Three-dimensional apparatus for a router for producing copies variations of templates

A three-dimensional apparatus for a router for positioning and guiding the router to produce, from a workpiece, at least one of a substantial duplicate of a three-dimensional configuration of a template and a substantial variation of such three-dimensional configuration of such template by routing such workpiece, said three-dimensional apparatus for a router comprising:

• a workpiece mounting platform for mounting such workpiece;
• a template mounting platform for mounting such template;
• a router mounting platform for mounting such router;
• a router positioning mechanism for positioning said router mounting platform adjacent to said workpiece mounting platform;
• a probe for tracing such three-dimensional configuration of such template;
• and
• a linkage interconnecting said probe and said router mounting platform to move said router mounting platform in response to movement of said probe;
• said router positioning mechanism comprising three-dimensional movement means for permitting movement of said router mounting platform in each of three mutually orthogonal directions;
• said three mutually orthogonal directions comprising a substantially vertical direction, a first substantially horizontal direction and a second substantially horizontal direction, and said router positioning mechanism comprising a suspension mechanism for suspending said router mounting platform substantially vertically above said workpiece mounting platform;
• wherein said three-dimensional apparatus for a router additionally comprises counterbalancing means for counterbalancing a substantial portion of a weight of said router mounting platform and such router when such router is mounted on said router mounting platform, such weight acting in said substantially vertical direction;
• wherein said counterbalancing means comprises a biasing element urging said router mounting platform in a substantially upward direction, away from said workpiece mounting platform and substantially parallel to said substantially vertical direction;
• wherein said linkage interconnecting said probe and said router mounting platform comprises a substantially rigid member interconnecting said probe and said router mounting platform;
• wherein said linkage interconnecting said probe and said router mounting platform comprises an offset arm, said offset arm projecting outward from said router mounting platform, said probe being mounted on said offset arm and extending toward said template mounting platform;
• wherein said suspension mechanism comprises:
• a vertical translation mechanism for simultaneously moving said probe and said router mounting platform in said substantially vertical direction;
• a first horizontal translation mechanism for simultaneously moving said probe and said router mounting platform in said first substantially horizontal direction;
• and
• a second horizontal translation mechanism for simultaneously moving said probe and said router mounting platform in said second horizontal direction;
• and
• wherein said vertical translation mechanism comprises at least one vertical shaft and at least one vertical bearing engaging said at least one vertical shaft, wherein said first horizontal translation mechanism comprises at least one first horizontal shaft and at least one first horizontal bearing engaging said at least one first horizontal shaft and wherein said second horizontal translation mechanism comprises at least one second horizontal shaft and at least one second horizontal bearing engaging said at least one second horizontal shaft, said at least one second horizontal shaft being disposed at substantially a right angle with respect to said at least one first horizontal shaft.

A three-dimensional duplicating milling apparatus for mounting a milling tool and for producing, in a workpiece, at least one of a substantial reproduction of a template and a substantial variation of such template, such template extending along three separate and independent axes, said milling apparatus comprising:

• at least one template platform for mounting such template in a template position;
• a workpiece platform for mounting such workpiece in a workpiece position;
• a milling tool support structure for mounting such milling tool in a milling tool position;
• probe means for determining a surface of such workpiece with respect to said workpiece position;
• and
• linkage means for determining said milling tool position in response to said determined surface of such workpiece;
• such template having three separate and independent axes;
• and
• said linkage means being effective to alter said milling tool position in each of said three separate and independent axes with respect to a position of said probe;
• said linkage means comprising:
• a vertical translation mechanism comprising at least one vertical shaft and at least one vertical bearing engaging said at least one vertical shaft;
• a first horizontal translation mechanism comprising at least one first horizontal shaft and at least one first horizontal bearing engaging said at least one first horizontal shaft;
• and
• a second horizontal translation mechanism comprising at least one second horizontal shaft and at least one second horizontal bearing engaging said at least one second horizontal shaft.