摘要 |
A machine tool is provided which comprises a machine base (10), a first support (20,100) mounted on a first rotational machine axis on the base, and a second support (22,102) mounted on a second rotational machine axis on the base. The second rotational axis is parallel to and spaced laterally from the first rotational axis and carries a mount (38,112) moveable relative to the second support along a first linear machine axis orthogonal to the second rotational axis. A control arrangement is operable to control the orientation of the first support on the first rotational axis, and the orientation of the mount relative to the second rotational axis and its location along the linear axis, so as to govern the position and orientation of the first support and the mount relative to each other. Existing machine tools often use long linear guide rails and stacked orthogonal axes which introduce alignment and offset errors. The present invention avoids the need for and/or reduces the number of these structures in machine tools. |