (5) and the residual workpiece (49), the cut-free workpiece cutout (5) is secured to a holding device (50). By means of the holding device (50), the cut-free workpiece cutout (5) is positioned relative to the residual workpiece (49). The described method for mechanically removing a cut-free workpiece cutout (5) from a cutting unit (38) of a machine tool is part of a mechanical manufacturing method. Appropriate devices are provided to carry out the two methods.