Patent ID: 8118642

Claim:
A method of machining a face ( 7 ) of an optical object ( 6 ), comprising: providing a machine tool that includes: a table ( 1 ) for mounting an object to be machined, the table ( 1 ) including a receiving surface ( 3 ) configured to be orientable angularly about an axis transverse to the receiving surface ( 3 ); and a spindle ( 8 ) adapted to drive a spherical machining tool ( 9 ) in rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the receiving surface ( 3 ) of the table ( 1 ) and adapted to move the machining tool ( 9 ) in translation in a plane substantially parallel or perpendicular to the receiving surface ( 3 ) of the table ( 1 ); a) fixing a support ( 4 ) to the table ( 1 ) so that the support ( 4 ) projects transversely to the table ( 1 ); b) fixing to the support ( 4 ) the optical object ( 6 ) to be machined so that said face ( 7 ) to be machined is disposed transversely to the receiving surface ( 3 ) of the table ( 1 ); and c) machining said face ( 7 ) by the machining tool ( 9 ) along a trajectory substantially parallel to the receiving surface ( 3 ) of the table ( 1 ), the table ( 1 ) being angularly oriented as the machining proceeds so that the machining tool ( 9 ) is always in contact with said face ( 7 ) on a predetermined parallel (P) and that a predetermined angle (A) is maintained between a rotation axis ( 13 ) of the machining tool ( 9 ) and a normal (N) to said face ( 7 ) at a point of contact (C) with the machining tool ( 9 ).