METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NON-ROTARY HOLEMAKING BY MEANS OF CONTROLLED FRACTURING

摘要

A method and apparatus for producing a hole in any material by means of controlled fracturing using non-rotary machining includes the steps of fixturing a workpiece to the table of a non-rotary holemaking machine tool (103). The cutting tool is then fixtured to the column of the machine tool (105) and the face of the cutting tool is positioned perpendicular to the centerline of the proposed hole (107). The surface of the workpiece is approached with the cutting tool to a predetermined clearance level (109). Thereafter, the cutting tool is driven with sufficient force to induce instantaneous strain in the material of the workpiece to a depth necessary (111) to create a hole of a desired size and shape using a drive mechanism (113). The cutting tool is then repositioned so that the face of cutting tool is perpendicular to centerline of a subsequent hole to be produced (117).