Patent ID: 8256092

Claim:
A method for working on a workpiece, the method comprising: (a) providing a tool, wherein the tool defines a first axis extending longitudinally along the center of the tool, wherein the tool is rotatable about the first axis, wherein the tool has a periphery, a first diameter, and a selected number of cutting elements; (b) providing a workpiece, wherein the workpiece has a bore having a second diameter and a bore length; (c) rotating the tool about the first axis at a selected rate of rotation; (d) moving the tool in an orbital motion about a second axis, wherein the second axis is separate from but parallel to the first axis, wherein the acts of rotating the tool and moving the tool in an orbital motion are performed contemporaneously, wherein each cutting element moves at a cutting element speed during the acts of rotating the tool and moving the tool in an orbital motion; and (e) advancing the tool into the bore of the workpiece at a selected linear rate of advancement to successively engage the cutting elements of the tool with the workpiece to enlarge the bore in the workpiece to a third diameter by cutting chips from the workpiece, wherein the third diameter is greater than the second diameter, wherein the tool continues to rotate about the first axis and orbit about the second axis during the act of advancing the tool, such that the tool is advanced at a helix angle, wherein the cutting elements are advanced at a selected peripheral linear feed rate during the act of advancing the tool; wherein the linear rate of advancement is selected based at least in part on the rate of rotation.