Machine tools and methods of operation thereof
AssigneeFives Landis Limited
InventorsMichael D. Skinner, Daniel P. Turner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A machine tool is configured to receive input data defining a profile to be machined onto a workpiece, with the profile defined in a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the workpiece and non-circular in that plane, and calculate using an evolutionary algorithm a workpiece velocity profile corresponding to the velocities at which the workpiece is to be rotated by the workpiece mount over at least part of a rotation of the workpiece during machining. The machine tool then rotates the workpiece according to the workpiece velocity profile during machining of the workpiece.
Claims14
A machine tool for machining a workpiece, the machine tool comprising:
- a tool mount for carrying a tool;
- a workpiece mount for carrying and rotating the workpiece about an axis of rotation;
- a drive mechanism for moving at least one of the tool mount and the workpiece mount relative to the other;
- and
- a control arrangement for controlling the workpiece mount and the drive mechanism, wherein the machine tool is configured to:
- receive input data in the control arrangement, the input data defining a machining profile to be machined onto the workpiece, with the machining profile being defined in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and non-circular in that plane;
- calculate with the control arrangement a workpiece velocity profile corresponding to velocities at which the workpiece is to be rotated by the workpiece mount over a rotation of the workpiece during machining of the workpiece by a tool mounted in the tool mount, wherein an entirety of the workpiece velocity profile is generated only by an evolutionary algorithm;
- and
- rotate the workpiece with the workpiece mount according to the workpiece velocity profile during machining of the workpiece by the tool mounted in the tool mount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.