Free form cutting machine

摘要

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.

主权项

1. 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, andadjusting 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.