US 2026/0158699 A1Published application

Lathe devices, systems, and methods for the manufacture of bowls

AssigneePacific Rim Tonewoods, Inc.

InventorJake A. Wells

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Abstract

Introduced herein are devices, systems, and methods to machine a bowl efficiently and consistently from a billet. A billet can be secured to a first mounting device at a first lathe station, and a rough core having an index groove can be machined from the billet using a plurality of lathe operating techniques applied to a plurality of surfaces of the billet. The rough core having an index groove can be mounted to a second mounting device at a second lathe station, and a plurality of lathe operating techniques can machine a plurality of surfaces of the rough core mounted to the second mounting device at the second lathe station. The rough core can be mounted to a third mounting device at the second lathe station, and a plurality of lathe operating techniques can machine a plurality of surfaces of the rough core, forming a bowl having machined surfaces.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of machining a bowl from a rough core, the method comprising:

mounting the rough core to a first chuck configured to mount to a first lathe, wherein the rough core is formed from a billet and includes a convex rough exterior surface, a concave rough interior surface, a rough top edge, and an index groove in the convex rough exterior surface adjacent to the rough top edge, wherein the first chuck has one or more adjustable engagement features that securely engage the convex rough exterior surface of the rough core in the index groove;
coupling the first chuck to the first lathe;
turning the rough core and the first chuck as a first unit about a first axis of rotation via the first lathe;
machining, with one or more cutting tools, the concave rough interior surface and the rough top edge of the rough core while turning via the first lathe to form an intermediate core with a machined interior surface and a machined top edge;
removing the intermediate core from the first chuck;
securing the intermediate core to a second chuck with the machined top edge in firm engagement with the second chuck, wherein the second chuck is configured to mount to the first lathe or a second lathe;
coupling the second chuck to the first lathe or the second lathe;
turning the intermediate core and the second chuck as a second unit via the first lathe or the second lathe;
machining with the one or more cutting tools the convex rough exterior surface to form the bowl with a machined exterior surface, wherein the machining of the convex rough exterior surface removes material of the intermediate core comprising the index groove to remove the index groove;
and
removing the bowl from the second chuck.

8 more elements

A lathe system, comprising:

one or more lathes each having a central axis of rotation and configured to rotate a workpiece about the central axis of rotation, wherein the workpiece has a convex rough external surface;
a cutting assembly comprising:
a movable arm;
a first cutting tool fixedly coupled to the movable arm;
wherein the movable arm is configured to move the first cutting tool into engagement with the convex rough external surface of the workpiece while rotating about the central axis of rotation to form an index feature into the convex rough external surface adjacent to an upper edge portion of the workpiece;
and
one or more second cutting tools configured to engage and remove material from a rough core formed from the workpiece;
and
first and second chuck assemblies configured to removably mount to the one or more lathes and to releasably retain the rough core,
wherein the rough core comprises the convex rough external surface with the index feature formed therein, the upper edge portion, and a concave rough interior surface,
wherein the first chuck assembly comprises a plurality of adjustable engagement features that securely engage the convex rough external surface of the rough core in the index feature adjacent to the upper edge portion to rotate the rough core with the first chuck assembly as a unit in a position configured to allow material to be machined from the concave rough interior surface and the upper edge portion and a portion of the convex rough external surface between the upper edge portion and the index feature using the one or more second cutting tools to form a machined interior surface, a machined top edge of a bowl, and an intermediate core,
wherein the second chuck assembly comprises a mounting plate and a plurality of engagement features configured to engage with the machined interior surface of the intermediate core adjacent to the machined top edge of the bowl, and
wherein the second chuck assembly is configured to hold and rotate with the intermediate core in a configuration to allow material to be machined from the convex rough external surface, including a portion of the convex rough external surface comprising the index feature to form a machined exterior surface of the bowl, using the one or more second cutting tools.

10 more elements

A lathe station system, comprising:

one or more lathes configured to rotate a workpiece about central axes of rotation;
a star chuck assembly mountable to the one or more lathes and comprising:
a base;
a plurality of curved jaw arms adjustably coupled to the base, each of the plurality of curved jaw arms having a distal end configured to extend at least partially into an index feature positioned on a convex exterior surface of the workpiece near a top edge portion of the workpiece;
and
an adjustment mechanism configured to move the plurality of curved jaw arms radially relative to the base to hold onto or release the workpiece from the plurality of curved jaw arms;
a vacuum chuck assembly mountable to the one or more lathes and comprising:
a vacuum port configured to draw a vacuum;
and
a plurality of engagement features configured to releasably engage with a concave interior surface of the workpiece;
and
a robotic arm assembly having a connection member on a free end to releasably hold one or more cutting tools, wherein the robotic arm assembly is configured to move the one or more cutting tools to machine the concave interior surface, the top edge portion and a portion of the convex exterior surface between the index feature of the workpiece while the workpiece is mounted to the star chuck assembly, and configured to machine the convex exterior surface and the concave interior surface while the workpiece is mounted to the vacuum chuck assembly, such that material in which the index feature is formed is fully removed.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.