Abstract An apparatus for carrying out the automatic machining of threedimensional lines and surfaces for making a master model comprising three components which are controlled to move in a straight line, including an X-component which has a horizontal longitudinal X-movement, a Y-component which has a vertical Ymovement, and a Z-component which has a horizontal Z-movement at 90* to the X-movement, a tool operatively mounted on one of said components, power means operatively connected to each of said three components for moving the components in said controlled straight line movements, a signaling device for each of two of said components for controlling the power means therefor, a first source of two-dimensional data mounted on one plane, and a second source of two-dimensional data mounted on another plane perpendicular to said one plane, and a sensing element for each of said signaling devices which engages and is responsive to one of said two-dimensional data sources, whereby the power means controlled by the signaling devices cause their respective connected components to move precisely in accordance with the two-dimensional data, thereby producing a three-dimensional relative movement between the tool and the work piece.
In a machine tool for automatically machining a master model, comprising signalling means being responsive to control data for controlling said automatic machining, a sensing element carried by said signalling means and engageable with said control data, said sensing element including: a. a blade-type stylus having a mounting shank formed on one end thereof for operatively mounting the stylus in said signalling means, and a tip on the other end thereof; and, b. said blade-type stylus having a longitudinally tapered sensing edge which tapers outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the stylus, with the taper increasing toward the tip of the stylus, whereby said stylus may be moved axially while in a deflected operating position and with said tapered sensing edge in contact with the controlling data without activating the signalling means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a machine tool for automatically machining a master model, comprising signalling means being responsive to control data for controlling said automatic machining, a sensing element carried by said signalling means and engageable with said control data, said sensing element including: a. a blade-type stylus having a mounting shank formed on one end thereof for operatively mounting the stylus in said signalling means, and a tip on the other end thereof; and, b. said blade-type stylus having a longitudinally tapered sensing edge which tapers outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the stylus, with the taper increasing toward the tip of the stylus, whereby said stylus may be moved axially while in a deflected operating position and with said tapered sensing edge in contact with the controlling data without activating the signalling means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
In a machine tool as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said tapered edge is provided with an axially bisected conical contacting surface.