Method and apparatus for machining a workpiece by varying the tool geometry
OwnerChunghorng R. Liuinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for machining a workpiece to perform several functions including sensing tool wear, enhancing tool life, tool wear compensation, cutting a workpiece having two different materials joined at a boundry, and suppressing chatter, including placing a cutting tool having a rake face and a clearance face with a first clearance angle with respect to a workpiece and a second clearance face with a second clearance angle with respect thereto and with the first clearance angle being less than the second clearance angle and supporting the cutting tool in a rotatable tool holder having an axis of rotation with the cutting tool tip being aligned with the axis of rotation such that rotation of the holder varies the cutting tool geometry to perform the several functions.
Claims27
A method of machining a workpiece with a cutting tool, comprising:
- (a) placing the tool in a tool holder, the tool then having a tool geometry with respect to the workpiece;
- (b) cutting the workpiece with the tool in the tool holder;
- and
- (c) varying the tool geometry to sense tool wear.
A method of machining a workpiece with a cutting tool, commprising:
- (a) placing the tool in a tool holder, the tool then having a tool geometry with respect to the workpiece;
- (b) cutting the workpiece with the tool in the tool holder;
- and
- (c) varying the tool geometry to enhance the tool life.
A method of machining a workpiece with a cutting tool, comprising:
- (a) placing the tool in a tool holder, the tool then having a tool geometry with respect to the workpiece, the tool geometry including a rake angle and a clearance angle;
- (b) cutting the workpiece with the tool in the tool holder, the tool then having a worn flank;
- and
- (c) varying the tool geometry to enhance the tool life, including:
- (i) continuing the step of cutting with the worn flank in sliding contact with the workpiece,
- (ii) sensing a cutting parameter during the sliding contact, and
- (iii) decreasing the rake angle and increasing the clearance angle of the tool geometry if the sensed cutting parameter is greater than a preset value.
A method of machining a workpiece of two contiguous materials with a cutting tool, comprising:
- (a) placing the tool in a tool holder, the tool then having a tool geometry with respect to the workpiece;
- (b) rotating the tool relative to the workpiece;
- (c) cutting each of the materials each revolution with the tool in the tool holder;
- and
- (d) varying the tool geometry each revolution to cut each material with a proper tool geometry for a respective material.
A method of machining a workpiece with a cutting tool, comprising:
- (a) placing the tool in a tool holder, the tool then having a tool geometry with respect to the workpiece;
- (b) cutting the workpiece with the tool in the tool holder;
- and
- (c) varying the tool geometry to suppress chatter.
Apparatus for boring a hole in a workpiece with a cutting tool having a cutting tip, the workpiece being made of two different materials, and the tool having a tool geometry with respect to the workpiece, comprising:
- (a) a rotatable tool holder for supporting the tool and having an axis of rotation which extends through the cutting tip;
- (b) a rotatable shaft for rotatably supporting said tool holder and being rotatable about an axis to rotate said tool holder to bore the hole;
- and
- (c) means for rotating said tool holder about said axis of said tool holder to vary the tool geometry.
Apparatus for machining a workpiece, comprising:
- (a) a rotatable cutting tool having a plurality of cutting tips positioned on a circle centered on the axis of rotation of said cutting tool;
- (b) a tool holder for supporting said cutting tool;
- and
- (c) means for rotating said tool holder including a shaft connected to said tool and means for rotating said shaft.
Apparatus for machining a workpiece, comprising:
- (a) a rotatable cutting tool having a plurality of cutting tips positioned on a circle centered on the axis of rotation of said cutting tool;
- (b) a tool holder, having elastomer material, for supporting said cutting tool, said elastomer material supporting said tool;
- and
- (c) means for rotating said tool holder, including a shaft connected to said tool and means for rotating said shaft.
A method of machining a workpiece with a cutting tool, comprising:
- (a) placing the tool in a tool holder, the tool then having a tool geometry with respect to the workpiece;
- (b) cutting the workpiece with the tool in the tool holder;
- and
- (c) varying the tool geometry to compensate the dimensional deviation of the workpiece caused by tool wear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.