Milling machine having six (6) axis motion system

A motion system for a milling machine, comprising:

• a base positioned vertically;
• a first carriage adapted to move up or down along a first axis parallel to a plane of the base, the first carriage supporting a motor having a shaft with a second axis;
• a second carriage mounted on the shaft for rotation about the second axis;
• and
• a spindle assembly mounted on the second carriage and further adapted for lateral movement along a third axis carried by the second axis, the third axis being perpendicular to the first axis.

A method of milling a workpiece, comprising:

• fixing the workpiece in a predetermined working position;
• and
• positioning opposed spindle assemblies each operating in three (3) degrees of freedom (3 DOF) relative to the workpiece, the degrees of freedom being a lateral x-axis, a rotational θ-axis, and a z-axis perpendicular to the x-axis, wherein the x-axis is positioned on the θ-axis, and the θ-axis is positioned on the z-axis;
• grinding the workpiece using grinding tools carried by the opposed spindle assemblies.