Six-axis machine tool

A method of locating an operator relative to an object, comprising the steps of:

• fixing the operator relative to a first support;
• mounting the object relative to a second support;
• connecting the supports together by powered extensible leg members connected to the supports at spaced points along their length;
• joining the supports by extensible instrument arms each adapted to produce a signal representative of changes in its length;
• and
• manipulating the leg members to vary the lengths of the leg members to thereby move the operator to a desired position of the operator relative to the object, said manipulation being responsive in part to the signals from the instrument arm.

In a machine tool, the combination comprising:

• a first platform adapted to mount a tool;
• a second platform adapted to mount a workpiece;
• six linearly extensible legs each pivotally mounted adjacent one end to the first platform and each pivotally mounted adjacent the other end to the second platform, the pivot mountings in each platform circumscribing an area, and the areas in each of the two platforms being substantially the same, the pivot mountings of the legs to the platforms define the corners of like six-sided polygons in each platform wherein the corners of each polygon are substantially spaced from each other;
• and
• means for individually varying the length of each leg to alter the position of the first platform and the tool with respect to the second platform and the workpiece.

A mechanism for locating an operator relative to an object, comprising the combination of:

• an operator support and an object support spaced from each other;
• six leg members with each leg member being joined at one point to one of the supports and being operatively connected to the other support at another point that is spaced along the leg member from the point,
• the six leg members being arranged in circumferentially sequential pairs with the leg members of each pair crossing each other;
• and
• means for individually manipulating at least certain of the leg members to vary the position of the points of such leg members relative to each other to thereby alter the position of the operator with respect to the object.