Machine tools and methods of operation thereof
AssigneeFives Landis Limited
InventorsMichael D. Skinner, Daniel P. Turner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims18
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 profile to be machined onto the workpiece, with the profile being defined in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and non-circular in that plane;
- calculate with the control arrangement using an evolutionary algorithm a workpiece velocity profile corresponding to 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 of the workpiece by a tool mounted in the tool mount;
- 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.
A method of machining a workpiece using 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 method comprises the steps of:
- receiving input data in the control arrangement, the input data defining a profile to be machined onto the workpiece, with the profile being defined in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and non-circular in that plane;
- calculating with the control arrangement using an evolutionary algorithm a workpiece velocity profile corresponding to 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 of the workpiece by the tool mounted in the tool mount;
- and
- rotating 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.
A method of generating a workpiece velocity profile for use by a machine tool comprising a tool mount for carrying a tool, a workpiece mount for carrying and rotating a 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 method comprises the steps of:
- receiving input data in a processing arrangement, the input data defining a profile to be machined onto the workpiece, with the profile being defined in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and non-circular in that plane;
- calculating with the processing arrangement using an evolutionary algorithm a workpiece velocity profile corresponding to 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 of the workpiece by the tool mounted in the tool mount;
- and
- outputting from the processing arrangement the calculated workpiece velocity profile for use by the control arrangement of the machine tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.