Free form cutting machine
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsPiotr S. Trzaskos, John P. Ternus, Carlo Catalano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A free form cutting machine is disclosed. The free form cutting machine includes a table, a spindle; and a cutting arrangement attached to the spindle. The cutting arrangement having at least a cutting tool used to cutting selected portions from a workpiece on the table. The free form cutting machine causes the cutting tool to apply a continuous shaping force to the surface of the workpiece until a first surface shape of the workpiece conforms with a predefined finished spline surface shape.
Claims25
A method of machining a workpiece, comprising:
- applying a continuous shaping force to a surface of the workpiece by a cutting tool until a first surface shape of the workpiece conforms with a predefined finished surface shape, wherein applying the continuous shaping force comprises:
- adjusting an orientation angle of the cutting tool with respect to the workpiece surface using a servo rotary drive rigidly coupled to the cutting tool, wherein the servo rotary drive and cutting tool rotate together about a first center of rotation, and
- adjusting a distance between the cutting tool and the workpiece surface using a servo linear drive coupled to one end of the servo rotary drive, wherein the servo linear drive, the servo rotary drive and the cutting tool rotate together about a second center of rotation different than the first center of rotation.
A free form cutting machine, comprising:
- a spindle configured to rotate about a first center of rotation;
- and
- a cutting arrangement attached to the spindle, the cutting arrangement configured to rotate about a second center of rotation different than the first center of rotation and having:
- a cutting tool arranged to cut portions from a workpiece,
- a servo linear drive configured to control a distance between the cutting tool and the workpiece during a cutting operation, and
- a servo rotary drive coupled to one end of the servo linear drive and rigidly coupled to the cutting tool, the servo rotary drive configured to control an orientation angle of the cutting tool with respect to the workpiece surface during a cutting operation, wherein the free form cutting machine causes the cutting tool to apply a continuous shaping force to the workpiece surface until a first surface shape of the workpiece conforms with a predefined finished spline surface shape.
A non-transient computer readable medium storing computer code executable by a processor coupled to a free form cutting machining for machining a workpiece, comprising:
- computer code for applying a continuous shaping force to a surface of the workpiece by a cutting tool until a first surface shape of the workpiece conforms with a predefined finished surface shape;
- computer code for adjusting an orientation angle of the cutting tool with respect to the workpiece surface using a servo rotary drive rigidly coupled to the cutting tool, wherein the servo rotary drive and cutting tool rotate together about a first center of rotation;
- and
- computer code for adjusting a distance between the cutting tool and the workpiece surface using a servo linear drive coupled to one end of the servo rotary drive, wherein the servo linear drive, the servo rotary drive and the cutting tool rotate together about a second center of rotation different than the first center of rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.