Cutting Oil Replenishment by Workpiece-Specific Cutting Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for supplying cutting oil to machine tools do not adequately account for the varying necessary quantities based on different types of work pieces, leading to inefficiencies and potential machine tool stoppages due to insufficient oil supply.

Innovation Solution

A method that sets specific cutting times and oil quantities for each type of work piece, automatically replenishing the cutting-oil tank when the oil reaches a minimum reference level, ensuring continuous supply to the cutting area and maintaining optimal oil levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cutting oil is supplied continuously to the cutting-oil tank without adjustment, then the tank is always filled with cutting oil, but cutting work must be stopped when the cutting oil is used up in the tank

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting oil supply quantity is made dynamic by adjusting it according to the cutting time of each work piece type. The control unit calculates and sets different supply quantities based on pre-stored cutting time data for different work piece types, ensuring the tank is refilled with the appropriate amount of cutting oil for the next operation sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by calculating and setting the cutting oil supply quantity before cutting operations begin. The control unit determines the required supply quantity based on the cutting times of upcoming work pieces and pre-fills the tank accordingly, preventing oil depletion before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If cutting oil supply quantity is increased to prevent tank depletion, then continuous cutting is possible, but cutting oil is wasted when not needed for certain work pieces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous cuttingVSAvoidcutting oil waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The supply quantity parameter of cutting oil is changed dynamically based on the type of work piece being processed. The control unit adjusts the supply quantity according to the specific cutting time requirements of different work piece types, optimizing the balance between ensuring continuous operation and preventing oil waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of substance

If cutting oil supply is adjusted for each work piece type, then oil usage is optimized, but the system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting oil efficiencyVSAvoidsupply system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit automatically calculates and controls the cutting oil supply quantity based on pre-stored cutting time data for different work piece types. The system serves itself by using its own control capabilities to optimize oil supply without requiring external intervention or complex additional hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If a fixed reference quantity is used for replenishing cutting oil, then the supply process is simple, but it cannot accommodate different cutting requirements of various work pieces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupply process simplicityVSAvoidwork piece adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs multiple functions: it stores cutting time data for different work piece types, calculates required supply quantities, controls the supply process, and manages the overall cutting oil system. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different work piece requirements while maintaining a unified, integrated control approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3838477B1Method for supplying cutting oil
Publication Date: 2021.12.29 MATSUURA MACHINERY CO LTD
  • EP3838477B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3838477B1 patent drawingFigure 2

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.