Machining method and apparatus

• US 4,733,049 A
• Filed: 04/16/1980
• Issued: 03/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1963
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCHALL, MARK H
• Application Number:
  US06/140,867
• Time in Patent Office: 2,897 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121 L, 219/121 LM, 219/121 LE, 219/121 LF, 219/121 LU, 219/121 LY, 408/12, 408/700
• US Class Current: 219/121.69
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 49/001 Devices for detecting or indicating failure of drills
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 25/006 Heating the workpiece by laser during machining
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/0957 Detection of tool breakage detecting failure of drills B23B49/001
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/021 Optical sensing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0084 comprising a plurality of manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/00 Preparing, conveying, or working-up building materials or building elements in situ; Other devices or measures for constructional work conveying in general B65G; lifting devices B66; working stone-like materials B28D; measuring instruments G01
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/004 for measuring coordinates of points
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B7/004, G01B7/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/34792 with only digital scales or both digital and incremental scales
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/18 Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form G05B19/418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/401 characterised by control arrangements for measuring, e.g. calibration and initialisation, measuring workpiece for machining purposes G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4015 going to a reference at the beginning of machine cycle, e.g. for calibration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/404 characterised by control arrangements for compensation, e.g. for backlash, overshoot, tool offset, tool wear, temperature, machine construction errors, load, inertia G05B19/19, G05B19/41 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35554 Mirror, other conversions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36503 Adapt program to real coordinates, software orientation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36504 Adapt program to real coordinates, shape, dimension of tool, offset path
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37032 Generate vibrations, ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37228 Tool inspection, condition, dull tool
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37245 Breakage tool, failure
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37345 Dimension of workpiece, diameter
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37351 : Detect vibration, ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37357 : Force, pressure, weight or deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37405 : Contact detection between workpiece and tool, probe, feeler
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37409 : Measure different pressure of fluid flow on contacting surface
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37415 : By cutting light beam
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37417 : By linear varying electrical signal
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37418 : By capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37559 : Camera, vision of tool, compute tool center, detect tool wear
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39122 : Follower, slave mirrors leader, master
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40383 : Correction, modification program by detection type workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49134 : Clamp, keep positioned slide, workpiece stationary during machining
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49302 : Part, workpiece, code, tool identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50031 : Zero setting, go to reference with gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50063 : Probe, measure, verify workpiece, feedback measured values
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50139 : Calibration, setting tool after measurement on tool
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50145 : Tool setup manual, preset of the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50249 : Tool, probe, pen changer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50294 : Tool offset length by going to a reference and recording distance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50296 : Tool offset by verifying piece and registrating errors
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50315 : Selfcorrecting by measurement during machining
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50379 : Workpiece detector, sensor

Abstract

An apparatus and method for machining heat softenable materials such as metals, alloys and certain thermoplastic materials. In one form, radiation generated by a laser or electron gun is directed against a portion of a workpiece immediately adjacent that portion thereof which is being machined by a cutting tool such as a milling tool, lathe tool, drill, grinder or other means adapted to remove material by so called machining. The laser or other generating means for radiation is preferably supported by a mount supporting the cutting tool and is located to direct its beam immediately in advance of that portion of the work being machined so that the heat of the beam will soften that portion of the work about to be cut or otherwise machined. Other radiation generating means such as an electric arc or plasma arc generator may also be utilized.

Claims

1. A method of machining material comprising:

effecting first powered controlled movement of a tool with respect to a work member,

effecting second powered controlled movement of a radiation generating means with respect to said tool

transferring sufficient heat from said radiation generating means to cause a selected portion of a work member to become heat softened,

controlling the operation of said tool to cause it to engage the heat softened portion of said work member, and

continuing said first and second controlled movements of said tool and said radiation generating means while said tool is in engagement with said work member to cause said tool to remove at least a portion of said selected portion of said work member heated to said heat softened condition by said radiation generating means.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 which includes supporting said radiation generating means and said tool on a common support to permit said radiation generating means to generate and direct radiation against said work member as it is moved with said tool when said first powered controlled movement moves said tool.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said radiation generating means is operable to generate a narrow beam of radiation and to direct said narrow beam to intersect material of said work member immediately in advance of said tool.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said radiation generating means is a laser operable to generate a narrow beam of coherent radiation.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said radiation generating means is operable to generate said narrow beam of intense radiation intermittently.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 which includes automatically controlling the operation of said tool and the generation of said radiation.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 which includes computer controlling the operation of said tool and said radiation generating means.