Machining system and method of machining a workpiece using the machining system

A machining system comprising:

• a first machine tool assembly comprising a first workpiece holder and a first machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the first workpiece holder;
• a second machine tool assembly comprising a second workpiece holder and a second machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the second workpiece holder;
• and
• a base assembly on which the first and second machine tool assemblies are supported in an operative position,
• at least a part of the first machine tool assembly being repositionable by movement along a first line,
• at least a part of the second machine tool assembly being repositionable by movement along a second line that is non-parallel to the first line,
• the parts of the first and second machine tool assemblies being relatively repositionable along the first and second lines to facilitate transfer of a workpiece between the first and second machine tool assemblies,
• wherein the first machine tool assembly has a first central operating axis, the second machine tool assembly has a second central operating axis, the first line and a third line parallel to the first central operating axis reside in a first plane, the second line and a fourth line parallel to the second central operating axis reside in a second plane, and the first and second planes are non-parallel to each other.

A machining system comprising:

• a first machine tool assembly comprising a first workpiece holder and a first machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the first workpiece holder;
• a second machine tool assembly comprising a second workpiece holder and a second machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the second workpiece holder;
• and
• a base assembly on which the first and second machine tool assemblies are supported in an operative position,
• at least a part of the first machine tool assembly being repositionable by movement along a first line,
• at least a part of the second machine tool assembly being repositionable by movement along a second line that is non-parallel to the first line,
• the parts of the first and second machine tool assemblies being relatively repositionable along the first and second lines to facilitate transfer of a workpiece between the first and second machine tool assemblies,
• wherein the part of the first machine tool assembly comprises a first headstock, the part of the second machine tool assembly comprises a second headstock, each of the headstocks has a central axis and the first and second headstocks are relatively repositionable into a workpiece exchange position wherein the central axes of the first and second headstocks are substantially coincident,
• wherein the base assembly comprises first and second substantially flat surfaces cooperatively defining an inverted V shape, the first machine tool assembly is mounted on the first flat surface and the second machine tool assembly is mounted on the second flat surface.

A method of machining a workpiece, said method comprising the steps of:

• performing a first processing operation on a first workpiece using a first machine tool assembly;
• at the completion of the first processing operation, moving the first workpiece in a first line that extends in a direction at an angle to horizontal;
• transferring the first workpiece to a second machine tool assembly;
• performing a second processing operation on the first workpiece;
• and
• moving the first workpiece along a second line that is non-parallel to the first line and extends in a direction at an angle to horizontal.

A machining system comprising:

• a first machine tool assembly comprising a first workpiece holder and a first machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the first workpiece holder;
• a second machine tool assembly comprising a second workpiece holder and a second machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the second workpiece holder;
• and
• a base assembly on which the first and second machine tool assemblies are supported in an operative position,
• at least a part of the first machine tool assembly being repositionable by movement along a first line,
• at least a part of the second machine tool assembly being repositionable by movement along a second line that is non-parallel to the first line,
• the parts of the first and second machine tool assemblies being relatively repositionable along the first and second lines to facilitate transfer of a workpiece between the first and second machine tool assemblies,
• wherein the first machine tool assembly has a first central operating axis, the second machine tool assembly has a second central operating axis, the first line and a third line parallel to the first central operating axis reside in a first plane, the second line and a fourth line parallel to the second central operating axis reside in a second plane, and the first and second planes are non-parallel to each other,
• wherein the first central operating axis extends in a horizontal direction.

A machining system comprising:

• a first machine tool assembly comprising a first headstock for holding a workpiece on which a processing operation is to be performed;
• a second machine tool assembly comprising a second headstock for holding a workpiece on which a processing operation is to be performed;
• and
• a base assembly on which the first and second machine tool assemblies are supported in an operative position,
• the first headstock being movable along two transverse axes residing in a first plane,
• the second headstock being movable along two transverse axes residing in a second plane,
• wherein the first and second planes are non-parallel to each other.

A machining system comprising:

• a first machine tool assembly comprising a first headstock for holding a workpiece on which a processing operation is to be performed;
• a second machine tool assembly comprising a second headstock for holding a workpiece on which a processing operation is to be performed;
• and
• a base assembly on which the first and second machine tool assemblies are supported in an operative position,
• the base assembly comprising a first substantially flat surface and a second substantially flat surface which is angularly oriented relative to the first flat surface so that first and second planes including the first and second flat surfaces define an inverted V shape,
• the first machine tool assembly residing above the first flat surface so that at least one of a lubricant and pieces of a workpiece removed during processing using the first machine tool assembly are guided downwardly by the first surface,
• the second machine tool assembly residing above the second flat surface so that at least one of a lubricant and pieces of a workpiece removed during processing using the second machine tool assembly are guided downwardly by the second surface.