Numerical control machine tool positioning system

An automated system for the portable positioning and support of a machine tool within a workpiece supporting assembly, comprising:

• a first linear translation module removably attached to said assembly and having a first sliding pad and first means to move said first pad along an axis of said module;
• a second linear translation module removably mounted on said first sliding pad in a generally perpendicular orientation to said first translation module and having a second sliding pad and second means to move said second pad along an axis of said module;
• a third linear translation module affixed to said second sliding pad in a generally perpendicular orientation to said first and second translation modules and having a sliding mounting means and third means to move said mounting means, said mounting means further comprising a rotator means to rotate said machine tool about a rotation axis of said third module and a pivotor means to pivot said machine tool about a pivot axis orthogonal to said third module axis;
• and
• a control device coupled to said transverse translation module and said vertical translation module.

A transportable tool positioning system, comprising:

• a support assembly located adjacent a workpiece, said support assembly including a plurality of reference positions;
• a portable multi-axis numerically controlled tool detachably mounted to any one of said reference positions for performing tooling operations on said workpiece, wherein said portable multi-axis tool comprises:
• a plurality of translation modules detachably mounted to any one of said reference positions of said assembly and having longitudinal sliding pads and a longitudinal movement device;
• a transverse translation module removably mounted to said longitudinal sliding pads in a generally perpendicular orientation to said longitudinal modules and having transverse sliding pads and a transverse movement device;
• and
• a vertical translation module affixed to said transverse sliding pads in a generally perpendicular orientation to said longitudinal and transverse translation modules and having vertical sliding pads and a vertical movement device, said vertical translation module comprising a mounting device for said machine tool and a rotator to rotate said machine tool about a rotational axis and a pivotor to pivot said machine tool about any pivot axis orthogonal to said rotational axis;
• and
• a multi-movement control device coupled to said portable multi-axis tool.