Method and apparatus for machining workpieces with eccentric, substantially rotationally symmetrical, workpiece surfaces

A machine for machining a workpiece (1) with convexly curved, rotationally symmetrical workpiece surfaces which are both concentric workpiece surfaces (7) and also eccentric workpiece surfaces (8) with respect to a longitudinal axis through said workpiece (1), comprising:

• a machine bed (12),
• at least one rotatably drivable workpiece spindle (13),
• at least one clamping device (14) for the workpiece (1),
• a C-axis drive, and
• at least one milling unit, wherein the milling unit is a rotational milling unit, in that
• a milling cutter (5) is rotatably drivably carried in a milling cutter support (6) which can perform movements which can have both components in the X-direction and also in the Y-direction, and
• the machine has a control which permits positioning and displacement of the milling cutter support (6) and therewith the milling cutter (5) in dependence on the positioning and the displacement of the C-axis,
• characterised in that:
• milling cutter support (6) is linearly displaceable in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece and the milling cutter (5) is pivotable relative to the milling cutter support (6) about a C2-axis (17) which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the workpiece (1), and
• the maximun pivotability of the milling cutter about the C2-axis (17) and also the length of the milling cutter (5) are so dimensioned that the milling cutter (5) can with its end face reach the workpiece surface to be machined, in any of the possible rotational position thereof.