End mill grinder

Claim 2

A mill grinder for machine tool cutters constructed with reference to X, Y, and Z geometric axes that are mutually perpendicular and intersect at a common point, comprising in combination: a frame; a grindwheel rotatably mounted on the frame to revolve about an axis parallel to and spaced from the Z axis; a work head including tool holding means, the tool holding means mounting a cutter in the work head for movement of the cutter about the longitudinal axis of the cutter; means mounting the work head on the frame for independent movement about the X axis and for movement along the Z axis with the axis of the cutter coincident with the Z axis; motor means for turning the tool holding means and the cutter about the axis of the cutter; motor means moving the work head to feed the cutter into and out of engagement with the grindwheel; motor means traversing the work head along the Z axis with the cutter axis coincident with the Z axis; and motor means for swinging the tool holder and cutter about the X axis.

Claim 3

A grinder for cutters according to claim 1 in which the tool holder and cutter swing about the X axis through an arc of substantially 90*.

Claim 4

A grinder for cutters according to claim 1 including means for forming said cutter with a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes that define cutter teeth, and in which the Means for turning the cutter includes means to index the cutter by angular increments determined by the number of flutes on the cutter.

Claim 5

A grinder for cutters according to claim 3 which also includes a tooth rest engageable with the cutter, and in which the means for turning the tool holding means is reversible and rotates the cutter in one direction to index the cutter and rotates the cutter in the opposite direction against the tooth rest to grind a surface on a land of the cutter.

Claim 6

A grinder for cutters according to claim 1 in which the means for feeding the cutter into and out of engagement with the grindwheel includes means swinging the work head forward and back in an arc about an axis parallel to but offset from the Z axis.

Claim 7

A grinder for cutters according to claim 1 that also comprises means adjustably mounting the grindwheel on the frame for compensatory movement of the grindwheel axis toward and away from the Z axis and along the Y axis.

Claim 8

A grinder for cutters according to claim 1 including means adjustably mounting the work head on the frame for movement of said common point of intersection of the axes relative to the cutter along a locus lying at 45* to the Y axis.

Claim 9

A grinder for cutters according to claim 1 in which the means for turning the cutter includes motor means for rotating the cutter continuously while the cutter is in engagement with the grindwheel.

Claim 10

A mill grinder for machine tool cutters constructed with reference to X, Y, and Z axes that are mutually perpendicular and intersect at a common point, comprising in combination: a frame; a grindwheel rotatably mounted on the frame to revolve about an axis parallel to and spaced from the Z axis; a work head including tool holding means, the tool holding means mounting a cutter in the work head for movement of the cutter about the longitudinal axis of the cutter, said point of intersection of said X, Y and Z axes lying on the longitudinal axis of said cutter in the tool holder; means mounting the work head on the frame for independent movement about the X axis and along the Z axis; motor means for turning the tool holding means and the cutter about the axis of the cutter; motor means moving the work head to feed the cutter into and out of engagement with the gindwheel; motor means traversing the work head along the Z axis; and motor means for swinging the tool holder and cutter about the X axis.

Claim 11

A mill grinder for machine tool cutters constructed with reference to X, Y, and Z axes that are mutually perpendicular and intersect at a common point, comprising in combination: a frame; a grindwheel rotatably mounted on the frame to revolve about an axis parallel to and spaced from the Z axis; a work head including tool holding means, the tool holding means mounting a cutter in the work head for movement of the cutter about the longitudinal axis of the cutter, said point of intersection of said X, Y and Z axes lying on the longitudinal axis of said cutter in the tool holder; means mounting the work head on the frame for independent movement about the X axis and along the Z axis; motor means for turning the tool holding means and the cutter about the axis of the cutter; motor means moving the work head to feed the cutter into and out of engagement with the gindwheel; motor means traversing the work head along the Z axis; and motor means for swinging the tool holder and cutter about the X axis.

Claim 12

A mill grinder for machine tool cutters constructed with reference to X, Y, and Z axes that are mutually perpendicular, comprising in combination: a frame; a grindhweel rotatably mounted on the frame to revolve about an axis parallel to and spaced from the Z axis; a work head including tool holding means, the tool holding means mounting a cutter in the work head for movement of the cutter about the longitudinal axis of the cutter; means mounting the work head on the frame for independent movement about the X axis and along the Z axis; motor means for turning the tool holding means and the cutter about the axis of the cutter; motor means moving the work head to feed the cutter into and out of engagement with the grindwheel; motor means traversing the work head along the Z axis; and motor means for swinging the tool holder and cutter about the X axis between an initial position in which the cutter axis is coincident with the Y axis and a subsequent position in which the cutter axis is coincident with the Z axis.

