Claims
- 1. A method of machining a plurality of varied surfaces on a workpiece, comprising:
- (a) locking such workpiece on a fixture having dimensional keys and releasably securing such fixture on an adjustable worktable in a predetermined first position facilitated by said keys;
- (b) adjacent each worktable, rapidly positioning a rotary single-point-tool for linear feed into a first of said workpiece surfaces while in said first position, said positioning being carried out at accelerations/decelerations of at least about one G;
- (c) feeding said rotating tool into said workpiece to carry out machining at speeds of 90-290 inches per minute for drilling, at least about 300 inches per minute for boring, and at least about 5000 sfm for milling;
- (d) after withdrawing said tool from said workpiece, repositioning the same or a substituted single-point-tool for another linear feed into other workpiece surfaces, said repositioning being carried out at accelerations or decelerations of at least about one G; and
- (e) after withdrawing said tool from said workpiece, transferring said fixtured workpiece to another of a plurality of worktables while a substituted workpiece is undergoing machining at said worktable.
- 2. The method as in claim 1, in which said path worktables are spaced along in-line.
- 3. The method as in claim 1, in which said step (e) transfer and replacement takes place by use of one or more a rail-riding robotic arms.
- 4. The method as in claim 1, in which said machining of step (b) is carried out on the in-stroke as well as the out-stroke.
- 5. The method as in claim 1, in which said single-point-tool is driven rotationally at speeds of 30,000-40,000 rpm.
- 6. The method as in claim 1, in which said rapid positioning is carried out by the use of a three-axis stacked positioning device.
- 7. The method as in claim 1, in which at least two of said machining cells are placed front-to-front for simultaneous and concurrent machining of opposite sides of said workpiece.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 07/923,717, filed Jul. 31, 1992, U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,874.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
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110815 |
Jun 1984 |
EPX |
308908 |
Mar 1989 |
EPX |
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Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
923717 |
Jul 1992 |
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