High speed multi-axis machine tool
AssigneeUniversity of Kentucky Research Foundation
InventorJulius Malte Schoop
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for three dimensional cutting of a multi-axis feature into a workpiece that are at least partially characterized by a lack of rotationally symmetrical tools and an ability to produce high aspect ratio (depth to diameter) features using mechanical machining. The apparatus includes a base, a displaceable machine table supported on that base, a displaceable spindle supported on the base adjacent the machine table, a cutting tool held in a chuck carried on the spindle and a control module. The control module includes a controller and a plurality of actuators to provide precise displacement of the machine table, spindle, cutting tool and the workpiece for cutting multi-axis surface features into the workpiece.
Claims20
An apparatus for multi-axis shaping of a workpiece, comprising:
- a base;
- a displaceable machine table supported on the base;
- a displaceable spindle supported on the base adjacent the displaceable machine table, the spindle including a chuck;
- a single point cutting tool held in the chuck;
- and
- a control module including a controller adapted to control operation of:
- (a) an X-axis actuator adapted to displace the displaceable machine table in an X-axis direction;
- (b) a Y-axis actuator adapted to displace the displaceable machine table in a Y-axis direction;
- (c) a Z-axis actuator adapted to reciprocate the displaceable spindle and the single point cutting tool in a Z-axis direction;
- (d) an A-axis actuator adapted to rotationally index the workpiece on the displaceable machine table about an A-axis;
- (e) a B-axis actuator adapted to rotationally index the workpiece on the displaceable machine table about a B-axis;
- and
- (f) a C-axis actuator adapted to rotationally index and align the cutting tool about a C-axis during reciprocation of the cutting tool along the Z-axis whereby a multi-axis feature is cut in the workpiece by shaping exclusively through multi-axis linear movement of the displaceable machine table, the workpiece and the displaceable spindle.
A method of machining a workpiece, comprising:
- shaping a multi-axis surface feature in the workpiece using only multi-axis linear movement of a single point cutting tool relative to the workpiece.
A method of cutting a curved, three-dimensional/multi-axis surface feature in a workpiece, comprising:
- holding the workpiece in a workpiece holder on a linearly displaceable machine table;
- reciprocating a single point cutting tool, held by a displaceable spindle, along a Z-axis in a straight line across the workpiece;
- simultaneously rotationally indexing the single point cutting tool along the cutting axis;
- simultaneously displacing the machine table in an X-axis direction;
- simultaneously displacing the machine table in a Y-axis direction;
- simultaneously rotationally indexing the workpiece on the displaceable machine table about an A-axis;
- and
- simultaneously rotationally indexing the workpiece on the displaceable machine table about a B-axis whereby the curved, three-dimensional/multi-axis surface feature is cut in the workpiece by shaping exclusively through multi-axis linear movement of the displaceable machine table, the workpiece and the displaceable spindle.
The method of 17 including achieving alignment of a three-dimensional, non-symmetrical cutting tool in the curved, three-dimensional/multi-axis surface feature being cut in the workpiece while avoiding undesired collisions with the workpiece inside the curved, three-dimensional/multi-axis surface feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.