Low mass, low profile, force balanced Z-axis drilling apparatus with improved machine dynamics
AssigneeInterdyne Systems Inc.
InventorWojciech B. Kosmowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved lightweight z-axis (vertical) drilling apparatus for a commercial PCB drilling systems that uses a pair of unitary z-axis movement guides that integrate the vertical, guided movement of the linear actuator, spindle and pressure foot of a PCB drilling apparatus. The linear actuator is positioned directly above and coupled to the spindle, and the unitary z-axis movement guides situated such that the such that the center of mass of all of the drilling assembly's moving components is collinear with the axis of rotation of the motor and spindle. The combination of these improvements allows for faster drilling times, shorter drilling cycles, less drill bit wander, slower drill bit dulling and less drill bit breakage.
Claims16
A drilling assembly comprising:
- a mounting plate;
- a rotational spindle housed in a rotationally fixed spindle body;
- a linear actuator affixed to said mounting plate and said rotational spindle wherein said linear actuator has a fixed magnet portion rigidly affixed to said mounting plate by a linear actuator clamp, and a moveable, traveling voice coil portion, said travelling voice coil portion affixed to said spindle;
- at least one moveable spindle guide rod;
- a set of bearing mounts rigidly affixed to said mounting plate and supporting at least one slideably mounted spindle guide rod;
- a moveable pressure foot attached to and residing about a bottom of said spindle;
- and
- at least one spindle clamp mounted on an exterior surface of said at least one spindle guide rod and rigidly mounted to said spindle body.
A drilling assembly comprising:
- a mounting plate;
- a linear actuator having a fixed magnet portion rigidly affixed to said mounting plate and a moveable, traveling voice coil portion;
- a rotational spindle, housed in a rotationally fixed spindle body, affixed to said traveling voice coil portion;
- a moveable pressure foot residing about a bottom of said spindle;
- at least one spindle guide rod;
- a set of bearing mounts rigidly affixed to said mounting plate and supporting at least one slideably mounted tubular spindle guide rod;
- at least one pressure foot actuating system mounted on said spindle guide rod and connected to said pressure foot, and having a linear axis that resides coaxial with a linear axis of the guide rods;
- and
- at least one spindle clamp mounted on an exterior surface of said at least one spindle guide rod and rigidly mounted to said spindle body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.