Automated machining method

Claim 1

A process for producing a machined article from an elongated blank, comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus which comprises: a chuck for holding said elongated blank, means for rotating said elongated blank about a B axis, said B axis providing rotation about the central axis of said blank, means for rotating said chuck in a horizontal plane about a Z axis, means for moving said said means for rotating said chuck about a Y axis in a horizontal plane, means for moving said means for moving along said Y axis about an X axis in a horizontal plane which is perpendicular to said Y axis, a generally circular cutting wheel, means for rotating said cutting wheel about the center thereof, means for rotating said cutting wheel about an A axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said wheel, means for measuring movement along each of said A, B, X, Y, and Z axes; rotating said cutting wheel about the center axis thereof; rotating said cutting wheel about said A axis; rotating said elongated blank about said B axis; moving said blank along said X, Y, and Z axes so as to engage said blank with said cutting wheel; measuring the movement along said A, B, X, Y, and Z axes; generating signals representative of said measurement along said axes; establishing predetermined desired geometrical ratios with regard to the desired configuration of the machined blank; assigning specific dimensional measurements which relate to said ratios to establish absolute predetermined desired measurements; transposing said desired ratios into movement along said A, B, X, Y and Z axes; comparing said signals with predetermined desired signals representative of said predetermined desired geometrical ratios; and generating desired paths of movement for all axes simultaneously to maximize utilization of all available axes; controlling movement along all said axes simultaneously along said path.