Patent ID: 8186249

Claim:
A turning machine tool comprising: a single machine frame having a longitudinal axis; a rotating spindle to which a workpiece is fastenable for rotating said workpiece about a workpiece axis parallel to the longitudinal axis, said rotating spindle being engaged with said machine frame; and only three displaceable tool holders mounted on the frame, each tool holder rigidly supporting a cutting tool having a radial tool axis transverse to the workpiece axis, and each radial tool axis being disposed in a circumferential array spaced apart by about 120°, each of said tool holders being independently radially displaceable along said radial tool axis and longitudinally displaceable relative to said workpiece, wherein the three displaceable tool holders are simultaneously actuated such as to bring the three cutting tools into simultaneous contact with the workpiece, and wherein at least one load sensor is operable to measure a load applied to each of said cutting tools.