This week's featured invention patented by Kentucky inventors is within CPC Section B: Operations & Transport.
Machine tool apparatus and method
US9162289

Inventor(s): Yoshiya Katsu, Florence; Koichi Kawamura, Florence; Jimmie Couch, Burlington; Mark Hadley, Union
Assignee(s): Mazak Corporation, Florence
Abstract: A machine tool apparatus and method for exterior and interior cutting operations on a workpiece is provided. In one form, the machine tool apparatus has a common support assembly with a tailstock and a boring tool holder mounted thereto. The common support assembly has a common support carriage that is mounted to a machine base for travel along a longitudinal axis parallel to a central axis of the workpiece. The tailstock and boring tool holder are mounted to a mounting base portion for travel transverse to the workpiece central axis. In one form, a turret having external cutting tools is separate from the boring tool holder and mounted to the machine base for performing external cutting operations on the workpiece. This separate mounting allows the turret to machine the exterior of the workpiece while also permitting a longer boring tool to perform deep internal cutting operations on the workpiece.