Abstract: A high precision micro/nanoscale machining system. A multi-axis movement machine provides relative movement along multiple axes between a workpiece and a tool holder. A cutting tool is disposed on a flexible cantilever held by the tool holder, the tool holder being movable to provide at least two of the axes to set the angle and distance of the cutting tool relative to the workpiece. A feedback control system uses measurement of deflection of the cantilever during cutting to maintain a desired cantilever deflection and hence a desired load on the cutting tool.

Abstract: A method of cutting a workpiece made of a highly-hard material is provided. The workpiece is cut by a machining device including a workpiece holder that holds the workpiece, a spindle device that rotates the workpiece holder, a tool holder that holds a tool, and a relative moving mechanism that relatively moves the workpiece holder and the tool holder at least in two axial directions orthogonal to each other. In the machining device, positioning errors in the axial directions are within 5 nm.

Abstract: A machine tool includes a spindle side position measuring unit measuring a spindle axial position in a spindle radial direction relative to a first reference position and a tool side position measuring unit measuring the position of a tool post relative to a second reference position. The spindle side position measuring unit includes a first scale extending in the spindle radial direction and a first readout unit, one of a base end portion of the first scale and the first readout unit is disposed at a spindle axis and the other of the base end portion of the first scale and the first readout unit is disposed at the first reference position. One of a base end portion of a second scale and a second readout unit is disposed on the tool post and the other is disposed at the second reference position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mold. The present invention is also directed to a device for processing the same, and a replica made therefrom. A device for processing the mold comprises a cutting unit carving a surface of the mold; a housing accommodating the cutting unit and having an aperture through which a portion of the cutting unit protrudes; at least one piezoelectric element disposed between the cutting unit and the housing; and a signal generator applying an electrical signal to the piezoelectric element. The mold comprises a plurality of linear peaks and grooves that are formed on a surface of the mold, wherein both or one of the peaks and grooves have random or periodic meandering-shape. A replica manufactured by the mold comprises a plurality of linear crests and valleys that are formed on a surface of the replica, wherein both or one of the crests and valleys have random or periodic meandering-shape.

Abstract: There is provided a precision roll turning lathe which can perform machining of fine grooves at a dramatically higher speed as compared to conventional roll turning lathes, thus significantly shortening time taken for machining one groove.

Abstract: An NC machine tool includes an NC circular table and an NC circular table apparatus which dispense with the original restoration or calibration operation in an absolute type encoder using a backup battery. The NC circular table has an NC controller for performing a positional detection by an absolute type encoder and a backup battery for the encoder is provided in the NC circular table body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically compensating for the lateral runout between an on-car lathe apparatus and a vehicle hub axis including one or more stop discs that rotate with the drive shaft of the lathe and that can be selectively stopped from rotating with the shaft by a stop mechanism. In response to such stopping, one or more adjustment discs are caused to rotate in order to adjust the relative position of the axis of the lathe with respect to the axis of the disc brake assembly. In this manner, the system compensates for and corrects lateral runout that exists between two concentrically attached rotating shafts.

Abstract: A precision high speed turning machine apparatus is provided which performs a selected operation, such as shaping, polishing or probing/measuring on a workpiece and in particular on a rotationally non-symmetric workpiece. The workpiece is mounted to a workpiece mount which rotates the workpiece at a controlled rate, and a tool is provided which is adapted to perform the selected operation. The tool is supported on a tool mount which positions the tool adjacent a portion of a workpiece surface to be operated on. The tool mount is designed to have very low inertia which permits relatively large movements, of the tool generally perpendicular to the workpiece, at high enough accelerations so as to permit high speed rotation of the workpiece. For some embodiments, more than one tool is mounted to the arm so as to permit a plurality of different operations to be performed.

