MACHINE AND METHOD FOR FLEXIBLE LINE BORING

摘要

A line boring apparatus comprising a motorized spindle and tool support mounted on a support frame for motion along two axes perpendicular to a rotational spindle axis. The spindle is also supported for motion along the spindle axis relative to the tool support. A tool cradle is supported beneath the spindle on the support frame and stores boring bars of differing outside diameters equipped with support bushings having outside diameters equal to an inner diameter of the tool support. A CNC is programmed to actuate an axes drive to cause the spindle to select a boring bar and bushing from the cradle. The CNC and axes drive then move the bar and bushing to a predetermined boring position axially aligned with an interrupted line bore to be machined in a workpiece. The CNC then commands the spindle to advance axially toward the tool support, removably engaging the bushing in the tool support and continuing to push the boring bar through the engaged bushing while rotating the bar and boring the interrupted line bore in the workpiece.