IP Library Granted Patent US 9,004,335
Granted Patent B2
US 9,004,335 · App. 13/514,798 · Granted Apr 14, 2015

Method and device for machining a workpiece

Inventors: Rüdiger Garn (Niederwiesa OT Braunsdorf, DE); Andreas Lenk (Bannewitz Ot Possendorf, DE)
Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
B23H7/38B23H5/04B23K26/36B23H1/00B23K26/00B23H5/00B23H11/003
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,004,335
App. No.
13/514,798
Granted
Apr 14, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and related device for machining a workpiece is provided, wherein material of the workpiece is removed in a machining region by a non-contact removal process. The workpiece is excited by means of an excitation oscillation having a natural resonant frequency of the workpiece, or a composite comprising the workpiece and a coupling element that is rigidly coupled to the workpiece is excited by means of an excitation oscillation having a joint natural resonant frequency of the workpiece and the coupling element. The natural resonant frequency is selected such that in the machining region an oscillation occurs that has a maximum oscillation amplitude in relation to the excitation amplitude of the excitation oscillation.

Claims (26)

1. A method for machining a workpiece, comprising:

physically securing the workpiece to an oscillation actuator,

arranging a machining region of the workpiece proximate but physically spaced apart from a shaping tool, and

removing material from the workpiece in the machining region using a non-contact removal process including actuating the oscillation actuator to excite (a) the workpiece using an excitation oscillation having a self-resonant frequency of the workpiece or (b) a combination comprising the workpiece and a coupling element that is coupled rigidly to the workpiece and to the oscillation actuator using an excitation oscillation having a common self-resonant frequency of the workpiece and the coupling element, the excitation of the workpiece acting to remove material from the workpiece by creating an electrical interaction between the machining region of the oscillating workpiece and the spaced-apart shaping tool,

wherein the self-resonant frequency is selected such that an oscillation occurring in the machining region has a maximum oscillation amplitude corresponding to an excitation amplitude of the excitation oscillation.

2. The method of claim 1 , the workpiece being coupled rigidly to the actuator either directly or indirectly via the coupling element, wherein the actuator excites the workpiece or the combination comprising the workpiece and the coupling element that is coupled rigidly to the workpiece at an oscillation frequency which is equal to the self-resonant frequency of the workpiece or the self-resonant frequency of the workpiece and the coupling element.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maximum oscillation amplitude of the oscillation in the machining region is equal to a maximum oscillation amplitude of the oscillation of the actuator.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the maximum oscillation amplitude of the oscillation of the actuator is present at a contact point between the actuator and the workpiece or between the actuator and the combination comprising the workpiece and the coupling dement that is coupled rigidly to the workpiece.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the self-resonant frequency of the workpiece is selected in such a way that the direction of the oscillation in the machining region is in a machining direction of the shaping tool.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-contact removal process is electroerosion with a predetermined pulse frequency.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-contact removal process is laser ablation with a predetermined pulse frequency.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pulse frequency of the non-contact removal process and the excitation frequency of the actuator are synchronized with one another.

9. A device for machining a workpiece, said device comprising:

a shaping tool, and

an oscillation actuator configured to be physically secured to the workpiece and arranged such that a machining region of the workpiece proximate but physically spaced apart from a shaping tool,

wherein the device is configured to remove material of the workpiece in the machining region by a non-contact removal process including actuating the oscillation actuator to excite (a) the workpiece using an excitation oscillation with a self-resonant frequency of the workpiece or (b) a combination comprising the workpiece and a coupling element that is coupled rigidly to the workpiece and to the oscillation actuator using an excitation oscillation having a common self-resonant frequency of the workpiece and the coupling element, the excitation of the workpiece acting to remove material from the workpiece by creating an electrical interaction between the machining region of the oscillating workpiece and the spaced-apart shaping tool,

wherein the self-resonant frequency is selected such that an oscillation occurring in the machining region has a maximum oscillation amplitude corresponding to an excitation amplitude of the excitation oscillation.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the workpiece is coupled to the oscillation actuator directly or via the coupling element.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the oscillation actuator is a piezoelectric actuator.

12. The device of claim 9 , comprising a holding device coupled to a section of the coupling element in which an oscillation having a minimum oscillation amplitude occurs.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein the coupling element comprises a media supply cutout extending in a longitudinal direction of the coupling element, and the media supply cutout has a media inlet arranged in a section of the coupling element in which an oscillation having a minimum oscillation amplitude occurs.

14. A method for machining a workpiece, comprising:

rigidly securing the workpiece to an oscillation actuator via a coupling element arranged between the workpiece and the oscillation actuator,

arranging a machining region of the workpiece proximate but physically spaced apart from a shaping tool, and

removing material from the workpiece in the machining region using a non-contact removal process including actuating the oscillation actuator to excite the workpiece and the coupling element using an excitation oscillation having a common self-resonant frequency of the workpiece and the coupling element, the excitation of the workpiece acting to remove material from the workpiece by creating an electrical interaction between the machining region of the oscillating workpiece and the spaced-apart shaping tool,

wherein the self-resonant frequency is selected such that an oscillation occurring in the machining region has a maximum oscillation amplitude corresponding to an excitation amplitude of the excitation oscillation.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2020
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 053349/0476 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2012
From: GARN, RUDIGER; LENK, ANDREAS, DR.
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 028366/0502 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2009 057 410 · Dec 8, 2009 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120234888A1 · Sep 20, 2012