Zero-Point Clamping Alignment With Adjustable Centering Jaws
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing zero-point clamping systems face challenges in reducing production costs while maintaining exact and reproducible clamping due to manufacturing tolerances and complexity in the anti-rotation device design.
Innovation Solution
The clamping system incorporates an adjustable centering jaw and actuator with a wedge element, a rotatably mounted guide element, and a spring mechanism, allowing for precise adjustment of the centering mount without structural changes to the second component, and a fixing device with diametrically opposite adjustable centering jaws for enhanced stability and adjustability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rigid centering mount with fixed geometry is used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and production costs increase due to tight tolerance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The centering jaw is made adjustable and movable relative to the centering receptacle, transforming a static rigid structure into a dynamic adjustable one. This allows the centering jaw to be positioned to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, achieving precise clamping without requiring complex high-precision manufacturing of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the centering jaw by allowing it to be adjusted in position and orientation. The wedge element enables continuous parameter adjustment, and the guide element with circular arc surface provides a stable rolling surface that maintains precise positioning while accommodating tolerance variations.
2Manufacturing precision
If manufacturing tolerances are tightly controlled, then clamping precision is improved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centering jaw is designed as a replaceable, adjustable component that can be easily manufactured with standard tolerances. Instead of requiring expensive high-precision manufacturing of the entire centering mount, the system uses a simpler, more economical centering jaw that can be adjusted to achieve the required precision.
3Reliability
If the anti-rotation device is made robust and stable, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation decreases due to difficulty in adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge element acts as an intermediary between the adjustment mechanism and the centering jaw. By converting rotational motion of the spindle into linear displacement of the centering jaw through wedge geometry, it provides a simple yet effective adjustment mechanism that maintains stability while being easy to operate.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the centering jaw is made adjustable, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centering device is segmented into independent functional components: the centering receptacle, the adjustable centering jaw, the wedge element, the guide element, and the fixing device. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall adjustment mechanism while providing the needed adaptability.
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 solution reduces structural requirements, enables precise and reproducible zero-point clamping, and simplifies handling by allowing adjustments to be fixed, thus reducing the need for frequent re-adjustment of the anti-rotation device.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator (12) with a wedge element (13), which adjustment drive interacts with the centering jaw (11) to adjust it
Implementation Method 2
the actuator (12) has a spindle (16) and a spring (17), which spring (17) braces the wedge element (13) and the spindle (16) against one another
Implementation Method 3
the guide element (14) has the shape of a segment of a circle in cross section... specify a stable rolling surface of the guide element (14) on a mating shell (15) of the adapter
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A clamping system (1), in particular a zero-point clamping system, is shown with a clamping device (6) on a first component (1a), with a clamping element (9), in particular a draw-in bolt, on a second component (1b), wherein the clamping device (6) has a central clamping receptacle (7) extending in the axial direction (A) of the clamping system (1) for the clamping element (9) and a clamping mechanism (8) for clamping the clamped element (9), and with an anti-rotation device (3) provided between the first and second components (1a, 1b), which has a stop (10) and a centering device (1) with a centering receptacle (2) extending in the axial direction (A) of the clamping system (1) for receiving the stop (10).In order to achieve reproducible high accuracy in the rotational alignment, it is proposed that the centering device (2) has at least one centering jaw (11, 111) which limits the centering receptacle (2) at least in sections and which is mounted inclined, in particular normal, to the axial direction (A).