Machining apparatus provided with tool-position adjustment means.

摘要

Machining apparatus (150) comprises a boom (162) displaceable along spaced rails (158) and a carriage (174) displaceable along the boom (162) perpendicularly to the displacement direction of the boom. A machining station (178) is adjustably supported on the carriage (174) by three adjustment means (62) to adjust a machine head (180), such as a milling cutter, towards and away from a workpiece (151) disposed between the rails (158) beneath the machining station (178). Adjustment of the machine head (180) resutts from inaccuracies in the level of the rails (158) and/or the displacement of the carriage (174). Variations in the level of the rails (158) and/or carriage (174) are determined by a respective sensor (70) associated with each adjustment means (62) which monitors a reference defined by a planar laser beam (72). Alternatively one of the three adjustment means (62) between the machining station (178) and the carriage (174) may be replaced by a pivot (208) with the third adjustment means (224) being arranged to adjust the machine head (180) relative to the remainder of the machining station (178). In an alternative embodiment, the boom (26) is rotatable about a pivot support (18) within a cylindrical workpiece (12) with the machining station (34) mounted on the remote end of the boom (26) and optionally displaceable with a carriage (52) along the boom. The boom (26) is supported at its remote end on the workpiece by wheel units (38, 40).