Milling machine and milling process

Abstract

The invention concerns a 3D milling machine and a 3D milling process. The milling machine comprises a milling unit (2) with a motor driven work spindle (4) for receiving a milling tool, a work table for clamping work pieces, guide and drive device for producing relative movement of the milling unit and the work table in at least three spatial directions, and a laser device (12) for emitting a laser beam. A laser assisted milling of free-form surfaces is made possible in that the milling unit is a spherical cutter (6), further, that a mounting device (30, 32) and a driving device (36, 38) are provided for producing a precise movement of the laser emitter (12) about a point on the beam axis, such that the laser beam (14) circles about a central axis, which intersects the axis of the work spindle (4) at an acute angle, as well as a mounting device and a driving device for at least one of pivoting and rotating of the work table (18) about at least one axis.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.