Machining apparatus

Abstract

A machining apparatus capable of obscuring periodic machining irregularities. A workpiece W is mounted on a workpiece mounting surface of a worktable, and a tool T is supported by an elastic member (leaf spring) that is attached to a movable unit. A piezoelectric element is provided on the back of the leaf spring, and a driving voltage with irregular frequency and amplitude is applied to the piezoelectric element by a white noise generator during machining. Thus, a relative vibration displacement in a cutting-depth direction (vertical direction) is induced between the tool T and the workpiece W. In the case of a lathe apparatus, a relative vibration displacement is applied in the direction (horizontal direction) of a rotary axis of a workpiece fixture.

1 . A machining apparatus comprising:
 a tool for performing machining on a surface of a workpiece;   a relative motion applying mechanism that applies relative motion to said tool with respect to the workpiece in three-dimensional directions including a machining-depth direction in which said tool moves closer to and away from the surface of the workpiece; and   a vibratory-displacement applying mechanism that applies vibratory displacements with frequency and amplitude thereof varying irregularly to one of said tool and the workpiece in the machining-depth direction during the machining of the workpiece by said tool.   
   
   
       2 . A machining apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said vibratory-displacement applying mechanism comprises a piezoelectric element that makes vibratory displacements proportional to a ripple voltage having irregular frequency and amplitude. 
   
   
       3 . A machining apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the ripple voltage is generated by using a white noise generator.