Abstract: In one form, the disclosure describes a lathe apparatus and method for manufacturing a product with a non-axisymmetric shape from a workpiece, such as a toric contact lens, comprises a spindle for rotating the workpiece about an axis of rotation, a cutting tool, a two-axis bed for supporting the cutting tool and for moving the cutting tool along a predetermined path adjacent the workpiece as the spindle rotates the workpiece, and a mechanism for oscillating the cutting tool along an oscillation axis as the two-axis bed moves the cutting tool along the predetermined path, wherein the oscillation axis is oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to the axis of rotation. Preferably, the non-zero angle is about 45.degree.. In a second form, a lathe apparatus comprises a rotary bed for arcuately moving a cutting tool adjacent a workpiece and a mechanism for translationally reciprocating the cutting tool as the cutting tool is arcuately moved adjacent the workpiece.

Abstract: In a method for machining a chamfer at a pipe end, clamped in a radial clamping device, to exact positional and dimensional tolerances as a function of a measured course of an inner and an outer diameter of the pipe, an actual position of the pipe end clamped in the radial clamping device is determined with a first sensing device. Based on the determined actual position, in a controlled manner a machining tool is quickly advanced to the pipe end. With a second sensing device at least one of the actual inner diameter of the pipe and the actual outer diameter of the pipe is determined, and optionally the course of one of the actual inner diameter and the actual outer diameter about the circumference of the pipe is also determined. The machining tool is adjusted based on one of the actual inner diameter, the actual outer diameter, the nominal inner diameter and the nominal outer diameter.

Abstract: A machine tool such as a lathe including a control device for enabling manual operation of carriages which are movable in mutually orthogonal directions. During manual operation, the control device and the longitudinally moving carriage are moved in tandem. The control device may be disengaged from the carriage, e.g., for safety reasons, such that rapid movement of the carriages under the control of an automatic control unit is possible. The control device has rollers disposed in guideways arranged on a stationary support connected to the lathe bed. The stationary support may similarly include guideways for sidably supporting movable covers. A lever selectively engages or disengages the control device and the carriage. Upon engagement of the control device and the carriage, an inductive proximity switch is actuated to prevent rapid traverse of the carriages.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for machining surfaces to accuracies within the nanometer range by use of electrical current flow through the contact of the cutting tool with the workpiece as a feedback signal to control depth of cut.

Abstract: A machine tool including an elongate bed with front and rear ends and a longitudinal axis, a spindle with a work piece-engaging chuck at the rear end of the bed, a first motor driving the spindle, a carriage at the front end of the bed, a first drive means with a second motor to position and move the carriage longitudinally of the longitudinal axis, an elongate cross-slide carried by the carriage and carrying a tool holder, a second drive means with a third motor to position and move the cross-slide on a lateral axis, an encoder connected with and reading the rotative position of the spindle, an electric-powered computerized primary controller connected with the encoder and with the first, second and third motors and controlling the operation thereof in response to machining programs stored therein; a rotary cutting tool head including an elongate rotary cutting tool holder driven by a fourth motor is mounted on the cross-slide remote from the cutting tool holder; a second electric-powered computerized contro

Abstract: A device for stopping automatically an overloaded lathe comprises a support base, a front holding base, a rear holding base eccentric cam, a locating block, and a lathe tool. The front holding base is fastened with the front end of the support base by means of a screw which is fitted over by a resilient washer. The lathe tool has a handle which is fastened at the front end thereof with the front holding base. The rear holding base eccentric cam is fastened with the rear end of the support base by means of a screw which is fitted over by a resilient washer. The handle of the lathe tool is urged at the rear end thereof by the rear holding base eccentric cam. The locating block is fastened with the support base and is provided with a proximity switch having an electric circuit connected with the electric circuit of the main shaft motor of the lathe. The rear end of the handle of the lathe tool is urged by the locating block.

Abstract: A dynamic infeed control is used to segment swarf produced in a lathing operation into short manageable segments. The preferred dynamic method for segmenting the swarf is to add a sine wave motion to the nominal infeed motion. The amplitude of the sine wave is 0.5 times the nominal infeed, although this may vary somewhat due to the properties of the specific material being machined. The frequency of the sine wave is a non-zero integral multiple of the rotational frequency of the lens plus 0.5. Thus the minimum sine wave frequency will be 1.5 times the rotational frequency of the lens and this factor may increase by increments of 1. In equation form, W.sub.SW =(n+0.5).times.W.sub.RL where W.sub.SW is the frequency of the sine wave, W.sub.RL is the rotational frequency of the lens and n is an integer equal to or greater than 1. Thus relative minima and maxima are created during one lens rotation that correspond to the relative maxima and minima on the next lens rotation, respectively.

