High-speed, low runout spindle assembly
AssigneeZippy Robotics, Inc.
InventorROCCO J. TUCCIO
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A high-speed low runout spindle assembly is provided. The spindle assembly includes a friction drive wheel configured to be coupled to an output shaft of a motor. The friction drive wheel is configured and disposed to directly contact a shank of a bit. A set of bearings is configured to contact the shank of the bit. A bit clamp assembly includes a clamp bearing having a central through-hole dimensioned to accept a lower portion of the shank of the bit. The bit clamp assembly is configured to hold the bit in contact with the set of bearings.
Claims20
A spindle assembly, comprising:
- a friction drive wheel configured to be coupled to an output shaft of a motor, the friction drive wheel being configured and disposed to directly contact a shank of a bit;
- a plurality of bearings configured to contact the shank of the bit;
- and
- a bit clamp assembly including a clamp bearing having a central through-hole dimensioned to accept a lower portion of the shank of the bit, the bit clamp assembly being configured to hold the bit in contact with the plurality of bearings.
A spindle assembly, comprising:
- a friction drive wheel configured to be coupled to an output shaft of a motor, the friction drive wheel being configured and disposed to directly contact a shank of a bit;
- a set of bearings including first, second and third bearings arranged in a triangular configuration and forming a central void therebetween, the first bearing being mounted on a moveable post, the set of bearings being configured to contact the shank of the bit along outer races of the first bearing, second bearing, and third bearing;
- a biasing spring attached to the moveable post, the biasing spring configured to move the first bearing towards the second bearing and the third bearing;
- and
- a bit clamp assembly including a clamp bearing having a central through-hole dimensioned to accept a lower portion of the shank of the bit, the bit clamp assembly configured to hold the bit in contact with the set of bearings.
A spindle assembly, comprising:
- a friction drive wheel configured to be coupled to an output shaft of a motor, the friction drive wheel being configured and disposed to directly contact a shank of a bit;
- an upper bearing and a lower bearing arranged coaxially along a vertical direction and configured to contact and hold the shank of the bit, a central bore of the upper bearing and a central bore of the lower bearing being aligned and dimensioned to accept the shank of the bit;
- a bit clamp assembly including a clamp bearing having a central through-hole dimensioned to accept a lower portion of the shank of the bit, the bit clamp assembly configured to hold the bit in contact with the upper bearing and the lower bearing;
- and
- a housing enclosing the friction drive wheel, the upper bearing and the lower bearing, the housing including a first magnet and a second magnet configured to magnetically couple with respective magnets disposed on a top surface of the bit clamp assembly, the first magnet and the second magnet being coupled to respective compression springs configured to apply an upward force to securely hold the bit clamp assembly and pre-load the lower bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.