A numerically controlled (N/C) grinding machine for grinding a workpiece such as a cutting tool at one station while the workpiece remains fixed with respect to and in the same holder as the holder rotates and all grinds thereon are made with a grinding wheel and are programmably defined, located and executed by N/C servomotor positioning of said workpiece and wheel with reference to three mutually perpendicular fixed intersecting axes designated X, Y, Z, and other axes positioned in reference thereto, comprising in combination:
- (a) a base structure;
- (b) a grinding wheel support system including:
- (i) a rotary vertically extending support structure mounted on said base structure for arcuate movement about and vertical movement parallel to a first fixed vertical axis;
- (ii) first N/C servomotor means for linear vertical positioning of said vertical support structure incremently, independently of and simultaneously with positioning of other N/C positioning servomotor drive means of said machine;
- (iii) first positioner means for rotative positioning said vertical support structure about said first vertical axis and fixing such vertical support structure in a selected arcuate position, said first positioner means being operable incrementally, independently of and simultaneously with positioning of other N/C positioning servomotor means of said machine;
- (iv) a first slide mounted on said vertical support structure above said base structure and movable vertically and rotatively therewith, said first slide being positionable on a second horizontal linear axis perpendicular to said first vertical axis;
- (v) second N/C servomotor means for linear positioning said first slide on said second axis incrementally, independently of and simultaneously with positioning of other N/C positioning servomotor means of said machine;
- (vi) rotary support means mounted at one end of said first slide and rotatably positionable about a third horizontal axis fixed parallel to said second axis;
- (vii) third N/C servomotor means for rotatively positioning said rotary support means with respect to said third axis incrementally, independently of and simultaneously with positioning of other N/C positioning servomotor means of said machine;
- (viii) a variable speed grinding wheel drive motor fixedly mounted on said rotary support means with the longitudinal axis thereof, a fourth axis, fixed perpendicular to said third axis and positionable therewith around said third axis;
- (ix) motor control means enabling the energization and speed of said motor to be controlled independently of and simultaneously with positioning of other N/C positioning servomotor means of said machine;
- and
- (x) a grinding wheel mounted on one end of a spindle and driven by said grinding wheel drive motor about said fourth axis;
- (c) a workpiece support system including:
- (i) a second slide mounted on said base structure and positionable on a fifth horizontal fixed linear axis;
- (ii) fourth N/C servomotor means for linear positioning said second slide incrementally, independently of and simultaneously with positioning of other N/C positioning servomotor means of said machine;
- (iii) rotary table means rotatably mounted on and above said second slide for rotation around a sixth vertical axis which sixth axis is in turn positioned linearly on said fifth axis as said second slide is positioned thereon;
- (iv) fifth N/C servomotor means for rotatively positioning said rotary table means about said sixth vertical axis incrementally, independently of and simultaneously with positioning of other N/C positioning servomotor means of said machine;
- (v) a third slide secured to and above said rotary table means and rotatably positionable therewith about said sixth vertical axis, said third slide being positionable on a seventh horizontal linear axis perpendicular to said sixth axis;
- (vi) sixth N/C servomotor means for linearly positioning said third slide on said sixth horizontal axis incrementally, independently of and simultaneously with positioning of other N/C positioning servomotor means of said machine;
- (vii) a fourth slide secured to and above said third slide and rotatably positionable therewith about said sixth vertical axis, said fourth slide being positionable on an eighth horizontal linear axis fixed perpendicular to said seventh horizontal axis;
- (viii) seventh N/C servomotor means for linearly positioning said fourth slide on said eighth horizontal axis incrementally, independently of and simultaneously with positioning of other N/C positioning servomotor means of said machine;
- (ix) a holder assembly for a workpiece such as a cutting tool, including workpiece holding means enabling the workpiece to be positioned about an axis extending therethrough, a ninth axis;
- (x) eighth N/C servomotor means for rotatively positioning said workpiece holding means about said ninth axis incremently, independently of and simultaneously with positioning of other N/C servomotor means of said machine;
- (xi) mounting means for said assembly and eighth N/C servomotor means secured to and above said fourth slide for arcuate positioning of said tool holding means and the workpiece held therein about a tenth horizontal axis extending through said mounting means and perpendicular to said ninth axis;
- and
- (xii) second positioner means for arcuate positioning of said holding means about said tenth axis and fixing said holding means in a selected arcuate position, incrementally, independently of and simultaneously with positioning of other N/C positioned servomotor means of said machine;
- and
- (d) numerical control means including programming means defining, locating and controlling the execution of each grind on said workpiece and the speed of said wheel according to the edge or surface comprising the same and including N/C means operating said N/C servomotor means for N/C positioning of said workpiece and wheel relative to at least said first axis, vertically, said second axis linearly, said third axis rotatively, said fifth axis linearly, said sixth axis rotatably, said seventh axis linearly, said eighth axis linearly, and said ninth axis rotatively wherein all of said grinds may be completed precisely and in a series of consecutive grinding and positioning operations which may proceed in an uninterrupted sequence incrementally, independently and simultaneously throughout the grinding operation.