Machine tool apparatus and method

A machine tool apparatus comprising:

• a machine base;
• a motorless end work support configured for rotatably supporting a workpiece having a central axis extending horizontally at a predetermined height;
• a motorless boring tool holder sized to support a boring tool to be disposed at the same predetermined height as the workpiece central axis;
• a common support assembly having the motorless end work support and the motorless boring tool holder mounted thereon for shifting relative to the machine base to align either the motorless end work support or the motorless boring tool holder with the workpiece central axis, the motorless boring tool holder being mounted to the common support assembly so that the motorless boring tool holder is not rotatable relative to the common support assembly;
• a housing of the motorless end work support mounted to the common support assembly;
• and
• a workpiece engaging member of the motorless end work support rotatably mounted to the housing thereof for engaging an end portion of the workpiece and rotating relative to the end work support housing with rotation of the workpiece.

A machine tool for cutting an elongate workpiece, the machine tool comprising:

• a machine base;
• a headstock having a rotary drive configured for holding and rotatably driving a driven end of the elongate workpiece;
• a tailstock having a centering mechanism configured for engaging a supported end of the elongate workpiece opposite the driven end thereof;
• a steady rest having a workpiece support device configured for supporting the elongate workpiece between the headstock and the tailstock as the workpiece is rotatably driven by the headstock rotary drive;
• a turret configured for holding multiple cutting tools for machining an exterior surface of the elongate workpiece;
• a single tool holder having only one cavity configured for holding a boring tool for machining an interior surface of the elongate workpiece;
• a common support assembly to which the tailstock and the single tool holder are mounted, the single tool holder being the only tool holder mounted to the common support assembly, the common support assembly being mounted for shifting relative to the machine base and is configured to allow the tailstock to engage the supported end when undertaking an exterior surface machining operation or to shift the tailstock to a non-operative position spaced from the workpiece supported end for shifting the single tool holder toward the workpiece supported end for undertaking an interior machining operation with the boring tool;
• and
• a carriage assembly for the turret that is mounted for shifting relative to the machine base along the length of the elongate workpiece to permit the turret and the multiple cutting tools thereof to travel along the workpiece and machine the exterior surface of the workpiece.

A method for machining a workpiece, the method comprising:

• holding a first end of a workpiece in a work holder;
• engaging a workpiece engaging member of a motorless end work support with a second end of the workpiece;
• rotationally driving the workpiece about a central axis thereof so that the workpiece engaging member of the motorless end work support rotates relative to a housing of the motorless end work support with rotation of the workpiece;
• advancing a cutting tool holder carrying a cutting tool from an inoperative position toward the workpiece to an operative position to machine the exterior of the workpiece with the cutting tool;
• retracting the cutting tool holder from the workpiece to the inoperative position;
• disengaging the workpiece engaging member of the motorless end work support from the second end of the workpiece;
• laterally shifting a mounting base portion having the housing of the motorless end work support and a boring tool holder mounted thereon relative to the central axis of the workpiece to shift the motorless end work support away from the second end of the workpiece and the boring tool holder toward the second end of the workpiece;
• advancing the boring tool holder along the workpiece central axis from a stored position toward the second end of the workpiece to an operative position;
• machining an interior surface of the second end of the workpiece using a boring tool held by the boring tool holder while the first end of the workpiece is held by the work holder, the cutting tool holder remains in the inoperative position, and the motorless end work support is positioned laterally relative to the boring tool holder such that the boring tool holder is not disposed between the workpiece holder and the motorless end work support during machining of the interior surface of the second end of the workpiece using the boring tool.