Milling machine with mill head having retractible return

摘要

A milling machine for cutting a surface on a workpiece and including a milling head assembly having a cutting stroke for cutting the surface of the workpiece and a return stroke to prepare for the next cutting stroke, the milling head assembly including a rotatable spindle structure with a cutter structure mounted to the spindle structure for rotation therewith and being actuable to provide a desired cut on the workpiece surface and a piston and cylinder construction operatively connected with the cutter structure to axially position the cutter structure separately from the spindle structure between an advanced position to provide a desired cut on the workpiece surface and a retracted position relative to the workpiece surface to preclude cutting engagement with the workpiece surface as the cutter structure is moved in opposite directions traversing the workpiece surface and a unique method providing a rough cut on the workpiece surface when the cutter structure is in the retracted position and a finish cut when the cutter structure is in the advanced position and actuating the cutter structure to the retracted position for the return stroke after the finish cut.