Method and apparatus to produce a radial cut profile

A cutting machine comprising:

• a longitudinally-extending blade mounted for movement generally parallel to the axis thereof;
• a workpiece holder mounted above said blade and arranged to move a workpiece supported by said workpiece holder downwardly towards and into cutting contact with a longitudinally extending portion of said blade, said downward movement being along a movement axis generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the cutting blade;
• an oscillator arranged to oscillate the workpiece holder and a workpiece supported by said workpiece holder about an oscillation axis that is generally perpendicular both to said direction of reciprocating movement of the cutting blade and to the movement axis of the workpiece holder;
• a workpiece support assembly including a support plate mounting said workpiece holder for movement along said movement axis relative to said support;
• and
• a linkage having one end portion thereof pivotally attached to said workpiece support assembly and a second end portion thereof fixed relative to said workpiece holder such that said oscillation of said workpiece holder causes said linkage to move said workpiece holder vertically relative to said support,
• said linkage comprising two links pivotally connected to each other, the upper end of one of said links defining said first end of said linkage assembly and the lower end of the other of said links defining said second end of said linkage assembly.

A cutting machine comprising

• a longitudinally-extending blade mounted for movement generally parallel to the axis thereof;
• a workpiece holder mounted above said blade and arranged to move a workpiece supported by said workpiece holder downwardly towards and into cutting contact with a longitudinally extending portion of said blade, said downward movement being along a movement axis generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the cutting blade;
• an oscillator arranged to oscillate the workpiece holder and a workpiece supported by said workpiece holder about an oscillation axis that is generally perpendicular both to said direction of reciprocating movement of the cutting blade and to the movement axis of the workpiece holder;
• and
• a vertical mover arranged to superimpose on said downward movement a vertical up-and-down movement coordinated with the oscillating of the workpiece, the coordinated movement moving said workpiece upwardly as said workpiece is oscillated away from a central position and moving said workpiece downwardly as said workpiece is oscillated towards said central position.

In the method of cutting a workpiece comprising

• providing a moving blade,
• mounting the workpiece in a workpiece holder,
• biasing the workpiece holder and blade relatively towards each other along a movement axis generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the blade, and
• oscillating the workpiece holder about a rocking axis perpendicular to both the movement axis an the direction of movement,
• that improvement comprising:
• providing a first movement of said workpiece holder and said workpiece mounted therein towards said blade;
• providing a second movement of said workpiece towards and away from said blade in synchronization with the oscillation of said workpiece, said second movement
• (i) moving said workpiece in a direct on opposite to said first movement during oscillation of said workpiece holder away from a central position thereof, and
• (ii) moving said workpiece in the direction of said first movement during oscillation of said workpiece holder towards said central position thereof,
• such that a substantially constant length of said blade remains in contact with said workpiece during said oscillation and said second movement.

In the method of cutting a workpiece comprising, providing a moving blade, mounting the workpiece in a workpiece holder,

• biasing the workpiece holder and blade relatively towards each other along a movement axis generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the blade, and
• oscillating the workpiece holder about a rocking axis perpendicular to both the movement axis and the direction of movement,
• that improvement comprising:
• providing a first movement of said workpiece holder and said workpiece mounted therein towards said blade;
• and
• providing a second movement of said workpiece towards and away from said blade in synchronization with the oscillation of said workpiece.