Patent ID: 8534169

Claim:
A machining method in which both end portions of an elongated workpiece are supported horizontally by end portion supporting means and the supported workpiece is rotated about its axis, and the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece is machined by relative movement of the workpiece and a tool held by tool holding means, the machining method characterized in that: first, the workpiece is supported by the end portion supporting means and a measuring head for measuring the distance between the measuring head and the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece without contact is attached to the tool holding means; subsequently, the workpiece is rotated about its axis at a rotational speed for when the workpiece is machined and the distance between the measuring head and the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece is measured by the measuring head at a plurality of positions in the direction of the workpiece axis and the deflection shape of the workpiece is calculated; and then the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece is machined by moving the tool along the calculated deflection shape.