US 6,460,436 B1 · Reversible micromachining locator

Abstract

A locator with a part support is used to hold a part onto the kinematic mount of a tooling machine so that the part can be held in or replaced in exactly the same position relative to the cutting tool for machining different surfaces of the part or for performing different machining operations on the same or different surfaces of the part. The locator has disposed therein a plurality of steel balls placed at equidistant positions around the planar surface of the locator and the kinematic mount has a plurality of magnets which alternate with grooves which accommodate the portions of the steel balls projecting from the locator. The part support holds the part to be machined securely in place in the locator. The locator can be easily detached from the kinematic mount, turned over, and replaced onto the same kinematic mount or another kinematic mount on another tooling machine without removing the part to be machined from the locator so that there is no need to touch or reposition the part within the locator, thereby assuring exact replication of the position of the part in relation to the cutting tool on the tooling machine for each machining operation on the part.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method for producing a machined part from a blank, comprising the steps of:

(a) securing a blank to a locator, the blank comprising a first side and a second side, the locator comprising a first side and a second side that opposes the first side, the first side and second side of the locator being configured to mate with a mating surface of a kinematic mount of a tooling machine;
(b) attaching the first side of the locator to the mating surface of the kinematic mount of a tooling machine so that a machining operation may be performed upon the second side of the blank;
(c) performing a machining operation upon the second side of the blank;
(d) detaching the locator from the kinematic mount;
(e) attaching the second side of the locator to the mating surface of the kinematic mount of the tooling machine, or to the mating surface of a kinematic mount of another tooling machine, so that a machining operation may be performed upon the first side of the blank;
and
(f) performing a machining operation upon the first side of the blank, thereby producing a machined part.

4 more elements

A method for producing a two machined part from two blanks, comprising the steps of:

(a) securing a first blank to a first locator, the first locator comprising a first side and a second side that opposes the first side, the first side and second side of the locator being configured to mate with a mating surface of a kinematic mount of a tooling machine;
(b) attaching the first side of the first locator to the mating surface of the kinematic mount of a tooling machine;
(c) securing a second blank to a second locator, the second locator comprising a first side and a second side that opposes the first side, the first side and second side of the second locator being configured to mate with a mating surface of a kinematic mount of a tooling machine;
(d) attaching the first side of the first locator to the mating surface of the kinematic mount of a tooling machine;
(e) attaching the second side of the second locator to the second side of the first locator;
(f) performing a machining operation upon the second blank;
(g) detaching the first locator from the kinematic mount;
(h) attaching the first side of the second locator to the mating surface of the kinematic mount of the tooling machine, or to the mating surface of a kinematic mount of another tooling machine;
and
(i) performing a machining operation upon the first blank, thereby producing a first machined part from the first blank and a second machined part from the second blank.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Reversible micromachining locator

Life of this patent

Reversible micromachining locator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12