Apparatus and method for synchronized control of machine tools

Abstract

A machine tool for performing drilling operations at a high speed on a rotating workpiece and for subsequently performing threading operations while minimizing loss time due to speed changes, based upon synchronization of the workpiece with tools that separately perform the drilling and threading operations. During the performance of the drilling operation, a high speed rotation of the workpiece is maintained and workpiece position is detected. The tapping tool is rotated to a similar high speed and is synchronized with the rotating workpiece in both rotational velocity and position. Upon completion of the drilling operation, tapping is performed and subsequent drilling operations may be resumed promptly. Since synchronization has been achieved, the switching between drilling and tapping operations may be obtained with little loss time.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.