Workpiece-Specific Cutting Oil Replenishment for Continuous Machining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for supplying cutting oil to machine tools do not adequately account for the varying quantities needed for different types of work pieces, leading to inefficiencies and potential machine tool stoppages due to insufficient oil supply.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented where cutting times and oil quantities are set for each type of work piece, ensuring that the cutting oil is supplied to the tank and area in appropriate quantities, with a system to automatically replenish the oil when levels reach a minimum, preventing depletion and maintaining optimal oil levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cutting oil is supplied to the cutting-oil tank without considering the specific work piece type, then the supply process is simple, but the cutting oil may be depleted during cutting operations causing machine tool stoppages
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by calculating and setting the required cutting oil quantity before each cutting operation based on the work piece type. The control unit determines the appropriate oil quantity in advance using stored cutting data, ensuring the cutting-oil tank is adequately filled before cutting begins, thus preventing depletion during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by monitoring the cutting oil quantity in the cutting-oil tank and comparing it against the required quantity for the current work piece type. When the oil quantity falls below the required level, the system automatically triggers a refill operation, ensuring continuous adequate supply without manual intervention.
2Reliability
If cutting oil quantity is adjusted for each work piece type, then oil depletion is prevented, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it stores cutting data for various work piece types, calculates required oil quantities, monitors current oil levels, and triggers refill operations. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single control unit rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each function, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of cutting oil quantity based on the work piece type being processed. By storing different oil quantity requirements for different work piece types and automatically selecting the appropriate quantity, the system ensures reliable oil supply for each specific cutting operation without requiring manual adjustment.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed reference quantity is used for replenishing cutting oil, then the replenishment process is simple, but it cannot accommodate different work piece types requiring different oil quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static fixed reference quantity to a dynamic quantity determination based on the current work piece type. The control unit automatically adjusts the required oil quantity according to the specific work piece being processed, making the replenishment process adaptive while remaining automated and easy to operate without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically determining the required oil quantity based on the work piece type and initiating the refill operation when needed. The control unit monitors oil levels, compares them against the required quantity for the current work piece, and automatically triggers replenishment without requiring operator judgment or manual calculation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for supplying cutting oil which is able to attain the above object by adopting the following processes in a machine tool for cutting work pieces: setting of individual cutting times to each work piece and selection of cutting oil to be used; setting of a quantity of the cutting oil supplied per unit time to a cutting area where the cutting oil selected by the process a is used; supplying the cutting oil to a cutting-oil tank, with a state kept that the cutting oil remains in the cutting-oil tank; and supplying the cutting oil to the cutting area on cutting each of the work pieces by setting a quantity of the cutting oil as a quantity obtained by multiplying individual cutting times according to the process a with a cutting quantity per individual unit times according to the process b.