Patent ID: 11958165
Assignee: ZEEKO INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Field: Machine tools (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 7:
8. Apparatus for shaping a workpiece, comprising:
one or more databases configured to store:, measurement data of a region of the workpiece to be shaped;, data representing a required surface form of the said region of the workpiece surface;
a processor means for:
determining an amount and distribution of material to be removed, on the basis of the obtained measurement data and the data representing the required surface form;
analysing the data representing the required surface form of the workpiece to determine form characteristics of the region to be shaped;
determining a size and form of a shaping tool which can treat all parts of the region to be shaped on the basis of the determined form characteristics; and
determining a tool path for moving the shaping tool over the region to be shaped in order to remove the material from the surface, wherein the tool path defines a tool offset at all points along the tool path, the tool offset being the amount of a deformation of the shaping tool against the workpiece surface, wherein the tool offset at all points along the tool path does not exceed a maximum tool offset and wherein the maximum tool offset is such that the shaping of the workpiece remains within a ductile regime at all points along the tool path;
the apparatus further comprising:
a means for providing a shaping tool having the determined size and form;
a shaping machine including a fixture for mounting the shaping tool, the shaping machine further comprising a control means for controlling the fixture to move the shaping tool over the said region of the workpiece surface using the determined tool path in order to remove the material from the workpiece surface;
wherein either: the shaping tool has an abrasive working surface or the apparatus is configured to provide, during shaping of the workpiece, an abrasive slurry between the shaping tool and the workpiece.