Cutting tool using one or more machined tool tips with diffractive features in a continuous or interrupted cut fast tool servo
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsMark E. Gardiner, Jeffrey E. Clements, Mark R. Dupre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cutting tool assembly having a tool post capable of lateral movement along a work piece to be cut and an actuator with at least one machined tool tip and possibly other tool tips. The actuator provides for control of the movement of the tool tip in an x-direction into and out of the work piece in order to make continuous or discontinuous diffractive features in it. The machined work piece can be used to make articles having diffractive features such as optical films having lenslets.
Claims24
A cutting tool assembly, comprising:
- a tool post;
- an actuator configured for attachment to the tool post and for electrical communication with a controller;
- and
- a tool tip, having at least one diffractive feature, attached to the actuator and mounted for movement with respect to a work piece to be cut, wherein the actuator provides for movement of the tool tip in an x-direction into and out of the work piece,
- wherein the tool tip is in discontinuous contact with the work piece during cutting of the work piece, and wherein during at least a portion of the cutting the diffractive feature on the tool tip is in contact with the work piece.
A cutting tool assembly, comprising:
- a tool post;
- an actuator configured for attachment to the tool post and for electrical communication with a controller;
- and
- a tool tip, having at least one diffractive feature, attached to the actuator and mounted for movement with respect to a work piece to be cut, wherein the actuator provides for movement of the tool tip in an x-direction into and out of the work piece,
- wherein the tool tip is in continuous contact with the work piece during cutting of the work piece, and wherein during at least a portion of the cutting the diffractive feature on the tool tip is in contact with the work piece.
A method for cutting a work piece, comprising:
- providing a tool post;
- providing an actuator configured for attachment to the tool post and for electrical communication with a controller;
- situating a tool tip, having at least one diffractive feature, in the actuator for movement with respect to the work piece to be cut;
- and
- configuring the actuator for the movement of the tool tip in an x-direction into and out of the work piece for cutting of the work piece and providing a signal to the actuator, via the controller, such that during at least a portion of the cutting the diffractive feature on the tool tip is in contact with the work piece.
A cutting tool assembly, comprising:
- a tool post;
- an actuator configured for attachment to the tool post and for electrical communication with a controller;
- and
- a tool tip, having at least one diffractive feature, attached to the actuator and mounted for movement with respect to a work piece to be cut, wherein the actuator provides for movement of the tool tip in at least one of the following directions during cutting of the work piece:
- an x-direction into and out of the work piece, z-direction laterally along while in the work piece, a y-direction transversely across while in the work piece, or a rotation into the work piece about an axis parallel to the y-direction,
- wherein during at least a portion of the cutting of the work piece the diffractive feature on the tool tip is in contact with the work piece.
An optical film, comprising:
- a substantially transparent substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
- and
- a plurality of diffractive features in the first surface of the substrate,
- wherein the plurality of diffractive features includes a repeating set of diffractive features with a substantially constant distance between the features in the set and a randomly repeating variable distance between the sets of the diffractive features.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.