Method and apparatus for machining work pieces
AssigneeMazak Corporation
InventorBernard Edward Schawe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided to machine a curved surface such as an inner or outer peripheral surface of a pipe. The pipe is held stationary during machining and a rotatable spindle of a machine head moves along multiple orthogonal axes to align the rotational axis of the spindle with the longitudinal pipe axis. Preferably, the pipe axis is located by using a touch probe to engage the curved surface at multiple spots and the calculating the location of the pipe axis. The cutting tool, which is preferably a cutting tool insert, is rotated by the spindle to machine the curved surface.
Claims35
A method of machining a curved surface on a work piece with a machine tool, the method comprising:
- positioning the work piece on a stationary work support in the machine and holding the work piece stationary without rotary or translational movement of the work support or the work piece;
- positioning a cutting tool on the machine to engage the curved surface of the work piece;
- rotating a spindle carrying the cutting tool relative to the curved surface and machining the curved surface;
- in-feeding the spindle and the cutting tool in an in-feed direction to machine the curved surface while the pipe is stationary;
- and
- removing the cutting tool and the spindle from the machined work piece.
A method of determining a center axis of a pipe for machining an interior curved surface of the pipe with a machine head having a spindle and a cutting tool, the method comprising:
- mounting a pipe to be stationary on a work support;
- positioning a machine head adjacent an open end of the pipe;
- determining the center axis of the pipe using a touch probe mounted on the machine head to touch either an exterior curved surface or an interior curved surface at a plurality of points and calculating the location of the center axis of the curved surface;
- centering a spindle axis of the spindle on the center axis of the curved surface;
- and
- positioning a cutting tool to engage the curved surface and in-feeding the cutting tool relative to the stationary pipe to machine the curved surface.
A method of machining a facing end of a tubular member having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
- positioning a machine head to face an open end of the tubular member;
- locating a tool spindle having a cutting tool thereon at the open end of the tubular member to move in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis;
- positioning a rotary spindle of a cutting head in alignment with the longitudinal axis;
- moving the cutting tool in a feed-out direction relative to an end of the spindle to engage the tubular member;
- holding the tubular member stationary during the machining of a circular cut on the tubular member;
- rotating the spindle and cutting tool which is engaging the tubular member to machine the circular cut on the tubular member;
- and
- in-feeding the spindle and cutting tool along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis while machining.
An apparatus for machining a curved surface on a work piece, the apparatus comprising:
- a work support configured to hold the work piece stationary without rotary or translational movement of the work support or work piece during the machining;
- a machine head configured to and operative to move in multiple linear directions relative to the work piece including a tool feed-in direction;
- a rotary spindle positioned on the machine head and configured to rotate relative to the work piece about a center axis for the curved surface;
- and
- a cutting tool mounted on the rotary spindle and configured to translate relative thereto in a feed-out direction relative to the axis of the stationary curved surface to engage and to machine the stationary curved surface.
A method for determining an actual center axis of a work piece, the method comprising:
- providing a work piece having a projected center axis;
- orienting a measuring probe along the projected center axis;
- shifting the measuring probe along a predetermined path into engagement with a surface of the work piece;
- determining a distance the probe is shifted along the predetermined path into engagement with the work piece surface;
- and
- calculating an offset distance between the projected center axis and the actual center axis based on the distance the probe is shifted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.