METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCULPTING PARTS AND PARTS MADE THEREFROM

摘要

A sculpting machine, a method of sculpting a work-piece and work-products produced therefrom are described. A sculpting machine provides a cutting tool holder that is configured to hold a cutter in contact with a work-piece and move in two or more planes or axes of controlled motion about the work-piece to remove material. The cutter is non-spinning and is held in contact with the work-piece to carve away material, or sculpt the work-piece. The cutter may be held against the work-piece with the cutter in a fixed orientation relative to the surface of the work-piece being cut. The cutter may be moved along a straight line, curve or arc. The resulting product produced may have a much tighter tolerance and smoother surface finish than products machined with conventional techniques.

主权项

1. A sculpting method of machining a work-product comprising the steps of:
providing a work-piece; providing a computerized numerical control machine comprising:
a work-piece restraint;a control system configured to receive work instructions; providing a cutting tool holder having at least one axis of controlled motion and configured to receive a cutting tool; providing a cutting tool having at least one cutting surface; placing said work-piece into said work-piece restraint; securing said cutting tool in said cutting tool holder; configuring said cutting tool to overlap said cutting surface with a surface of said work-piece; and moving said cutting tool relative to said work-piece surface to cause said cutting surface to carve off a ribbon of work-piece material from said work-piece,whereby said control system is configured to move said cutting tool relative to said work-piece restraint in two or more axis of controlled motion simultaneously to sculpt said work-piece by removing a ribbon of work-piece material from said work-piece, and during said sculpting said cutting surface is non-spinning relative to said work-piece.