Cushioned Support Platform

• US 20120207562A1
• Filed: 10/06/2010
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quickmill Inc. (Batliboi Limited)
• Original Assignee: Quickmill Inc. (Batliboi Limited)
• Inventors: Piggott, David C., Buchholz, Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 8,770,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 409/219
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 39/06 Equipment for positioning work
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/032 characterised by properties of the support surface
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/035 with an array of longitudinally movable rods defining a reconfigurable support surface
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/0032 Arrangements for preventing or isolating vibrations in parts of the machine B23B29/022, B23D47/005 take precedence; means for damping or suppressing vibrations, in general F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/2421 the parts having a linear movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/03 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/30868 Work support

Abstract

A work piece supporting device is disclosed for limiting vibrations caused by work piece processing. The device comprises a base portion having a plurality of openings therein. Each opening forms a well with an inner boundary and a peripheral surface extends therefrom. A plurality of elongate supports are each arranged to be located in a corresponding well for supporting the work piece when positioned above the base portion. A resilient support is positioned in the well between the inner boundary and the elongate support. The elongate support is movable between a first position in which the resilient support is in a relatively less compressed configuration to a second position in which the resilient support is in a relatively more compressed configuration.

Claims

1. A work piece supporting device for limiting vibrations caused by work piece processing, comprising:

a base portion having a plurality of openings therein, each said opening to form a well with an inner boundary and a peripheral surface extending therefrom;

a plurality of elongate supports, each of said plurality of elongate supports arranged to be located in a corresponding said well for supporting the work piece when positioned above said base portion; and

a resilient support positioned in said well between said inner boundary and said elongate support, said elongate support movable between a first position in which said resilient support is in a relatively less compressed configuration and a second position in which said resilient support is in a relatively more compressed configuration.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said resilient support includes an o-ring.

3. The device as defined in claim 1, at least a portion of each said elongate support has a uniform diameter.

4. The device as defined in claim 1, each said elongate support includes a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion has a relatively lesser diameter than said bottom portion.

5. The device as defined in claim 4, each said elongate support has a frusto-conical portion located between said top portion and said bottom portion.

6. The device as defined in claim 1, said base portion has a pair of opposed surfaces, one of said pair of opposed surfaces being in contact with a work surface to form said plurality of wells therewith.

7. The device as defined in claim 6, further comprising a plurality of peripheral first clamp units for clamping a peripheral region of the work piece atop said elongate supports relative to the work surface and in a manner to permit lateral movement of the work piece due to flexural strain during processing.

8. The device as defined in claim 7, each said peripheral first clamp unit includes a clamp arm and a clamp body, said clamp body secured relative to the work surface and said clamp arm removably coupled to said clamp body near a first end region thereof by way of an adjustable fastener.

9. The device as defined in claim 8, said clamp arm includes a second end region for supporting a movable pin, said pin has a work piece communicating end located thereon;

said pin being operable for movement relative to said second end region for engaging the work piece.

10. The device as defined in claim 9, said pin includes a threaded rod and said second end region of said clamp arm has a complementary threaded bore therethrough for operably receiving said threaded rod.

11. The device as defined in claim 10, said pin includes an anti-marking covering located at said work piece communicating end for substantially preventing marking of the work piece.

12. The device as defined in claim 7, further comprising at least one second clamp unit for clamping a local region of the work piece relative to the work surface in the vicinity of a work piece processing tool.

13. A gantry milling machine assembly, comprising:

a bed defining a work surface;

a gantry bridge assembly positioned above the bed and movable along an x-axis;

the gantry bridge assembly including a drill head carriage;

the drill head carriage being movable along a y-axis relative to the gantry bridge assembly and across the bed;

the drill head carriage supporting a drill head, the drill head including a spindle movable on a z-axis relative to the drill head carriage;

a work piece supporting device as defined in claim 1 positioned on the bed;

a plurality of first clamp units secured relative to the bed for clamping a first local region in a peripheral area of a work piece thereon, a second clamp unit mounted on the gantry bridge assembly for clamping the work piece in a second local region surrounding the spindle;

the first clamp units being configured for locating the work piece on the elongate supports and each for drilling a first clamp load in a corresponding first local region on the work piece, while permitting lateral movement thereof due to flexural strain;

the second clamp unit being configured for pressing the second local region of the work piece against the elongate supports and permitting substantially no lateral movement.

14. An assembly as defined in claim 13, the second clamp unit being configured for fully compressing the resilient supports associated with at least a number of elongate supports in the second local region, the first clamp units being configured for partially compressing the resilient supports of the elongate supports adjacent the corresponding first local region of each second clamp unit.

15. An assembly as defined in claim 13, the second clamp unit further comprising a support housing mounted on the drill head carriage;

the support housing supporting a hydraulic cylinder;

the hydraulic cylinder further comprising a piston portion extending beyond a lower boundary of the support housing;

a support leg slidably mounted in the support housing;

a pressure foot having a proximal end region mounted to the support leg and a distal end region and movable along a path substantially parallel to the z axis;

the piston having a remote end engaged with the pressure foot between the distal end region and the proximal end region;

the distal end region being configured for engaging the work piece in the first local region.

16. An assembly as defined in claim 15, the distal end region including a contact pad, the contact pad including an offset portion defining a lower surface for contacting the work piece.

17. An assembly as defined in claim 16, the contact pad being configured to receive a supplemental contact pad.

18. A method for limiting vibrations of a work piece drilling comprising the steps of:

a) providing a vibration-limiting work piece support device of claim 1;

b) placing the work piece on the work piece supporting device such that the work piece is supported by the elongate supports;

c) securing the work piece to the work piece supporting device by way of a plurality of peripheral first clamp units configured to permit lateral movement due to flexural strain;

d) positioning a gantry bridge assembly above the work piece and operable for movement in an x-axis relative to the base portion;

the gantry bridge assembly further comprising;

a drill head assembly having a drill head carriage for movement in a y-axis relative to the gantry bridge assembly;

the drill head carriage supporting a drill head, the drill head mounted for movement in a z-axis relative to the drill head carriage;

the drill head including a spindle for rotating a drilling tool for processing the work piece;

the drill head carriage including a second clamp unit mounted thereon for clamping the work piece in a local region surrounding the spindle;

e) engaging the second clamp unit with the work piece so as to substantially inhibit lateral movement; and

d) processing the work piece.