초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a computer aided design and manufacturing system. The system comprises a platform suspended by means of three pairs of supportive legs which are coupled at triangularly spaced-apart locations by means of three universal joints, each of which couples to one end of eac

The present invention relates to a computer aided design and manufacturing system. The system comprises a platform suspended by means of three pairs of supportive legs which are coupled at triangularly spaced-apart locations by means of three universal joints, each of which couples to one end of each of the two legs of a respective pair. The two legs of each pair extend from their respective universal joint in divergent directions to spaced-apart locations in an overhead mounting where each leg is drivingly engaged by a respective gimbal-mounted electric motor arranged to move the leg in its own longitudinal direction. The platform position and orientation can be controlled by appropriate operation of the six leg drive motors. A rotary indexing stage is mounted on the platform for rotation in the plane of the platform under control of a further electric motor and serves as a mounting for a stage providing for pivotal movement in a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the indexing stage, such pivotal movement being effected under the control of yet a further electric motor. Mounted on the pivotal stage is a rotary tool holder arranged to be driven by yet another electric motor. The various electric motors are precisely positionable under computer control for effecting automatic manufacture of an object by cutting the object out of a block of material by means of a tool held in the tool holder.

대표청구항 ▼

A mechanical movement system for locating an effector relative to an object, said system comprising: a mounting; a base for further movement, said base being mounted for movement in translation and rotation relative to said mounting by means of a plurality of legs extending between the mounting and

A mechanical movement system for locating an effector relative to an object, said system comprising: a mounting; a base for further movement, said base being mounted for movement in translation and rotation relative to said mounting by means of a plurality of legs extending between the mounting and the base, means to adjustably control the length of the legs wherein the effective length of said legs is controllably adjustable for determining the orientation of the base relative to the mounting and the connection of the legs to the mounting and to the base being such as to accommodate changes in the angular orientation of the legs consequential to adjustment of their effective length; and means coupled to said base and providing for movement of an object mounted on said base additional to the base movement arising out of movements of the legs; said additional movement providing means comprises first controllably adjustable means providing for a first degree of movement relative to the base, and second controllably adjustable means mounted on said first controllably adjustable means and providing for a different degree of movement relative to said base to that provided by the first controllably adjustable means.