Abstract: A disc brake lathe for machining a brake disc on a vehicle without removing the brake disc from the vehicle but only the wheel and other parts of the brake mechanism. The disc brake lathe comprises a power drive unit for rotating a brake disc on the vehicle and a lathe head having at least one cutting tool for machining a brake disc while the brake disc on the vehicle is rotated by the power drive unit. The lathe head is adapted to be mounted on the vehicle for machining a brake disc on the vehicle and includes a motor for power feeding of the at least one cutting tool during machining. The vibration of the lathe head during machining, which causes rough surface finish on the machined brake discs, is avoided or reduced by the provision of a vibration dampener which is attached to the lathe head for absorbing energy of vibration.

Abstract: On-car disc brake lathe unit (2) for simultaneous resurfacing of opposite sides of a brake disc (1) for a wheel without removing the disc but only the wheel and other parts of the brake mechanism, and with a device for rotating the disc, comprising a housing (21) with two synchronous sliding holders (14), each with a tool (15) for resurfacing a disc brake surface; a driving mechanism (10, 12) for the sliding holders comprising an electric motor and a gear between the electric motor and the sliding holders and an adjustable device (18) for controlling the current to the electric motor in relation to the position of the resurfacing tools (15).

Abstract: A slide (4) made up of a table (8) and a base (11) is actuated radially relative to a workpiece (M) to be machined via a stud (17) adjustable in a slot (16). The position of the stud can be regulated by means of a screw and a motor. A roller (24) borne by the stud then moves along another slot (25) in an arm (26) integral with a shaft (7f). The oscillations of the shaft are controlled by a control cam. Displacement of the stud relative to the pivot point of the arm permits the transmission ratio, hence the course of travel of the slide, to be varied. The angle .alpha. between the directions of the slots is other than zero at the end of the travel, so that the final position of a tool (29) can be adjusted by means of the control motor.

Abstract: A brake lathe for truing brake rotors includes a tool holder driven by a direct current motor to move a cutting tool radially with respect to the rotor axis in direct proportion to the number of turns of the drive shaft of the direct current motor. A tool feed power control circuit maintains the direct current motor at constant speed regardless of radial forces acting upon the cutting tool and includes a converter/filter circuit, a regulator circuit, a sensing circuit, and a speed control circuit. A speed selection control includes a rheostat for providing a reference voltage corresponding to a select speed. The sensing circuit compares a voltage drop across the direct current motor to the reference voltage and produces an error voltage. The speed control circuit provides a direct current power voltage to the direct current motor in accordance with the error voltage output of the sensing circuit to maintain operation of the motor at constant speed.

Abstract: A numerically controlled lathe capable of machining a workpiece by numerically controlling a machining table provided with a machining tool. In order to prevent a local uneven abrasion of parts, which make a sliding contact, due to a mass production of workpieces having a simple form or a machining in a non-circular shape, there are provided a main carriage and a sub carriage. A machining tool is positioned on the sub carriage, and the sub carriage traverses on the main carriage along an axis which the main carriage and the sub carriage have in common. When a circular machining is carried out, the main carriage and the sub carriage respectively traverse by an equal amount in directions opposite to each other, and the cutting tool is constantly maintained at a position designated by an instruction.

Abstract: A metal turning chip breaking apparatus includes an impulse actuator in the form of a piezoelectric element that rapidly expands and contracts in response to a rapidly applied and removed voltage. This, in turn, is used to impulsively move a cutter support in a matching fashion, causing a cutter to rapidly withdraw from and return to the cut in a chopping action. This breaks up the chip, which would otherwise form continuously. There is no need to synchronize the incremental motion of the cutter with the rotation of the workpiece.

