Dexterous Machining of Soft Objects by Means of Flexible Clamper

Abstract

It is important to establish a new way of creating value-added products, such as craftwork objects or applied arts, different from traditional way of achieving high quality and low price. Such a machining technology that enables (1) extremely complex or small shape generation, (2) machining of hard or soft materials, and (3) machining of difficult-to-grasp or fix workpiece may be called “Dexterous Machining.” Thus, the study deals with the first attempt to create an artistic product shape out of soft objects that have low stiffness and high elasticity. It is generally difficult to machine soft objects precisely because of the deformation caused by not only the cutting force but also the clamping force itself. In order to solve this problem, flexible clamper employing an aqueous solution of sodium acetate is devised to fix a workpiece and to suppress the deformation. The workpiece is placed in a case filled with an aqueous solution of sodiumacetate on a machine tool table. The aqueous solution is crystallized by applying a stimulus, and the solid sodium acetate clamps the workpiece. As a result of experimental machining, it is found that the proposed flexible clamper has the potential of realizing “Dexterous Machining” of soft objects.