A cutting apparatus comprising:
- a chuck table adapted to hold a workpiece;
- a processing feeding unit adapted to perform processing feeding of the chuck table in an X direction;
- a first cutting unit including:
- a first spindle having a rotational axis extending in a Y direction orthogonal to the X direction;
- a first spindle housing adapted to accommodate the first spindle in a rotatable manner;
- a first rotary joint fixed to a tip portion of the first spindle housing and having a first suction passage selectively connected to a suction source;
- a first flange mechanism mounted to a tip portion of the first spindle, the first flange mechanism provided with a first boss section and a first flange section projecting radially outward on a rear side of the first boss section and formed integrally with the first boss section and a first cylinder section formed integrally with the first flange section on a rear side of the first flange section, the first flange mechanism having a first annular suction groove formed at an outer periphery of the first cylinder section and communicating with the first suction passage, and a second suction passage having one end communicating with the first annular suction passage and the other end opening at a front surface of the first flange section;
- and a first cutting blade including an annular first base which has a mounting hole formed in a center thereof and a one-side surface and an other-side surface opposite to the one-side surface, and a first cutting edge secured to an outer peripheral edge of the one-side surface of the annular first base, the first cutting blade mounted to the first flange mechanism by fitting the first mounting hole to the first boss section of the first flange mechanism;
- and
- a second cutting unit including:
- a second spindle having a rotational axis extending in the Y direction orthogonal to the X direction;
- a second spindle housing adapted to accommodate the second spindle in a rotatable manner;
- a second rotary joint fixed to a tip portion of the second spindle and having a third suction passage selectively connected to the suction source;
- a second flange mechanism mounted to a tip portion of the second spindle, the second flange mechanism provided with a second boss section and a second flange section projecting radially outward on a rear side of the second boss section and formed integrally with the second boss section and a second cylinder section formed integrally with the second flange portion on a rear side of the second flange portion, the second flange mechanism having a second annular suction groove formed at an outer periphery of the second cylinder section and communicating with the third suction passage of the second rotary joint, and a fourth suction passage having one end communicating with the second annular suction groove and the other end opening at a front surface of the second flange section;
- and a second cutting blade including an annular second base having a second mounting hole formed in a center thereof and a one-side surface and an other-side surface opposite to the one-side surface, and a second cutting edge secured to an outer peripheral edge of the one-side surface of the annular second base, the second cutting blade mounted to the second flange mechanism by fitting the second mounting hole to the second boss section of the second flange mechanism,
- wherein the first and second cutting blades have their other-side surface sides put into contact with and held with suction on the first and second flange sections of the first and second flange mechanisms by introduction of a negative pressure into the first and second flange mechanisms through the first and second rotary joints, and the first cutting blade mounted to the first spindle and the second cutting blade mounted to the second spindle are in a state in which the first cutting edge secured to the one-side surface of the annular first base and the second cutting edge secured to the one-side surface of the annular second base face each other.