Multi-axis machining head

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention overcomes these drawbacks by providing a machining head attachment for a vertical mill which is able to travel along more than three axes of movement.
The machining head attachment generally includes a driving spindle which is detachably connected to the milling machine, and a driven spindle operationally attached to the driving spindle.
The driven spindle is able to selectively pivot about a first axis defined by where the driving spindle engages the driven spindle.
By this way, the tip of the driven spindle opposite the point of engagement is able to swing along an arc.
Because of this pivotal freedom of movement, the vertical mill is able to provide machining along a fourth axis of movement.
In another aspect of the present invention, the driven spindle is supported in a driven spindle housing.
The driven spindle housing is selectively rotatable about a second axis.
Preferably, the second axis is defined by the rotational axis of the driving spindle.
Because of the machining head's freedom of movement about this first and second axis, the end of the driven spindle opposite the pivot point is able to be positioned at any point along a hemisphere with its radial center at the pivot point.
The result is the vertical mill being able to provide machining along fourth and fifth axes of movement.
In another aspect of the present invention, the driven spindle or the driven spindle housing may be positioned by use of servo motors which are in electrical communication with a CNC controller.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.