Patent ID: 8215211

Claim:
A V-groove machining method for machining a three-dimensional pattern of four-sided pyramids, arranged in a matrix in the surface of a workpiece, by machining first V grooves and second V grooves, orthogonally intersecting each other, in the surface of the workpiece by using a machining apparatus having two control axes for controlling the position of a cutting tool in orthogonal directions, said method comprising the steps of: feeding the cutting tool relative to the workpiece in a first direction to create a first V groove, extending in the first direction, in the surface of the workpiece, and repeating this machining operation to create the first V grooves at a predetermined pitch; moving the cutting tool along one of the first V grooves and scanning the first V groove with a distance sensor, disposed near the cutting tool, to measure the distance to the bottom of the first V groove, thereby detecting undulation of the bottom of the first V groove along the first direction; and feeding the cutting tool relative to the workpiece in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction to create a second V groove in the surface of the workpiece, and repeating this machining operation while correcting the position of the cutting tool in the machining position for each second V groove based on the results of detection of the undulation, thereby creating the second V grooves at a predetermined pitch.