Abstract: A machine tool comprises a base, a spindle operably associated with the base, a work holder operably associated with the spindle for securing a workpiece to the spindle, and a tailstock operably secured to the base. The tailstock includes a slideway and a tailstock body slidably secured to the slideway. The tailstock body is movable on the slideway between a home position away from the workpiece and a work engaging position. A limit switch and trip members associated with the tailstock, and a hydrulic circuit are provided for controlling the movement of the tailstock body from the home position to an intermediate position prior to the work engaging position at an initial feed rate and from the intermediate position to the work engaging position at a subsequent feed rate where the initial feed rate is greater than the subsequent feed rate.

Abstract: An apparatus preventing a lathe tool from being damaged is composed of a lathe tool support provided thereon with a front chucking stand and a rear chucking stand, which are used to hold the lathe tool. The front chucking stand has an opening which receives the lathe tool and divides the front chucking stand into a first chucking block and a second chucking block. The first chucking block has a pivot shaft pivoted to the lathe tool support while the second chucking block has a thin strain gage attached to a surface thereof. The rear chucking stand has a front end with a through hole for receiving the rear end of the lathe tool and has a rear end having an actuating board welded thereto. The lathe tool support is provided with at least an electromagnet and a spring for pulling the actuating board.

Abstract: There is provided by the present invention a surface contouring tool useful for reaching otherwise inaccessible working surfaces such as large diameter gas turbine engine rotor inner surfaces, the invention including a machining head means extendable from a nonworking position to a working position relative to the working surface and when the machining head means is useful for EDM or ECM machining further includes a fluid flow path for providing a machining fluid to the working surface head and means for rotating the machining head means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high speed turning machine for machining a rotating workpiece to have a predetermined profile surface by using a cutting tool mounted on a pivotal tool holder that is reciprocated rapidly toward and from the workpiece surface. An armature of a linear motor is mounted on the pivotal toolholder. The toolholder is mounted in frictionless bearings. The armature is positioned on the toolholder relative to the tool and its pivot axis to provide a substantial mechanical advantage.

Abstract: The formation of intermittent chips or chip breakage are assured while machining a rotating workpiece by causing the undeformed chip thickness to vary periodically and be reduced to zero in each period of its variation. To obtain the periodic reduction of the undeformed chip thickness to zero, a cutting tool is made to oscillate along its feed advance path. Tool oscillation is controlled so that the tool's position depends on the angular displacement of the rotating workpiece. The number of cycles of tool oscillation per revolution of the workpiece may be freely chosen depending on the required length of chip segments. The oscillation amplitude needed to form intermittent chips depends on this number, feed advance per revolution, and number of simultaneously applied cutting edges of the tool. The oscillatory movement of the tool may be enforced in many ways.

Abstract: A machine tool for processing a work piece into a non-circular cross-sectional configuration according to the invention precisely processes, for example, a piston cylinder into a non-circular cross-sectional configuration by inputting simplified data.That is to say, a tool thereof is moved in a direction (X axis) perpendicular to an axis of the work piece by means of two servo motors. A first X axis servo motor operates to position the tool roughly in the X direction according to the size of the work piece. A second X axis servo motor finely vibrates the tool at high speed on the basis of program data.

Abstract: Two preferred embodiments of an apparatus are disclosed for imparting combined synchronous reciprocating and oscillatory motions to a cutting tool of the type used with an engine lathe to cut a continuous circumferential serpentine-patterned groove in the surface of a workpiece held and rotated about an axis of rotation by the lathe. The tool is axially journaled and mounted on a slide block permitting oscillatory and reciprocating motions of the tool relative to the rotating workpiece. Direct inflexible drive mechanisms impart the reciprocating and oscillatory motions, where the motions are synchronous with each other and are timed so as to define an integral number of waves around the circumference of the workpiece. The first embodiment employs a cam, cam followers, and direct mechanical or hydraulic linkages therefrom utilizing a minimum of parts to impart the motions. The second embodiment employs two separate servo motors to impart the motions.

Abstract: A below-floor lathe for reprofiling the rims of railroad-vehicle wheel sets, with four driven friction rollers, two rotating supports, and controls. The friction rollers can be forced in pairs against the outer surface of each rim in a wheel set. A detector determines the level of slippage that occurs between a friction roller and a rim surface and varies the rate at which the rotating supports advance in accordance with the level of slippage detected.