Slide system for machine tools

Claim 1

A machine tool for shaping a workpiece with a nonaxisymmetric surface by turning the workpiece about a central axis of rotation comprising: a spindle supporting the workpiece for rotation thereof about said axis, first and second slide means movable along planes normal to one another with the first of said slide means supporting a material-removing tool in a working relationship with the surface of said workpiece and providing for the displacement of the material-removing tool in opposite directions along a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the workpiece, and the second slide means supports said spindle for displacing the latter in opposite directions along a plane parallel to the axis of rotation of the workpiece, third slide means disposed intermediate said first slide means and the material-removing tool for carrying the latter and for displacing the material-removing tool in opposite directions along a plane radially spaced from said axis of rotation to generate a nonaxisymmetric surface on said workpiece, and means coupled to said third slide means and responsive to a predetermined angular position of said workpiece and the position of said first slide means for displacing the material-removing tool carried by said third slide means a selected distance in either direction along the plane of displacement of said third slide means for providing said workpiece with said nonaxisymmetric surface.