Workpiece Holding Device for Thermal Expansion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional workpiece holding devices in heat-treatment systems face challenges in accurately positioning and securely holding workpieces during thermal expansion and contraction, leading to inadequate clamping forces, wear in drive systems, and limitations in heat input optimization, which affect the precision and reproducibility of heat treatment processes.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece holding device with rotatable clamping units and a drive system that applies a defined friction force using a friction wheel or roller, supported by measuring devices and controllers to maintain constant contact force, ensuring precise positioning and reduced wear, while allowing for optimized heat input and minimizing deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the clamping force is increased to securely hold the workpiece during thermal expansion and contraction, then the workpiece is held firmly, but the workpiece may deform due to excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping device incorporates a dynamic adjustment mechanism that allows the clamping force to be modified in response to thermal expansion and contraction of the workpiece. The device can adapt its clamping force dynamically during the heat treatment process, maintaining secure holding without applying excessive force that would cause deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the clamping force parameter based on the thermal state of the workpiece. During heating when expansion occurs, the clamping force is reduced; during cooling when contraction occurs, the clamping force is increased. This parameter adjustment ensures reliable holding while preventing deformation at different thermal stages.
2Reliability
If the mass of the workbench and clamping jaws is increased to provide stable clamping, then the clamping stability is improved, but the wear in the drive system increases due to the large mass to be moved
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping system is divided into separate modular components including the workbench, clamping jaws, and drive mechanism. This segmentation allows the drive system to only move the necessary clamping components rather than the entire heavy assembly, reducing wear while maintaining clamping stability through proper positioning of the workpiece on the workbench.
3Volume of moving object
If the dimensions of the device are increased to accommodate large workpieces, then the workpiece capacity is improved, but the process parameters such as relative speed between inductor and workpiece are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from linear movement to rotational movement of the workpiece. By rotating the workpiece within the heat treatment zone, the effective processing capacity is increased without proportionally increasing the device dimensions. This rotational approach maintains optimized heat input parameters while accommodating larger workpiece volumes.
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
The solution enables precise positioning and secure holding of workpieces during thermal treatment, reducing wear and deformation, and allowing for optimized heat input, thereby improving the reproducibility and effectiveness of the heat treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
a workpiece holding device with rotatable clamping units and a drive system that applies a defined friction force using a friction wheel or roller
Implementation Method 2
wherein due to a heat treatment the workpiece experiences a thermal expansion and/or contraction
Implementation Method 3
an expansion and/or contraction due to a density difference arising in the microstructure during the phase transformation
Data Source
AI summary
A workpiece holding device for holding a workpiece having a substantially radial inner surface and a substantially radial outer surface in a heat treatment system while the workpiece undergoes a thermal expansion and/or contraction, the workpiece holding device includes at least two clamping units configured to apply a radial clamping force to the workpiece to hold the workpiece in the workpiece holding device in a predefined position, each of the at least two clamping units including a clamping element configured to abut against the radially inner surface and/or against the radially outer surface of the workpiece and to apply a radial clamping force to the workpiece.