Claim 13

A mill grinder for machine tool cutters constructed with reference to X, Y, and Z axes that are mutually perpendicular, comprising in combination: a frame; a grindhweel rotatably mounted on the frame to revolve about an axis parallel to and spaced from the Z axis; a work head including tool holding means, the tool holding means mounting a cutter in the work head for movement of the cutter about the longitudinal axis of the cutter; means mounting the work head on the frame for independent movement about the X axis and along the Z axis; motor means for turning the tool holding means and the cutter about the axis of the cutter; motor means moving the work head to feed the cutter into and out of engagement with the grindwheel; motor means traversing the work head along the Z axis; and motor means for swinging the tool holder and cutter about the X axis between an initial position in which the cutter axis is coincident with the Y axis and a subsequent position in which the cutter axis is coincident with the Z axis.

Claim 14

A mill grinder for machine tool cutters constructed with reference to X, Y, and Z axes that are mutually perpendicular, comprising in combination: a frame; a grindwheel rotatably mounted on the frame to revolve about an axis parallel to and spaced from the Z axis; a work head including tool holding means, the tool holding means mounting a cutter in the work head for movement of the cutter about the longitudinal axis of the cuttEr; means mounting the work head on the frame for independent movement about the X axis, along the X axis and along the Z axis; motor means for turning the tool holding means and the cutter about the axis of the cutter; motor means moving the work head to feed the cutter into and out of engagement with the grindwheel; motor means traversing the work head along the Z axis; motor means traversing the tool holder and cutter therein along the X axis; and motor means for swinging the tool holder and cutter about the X axis.

Claim 15

A mill grinder for machine tool cutters constructed with reference to X, Y, and Z axes that are mutually perpendicular, comprising in combination: a frame; a grindwheel rotatably mounted on the frame to revolve about an axis parallel to and spaced from the Z axis; a work head including tool holding means, the tool holding means mounting a cutter in the work head for movement of the cutter about the longitudinal axis of the cuttEr; means mounting the work head on the frame for independent movement about the X axis, along the X axis and along the Z axis; motor means for turning the tool holding means and the cutter about the axis of the cutter; motor means moving the work head to feed the cutter into and out of engagement with the grindwheel; motor means traversing the work head along the Z axis; motor means traversing the tool holder and cutter therein along the X axis; and motor means for swinging the tool holder and cutter about the X axis.

Claim 16

A grinder for cutters according to claim 11 in which the tool holder moves between an initial position with the tool holder axis parallel with the Y axis and a final position with the tool holder axis parallel with the Z axis after said swinging motion about the X axis.

Claim 17

A grinder for cutters according to claim 11 in which the tool holder positions the cutter axis initially parallel to but offset from the Y axis and after swinging about the X axis positions the cutter axis parallel to but offset from the Z axis.

Claim 18

A grinder for cutters according to claim 13 which also comprises means for traversing the cutter along the Z axis holding the cutter axis parallel to but offset from the Z axis.

Claim 19

A machine tool cutter grinder comprising in combination: a frame; a grindwheel and motor means driving the grindwheel mounted on the frame; a work head; a tool holder adapted to hold a cutter and rotatably mounted in the work head to turn the cutter about the longitudinal axis of the cutter therein; means mounting the work head on the frame, for controlled movement of the work head relative to the grind-wheel, said mounting means comprising a post having its longitudinal axis vertical and mounted for oscillation about its axis, said post having a laterally extending arm; a block pivotally connected to said post arm to swing relative to the post about a second vertical axis; and means pivotally connecting said work head to the block to move about a horizontal axis intersecting said second vertical axis; and motor means for swinging the work head and cutter about said horizontal axis.

Claim 20

A machine tool cutter grinder comprising in combination: a frame; a grindwheel and motor means driving the grindwheel mounted on the frame; a work head; a tool holder adapted to hold a cutter and rotatably mounted in the work head to turn the cutter about the longitudinal axis of the cutter therein; means mounting the work head on the frame, for controlled movement of the work head relative to the grind-wheel, said mounting means comprising a post having its longitudinal axis vertical and mounted for oscillation about its axis, said post having a laterally extending arm; a block pivotally connected to said post arm to swing relative to the post about a second vertical axis; and means pivotally connecting said work head to the block to move about a horizontal axis intersecting said second vertical axis; and motor means for swinging the work head and cutter about said horizontal axis.

