Tandem point cutting tool

Abstract

A tandem tool point apparatus for simultaneously machining surfaces on opposite sides of a thin wall may be used on an annulus having flat machining surfaces or on a circular wall having curved machining surfaces. The tool has spaced apart first and second tool points mounted in first and second tool holders respectively and a coupling element for coupling the first and second tool holders together to maintain the first and second tool points in tandem during a machining operation on the opposite sides of the wall. The apparatus preferably includes a tandem adjusting element for simultaneously adjusting the space between the tool points. A spacer may be used between the holders extending longitudinally over a portion of a length of the holders and the adjusting element longitudinally disposed between the tool points. The present invention is particularly useful in a lathe assembly having a chuck operable for rotating an annular workpiece about a chuck axis and a tool support operable to translate axially and radially with respect to the chuck axis. Mounted in the tool support is the tandem point tool and the tool holders in the form of longitudinally extending tool bars having tool point inserts mounted at aft portions of the bars and a longitudinally extending spacer disposed between the bars at forward portions of the bars.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.