Line transfer system with a contour machining head

A method for machining a plurality of workpieces, comprising:

• mounting a transmission arbor within a housing, the transmission arbor and housing sharing a common central axis;
• mounting at least one contour machining head to the housing, the contour machining head comprising:
• a bit tool for machining the workpiece;
• a slidable carriage for mounting the bit tool;
• a linkage for transferring a force from the transmission arbor to the slidable carriage resulting in an independent radial movement of the bit tool with respect to the central axis;
• a pilot to align the contour machining head with the workpiece;
• and
• dynamically balancing the radial movement of the slidable carriage and bit tool with a counterweight linked to the transmission arbor;
• activating a driving system mounted to the housing, the driving system configured for,
• providing a force to the transmission arbor;
• providing a force to the contour machining head resulting in an independent axial movement of the bit tool with respect to the central axis;
• and
• providing a force to the contour machining head resulting in an independent rotational movement of the bit tool with respect to the central axis;
• and
• monitoring the force applied by the driving system and the movement of the bit tool with a system controller.

A line transfer system for machining a plurality of workpieces, comprising:

• a plurality of transmission arbors mounted within respective housings, the transmission arbors and their respective housings sharing a respective common central axis;
• a plurality of contour machining heads for mounting to a respective housing, each contour machining head comprising:
• a bit tool for machining a respective workpiece;
• a carriage for mounting the bit tool;
• a linkage for transferring a force from the transmission arbor to the carriage resulting in an independent radial movement of the bit tool with respect to a respective central axis;
• a pilot to align the contour machining head with the workpiece;
• and
• a counterweight to dynamically counterbalance the radial movement of the respective carriage and bit tool;
• a driving system configured for
• providing a force to each transmission arbor;
• providing a force to the contour machining head resulting in an independent axial movement of the bit tool with respect to its respective central axis;
• and
• providing a force to the contour machining head resulting in an independent rotational movement of the bit tool with respect to its respective central axis;
• and
• a system controller configured to control the forces applied by the driving system and the movements of the bit tools.

A line transfer system with a contour machining head for machining a workpiece, comprising:

• a housing;
• a transmission arbor mounted within the housing, the transmission arbor and housing sharing a common central axis;
• a bit tool for machining the workpiece;
• a slidable carriage for mounting the bit tool;
• a linkage for transferring a force from the transmission arbor to the slidable carriage resulting in an independent radial movement of the bit tool with respect to the central axis;
• a pilot to align the contour machining head with the workpiece;
• and
• a counterweight to dynamically counterbalance the radial movement of the slidable carriage and bit tool;
• a linkage for transferring a force caused by the mass and movement of the counterweight to the transmission arbor;
• a driving system mounted to the housing, the driving system configured for,
• providing a force to the transmission arbor;
• providing a force to the contour machining head resulting in an independent axial movement of the bit tool with respect to the central axis;
• and
• providing a force to the contour machining head resulting in an independent rotational movement of the bit tool with respect to the central axis;
• and
• a system controller configured to control the force applied by the driving system and the movement of the bit tool.