Claim 21

A cutter grinder according to claim 15 that also includes means on the work head providing rectilinear movement of the tool holder and cutter relative to said block in horizontal and vertical directions.

Claim 22

A cutter grinder according to claim 16 in which the horizontal and vertical movements of the work head and cutter are respectively parallel to and perpendicular to said horizontal axis about which the work head is mounted on the block.

Claim 23

A cutter grinder according to claim 15 which also comprises means raising and lowering the post along its vertical axis.

Claim 24

A cutter grinder according to claim 15 that also comprises means for adjustably positioning the grindwheel toward and away from a cutter in the tool holder by movement in a direction parallel to a vertical plane containing the axis of revolution of the grindwheel and the axis of the cutter.

Claim 25

A cutter grinder according to claim 15 that also comprises motor means carried on the work head for continuously rotating the tool holder with the cutter in contact with the grindwheel.

Claim 26

A cutter grinder according to claim 15 that also includes indexing means on the work head that turn the cutter by angular increments in response to the number of flutes on the cutter.

Claim 27

A cutter grinder according to claim 21 that also includes means for keeping one land on a cutter in grinding engagement with the grindhweel during downward movement of the post along the first mentioned vertical axis.

Claim 28

A cutter grinder according to claim 15 that also comprises means for swinging the block and work head together about said second vertical axis.

Claim 29

An end mill grinder according to claim 23 in which the grindwheel is a shaped wheel having a circumferentially extending ridge. means mounting tHe work head on the frame for independent movement about the X axis, along the X axis and along the Z axis; motor means for turning the tool holding means and the cutter about the axis of the cutter; motor means moving the work head to feed the cutter into and out of engagement with the grindwheel; motor means traversing the work head along the Z axis; motor means traversing the tool holder and cutter therein along the X axis; and motor means for swinging the tool holder and cutter about the X axis.

Claim 30

A grinder constructed with reference to X, Y, and Z axes that are mutually perpendicular and intersect at a common point for forming a cutter with a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes that define cutter teeth comprising in combination: a frame; a grindwheel rotatably mounted on the frame to revolve about a vertical axis parallel to but spaced from the Z axis; a holder for holding a cutter to be ground; a work head mounting the cutter holder for turning movement about the axis of the cutter therein; means for mounting the work head on the frame and moving the work head both angularly and linearly with respect to the grindwheel, means for mounting the work head angularly about the X axis, and means for placing the cutter axis coincident with the Z axis.

Claim 31

A grinder constructed with reference to X, Y, and Z axes that are mutually perpendicular and intersect at a common point for forming a cutter with a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes that define cutter teeth comprising in combination: a frame; a grindwheel rotatably mounted on the frame to revolve about a vertical axis parallel to but spaced from the Z axis; a holder for holding a cutter to be ground; a work head mounting the cutter holder for turning movement about the axis of the cutter therein; means for mounting the work head on the frame and moving the work head both angularly and linearly with respect to the grindwheel, means for mounting the work head angularly about the X axis, and means for placing the cutter axis coincident with the Z axis.

Claim 32

A grinder for grinding the cutting end and the shank of a fluted end mill comprising, in combination: a frame; a power driven grindwheel supported by the frame, said grindwheel having an annular grind surface; a workhead supported on the frame, said workhead including a work holder mounting an end mill in said workhead for rotation on the longitudinal axis of the end mill; a drive motor for constantly rotating said end mill in said head on its said longitudinal axis; means for placing said workhead and end mill held therein relative to said grinding surface in a position with the cutting end of said end mill bearing against said annular grinding surface, and with the longitudinal axis of the end mill normal to said annular grinding surface at the point of engagement; means for effecting a movement of said workhead relative to said grinding surface, between said position and a second position, said movement comprising a relative swing of said end mill about a swing axis which is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said end mill and which intersects the end mill at a distance from the extremity of the cutter end of the end mill which is no greater than half the radius of the end mill, such swing being of an angular extent of the approximate order of a right angle; and means for translating said end mill along its longitudinal axis between said second position and still another position, in order to grind the shank of the end mill along the fluted length thereof.

