Compound Machining Method and Apparatus

Abstract

A milling tool and a workpiece each may be rotated at a rotational velocity of at least 25 m/min in a compound machining operation. Disclosed are a computer numerically controlled machine, a method for operation of a computer numerically controlled machine, a computer program product, and a method for determining compound machining parameters. In some embodiments, a processing parameter for compound machining is selected and other processing parameters are algorithmically determined based thereon.

1 . A method comprising: 
 for a workpiece and a milling tool, selecting at least one processing parameter for a compound machining operation in which the workpiece and milling tool each rotate at a rate of at least 25 m/min, and algorithmically determining other processing parameters for said compound machining operation.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , including selecting at least two processing parameters for a compound machining operation.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , comprising selecting a desired relative velocity of rotation between said tool and said workpiece, and at least one other processing parameter selected from a tool rotational parameter and a workpiece rotational parameter.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 2 , comprising selecting a desired workpiece rotational speed and a relative velocity of rotation between said tool and said workpiece, said relative velocity approximating a desired milling velocity; and algorithmically determining other processing parameters effective for compound machining of said workpiece.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising selecting a desired tool rotational speed and a relative velocity of rotation between said tool and said workpiece, said relative velocity approximating a desired milling velocity; and algorithmically determining other processing parameters effective for compound machining of said workpiece.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , said other processing parameters comprising at least a tool rotational velocity and a feed rate.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising calculating the power required for compound machining and determining whether available power permits compound machining at said selected processing parameter.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7 , comprising selecting a different relative velocity if the available power does not permit compound machining at said selected processing parameter.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , said other processing parameters being determined remotely from a computer numerically controlled machine.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 1 , said other processing parameters being determined on a computer control system of a computer numerically controlled machine.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 1 , including operating a computer numerically controlled machine at a rotational velocity equal or approximately equal to said relative velocity and at said other processing parameters.  
   
   
       12 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having disposed thereon code for algorithmically determining processing parameters for a compound machining operation for a workpiece and a milling tool given at least one a selected processing parameter for a compound machining operation.  
   
   
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       16 . A computer numerically controlled machine comprising at least first and second retainers, each of said first and second retainers comprising one of a spindle retainer, a turret retainer, a first chuck and a second chuck; at least one cutting tool, said at least one cutting tool being operatively connected to said one of said retainers; and a computer control system operatively coupled to said first retainer and to said second retainer and causing said first retainer to move relative to said second retainer, said computer control system including a computer readable medium having disposed thereon code for algorithmically determining processing parameters effective for compound machining of a workpiece using a tool given a preselected processing parameter for said compound machining.  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . A method comprising: 
 providing a computer numerically controlled machine, said machine having at least a first retainer retaining a workpiece, and a second retainer retaining a milling tool;    in any suitable order, 
 rotating said workpiece and rotating said tool, each of said workpiece and said tool being rotated to provide a surface velocity of at least 25 m/min; and  
 moving said first retainer relative to said second retainer to cause said tool to contact said workpiece in a compound machining operation.  
   
   
   
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       32 . A computer numerically controlled machine comprising; 
 at least first and second retainers, each of said first and second retainers comprising one of a spindle retainer, a turret retainer, a first chuck and a second chuck;    at least one cutting tool, said at least one cutting tool being operatively connected to said one of said retainers; and    a computer control system operatively coupled to said first retainer and to said second retainer and causing said first retainer to move relative to said second retainer, said computer control system including a computer readable medium having disposed thereon code for causing in any suitable order rotation of said workpiece and rotation said tool to provide a surface velocity of at least 25 m/min for each of said workpiece and said tool; and for causing said first retainer to move relative to said second retainer to cause said tool to contact said workpiece in a compound milling operation.    
   
   
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       43 . A method comprising: 
 providing a computer numerically controlled machine, said machine having at least a first retainer retaining a workpiece, and a second retainer retaining a tool;    in any suitable order, 
 rotating said workpiece and rotating said tool, each of said workpiece and said tool being rotated to provide a surface velocity of at least 25 m/min; and  
 moving said first retainer relative to said second retainer to cause said tool to contact said workpiece and to thereby cause formation of a knurled surface on said workpiece.  
   
   
   
       44 . A method comprising: 
 providing a computer numerically controlled machine, said machine having at least a first retainer retaining a workpiece, and a second retainer retaining a tool;    selecting processing parameters effective for formation of a knurled surface on said workpiece, said processing parameters comprising speed of rotation of a workpiece, speed of rotation of a tool, and a phase difference between said rotation of said workpiece and said rotation of said tool, the rotation of said tool relative to said workpiece being sufficiently asynchronous to cause formation of a knurled surface on said workpiece; and    operating said computer numerically controlled machine under said processing parameters to provide a knurled surface on at least a portion of said workpiece.    
   
   
       45 . A computer numerically controlled machine comprising: 
 at least first and second retainers, each of said first and second retainers comprising one of a spindle retainer, a turret retainer, a first chuck and a second chuck;    at least one cutting tool, said at least one cutting tool being operatively connected to said one of said retainers; and    a computer control system operatively coupled to said first retainer and to said second retainer and causing said first retainer to move relative to said second retainer, said computer control system including a computer readable medium having disposed thereon code for causing rotation of a workpiece at a rotational velocity of at least 25 m/min and code for causing rotation of a tool at a rotational velocity of at least 25 m/min, and code for causing said first retainer to move relative to said second retainer to cause said tool to contact said workpiece under processing conditions effective to cause discrete chips of material to be removed from said workpiece.    
   
   
       46 . A method for determining the suitability of compound machining parameters, comprising: 
 determining, for a workpiece of a preselected size and material, and a tool of a preselected configuration, a relative velocity of rotation between said tool and said workpiece; and    determining whether the power availability of a computer numerically controlled machine is sufficient to permit compound machining at said relative contact rate.    
   
   
       47 . (canceled)  
   
   
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       50 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable medium containing computer program code for determining, for a workpiece of a preselected size and material, and a tool of a preselected configuration, a relative velocity of rotation between said tool and said workpiece; and for determining whether the power availability of a computer numerically controlled machine is sufficient to permit compound machining at said relative contact rate.