Claim 33

A grinder for grinding the cutting end and the shank of a fluted end mill comprising, in combination: a frame; a power driven grindwheel supported by the frame, said grindwheel having an annular grind surface; a workhead supported on the frame, said workhead including a work holder mounting an end mill in said workhead for rotation on the longitudinal axis of the end mill; a drive motor for constantly rotating said end mill in said head on its said longitudinal axis; means for placing said workhead and end mill held therein relative to said grinding surface in a position with the cutting end of said end mill bearing against said annular grinding surface, and with the longitudinal axis of the end mill normal to said annular grinding surface at the point of engagement; means for effecting a movement of said workhead relative to said grinding surface, between said position and a second position, said movement comprising a relative swing of said end mill about a swing axis which is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said end mill and which intersects the end mill at a distance from the extremity of the cutter end of the end mill which is no greater than half the radius of the end mill, such swing being of an angular extent of the approximate order of a right angle; and means for translating said end mill along its longitudinal axis between said second position and still another position, in order to grind the shank of the end mill along the fluted length thereof.

Claim 34

The subject matter of claim 26, wherein a ball end mill is to be ground, and said swing axis intersects the longitudinal axis of the end mill, and wherein the point of intersection of said axes is located a distance from said extremity of the end mill substantially equal to the radius of the shank of the end mill, said swing axis being at right angles to the direction of said translation.

Claim 35

The subject matter of claim 26, wherein a flat end mill is to be ground, said swing axis intersecting the end mill substantially at the intersection of the flat cutter end of the end mill and the side surface of the shank thereof, and being at right angles to the direction of said translation.

Claim 36

The subject matter of claim 26, wherein the cutter end of the end mill is to be ground with a radius between its shank surface and cutter end which is less than that of the shank of the end mill, said swing axis intersecting a center point about which such radius is struck, being at right angles to the direction of said translation.

Claim 37

A grinder for end mill cutters, constructed with reference to mutually perpendicular Geometric reference axes X, Y and Z, comprising in combination: a frame in fixed relation to said X, Y and Z axes; a grindwheel rotatably mounted on the frame to revolve about an axis contained in the Y-Z plane; a workhead including holding means for an end mill cutter, said holding means mounting an end mill cutter for movement of the cutter about its longitudinal axis; means mounting the workhead relative to the frame for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the Y-Z plane and in the vicinity of the X axis; means mounting the workhead relative to the frame for pivotal movement about said Z axis; means positioning the cutter holder on the workhead with its longitudinal axis in a plane offset from the X-Z plane; means for pivotally moving the workhead about said axis perpendicular to said Y-Z plane; and means for pivotally moving the workhead about said Z axis.

Claim 38

A grinder for end mill cutters, constructed with reference to mutually perpendicular Geometric reference axes X, Y and Z, comprising in combination: a frame in fixed relation to said X, Y and Z axes; a grindwheel rotatably mounted on the frame to revolve about an axis contained in the Y-Z plane; a workhead including holding means for an end mill cutter, said holding means mounting an end mill cutter for movement of the cutter about its longitudinal axis; means mounting the workhead relative to the frame for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the Y-Z plane and in the vicinity of the X axis; means mounting the workhead relative to the frame for pivotal movement about said Z axis; means positioning the cutter holder on the workhead with its longitudinal axis in a plane offset from the X-Z plane; means for pivotally moving the workhead about said axis perpendicular to said Y-Z plane; and means for pivotally moving the workhead about said Z axis.

Claim 39

The grinder of claim 30, wherein said grindwheel axis is substantially parallel with said Z axis.

Claim 40

The grinder of claim 30, including also feed and retract means supporting said workhead and its mounting means for pivotal movement towards and from said grindwheel, about an axis parallel to said Z axis.

Claim 41

A cutter grinder as in claim 25 in which the work head mounting means also includes: means mounting the work head for feeding the cutter toward and away from the grindwheel by swinging movement about a vertical axis parallel to but offset from the Z axis.

Claim 42

A cutter grinder as in claim 25 which also comprises: a tooth rest engaging the cutter during grinding; and the work head includes means for turning the cutter in a direction to maintain contact of the cutter with the tooth rest during grinding.

Claim 43

A cutter grinder as in claim 34 in which the work head includes reversible motor means for turning the cutter to engage and disengage the tooth rest.

Claim 44

A cutter grinder as in claim 25 which includes means indexing the cutter by angular increments equal to the angle between successive flutes.