A method of machining a workpiece using a machine tool, the machine tool comprising a tool mount carrying a tool, a workpiece mount carrying a workpiece, a drive mechanism for moving at least one of the tool mount and the workpiece mount relative to the other, and a control arrangement for controlling the drive mechanism. The method comprises moving at least one of the tool mount and the workpiece mount with the drive mechanism under the control of the control arrangement so that the tool contacts a portion of the workpiece to commence a machining operation, and the tool then removes material from the portion of the workpiece until completion of the machining operation, the movement being such that the relative velocity between the tool and the workpiece decreases continuously during the majority of the time that the tool and the workpiece are in contact with each other during the machining operation.

A method of machining a workpiece using a machine tool, the machine tool comprising a tool mount carrying a tool, a workpiece mount carrying a workpiece, a drive mechanism for moving at least one of the tool mount and the workpiece mount relative to the other, and a control arrangement for controlling the drive mechanism. The method comprises moving at least one of the tool mount and the workpiece mount with the drive mechanism under the control of the control arrangement so that the tool contacts a portion of the workpiece to commence a machining operation, and the tool then removes material from the portion of the workpiece until completion of the machining operation, the movement being such that the relative velocity between the tool and the workpiece decreases continuously during the majority of the time that the tool and the workpiece are in contact with each other during the machining operation.

According to one example, a CNC machine tool system may perform error compensation for improving the accuracy of the geometry (or form) of a machined workpiece to, for example, better than 2 micrometers. To do so, a first machined workpiece may be created using the CNC machine tool system. The CNC machine tool system may create the machined workpiece by jig grinding. Following the creation of the first machined workpiece, metrology of the workpiece error may then be performed on the machined workpiece. The metrology of the workpiece error may be used to create a corrected toolpath trajectory for re-machining. This corrected toolpath trajectory may then be utilized by the CNC machine tool system to machine a second machined workpiece having a geometry (or form) with an accuracy of, for example, better than 2 micrometers.

According to one example, a CNC machine tool system may perform error compensation for improving the accuracy of the geometry (or form) of a machined workpiece to, for example, better than 2 micrometers. To do so, a first machined workpiece may be created using the CNC machine tool system. The CNC machine tool system may create the machined workpiece by jig grinding. Following the creation of the first machined workpiece, metrology of the workpiece error may then be performed on the machined workpiece. The metrology of the workpiece error may be used to create a corrected toolpath trajectory for re-machining. This corrected toolpath trajectory may then be utilized by the CNC machine tool system to machine a second machined workpiece having a geometry (or form) with an accuracy of, for example, better than 2 micrometers.

A method of machining a workpiece using a machine tool, the machine tool comprising a tool mount carrying a tool, a workpiece mount carrying a workpiece, a drive mechanism for moving at least one of the tool mount and the workpiece mount relative to the other, and a control arrangement for controlling the drive mechanism. The method comprises moving at least one of the tool mount and the workpiece mount with the drive mechanism under the control of the control arrangement so that the tool contacts a portion of the workpiece to commence a machining operation, and the tool then removes material from the portion of the workpiece until completion of the machining operation, the movement being such that the relative velocity between the tool and the workpiece decreases continuously during the majority of the time that the tool and the workpiece are in contact with each other during the machining operation.

A method of machining a workpiece using a machine tool, the machine tool comprising a tool mount carrying a tool, a workpiece mount carrying a workpiece, a drive mechanism for moving at least one of the tool mount and the workpiece mount relative to the other, and a control arrangement for controlling the drive mechanism. The method comprises moving at least one of the tool mount and the workpiece mount with the drive mechanism under the control of the control arrangement so that the tool contacts a portion of the workpiece to commence a machining operation, and the tool then removes material from the portion of the workpiece until completion of the machining operation, the movement being such that the relative velocity between the tool and the workpiece decreases continuously during the majority of the time that the tool and the workpiece are in contact with each other during the machining operation.

A grinding wheel assembly for use in a sharpening system includes a grinding wheel configured to be mounted in the sharpening system to carry out sharpening operations in which the grinding wheel removes material from a blade to be sharpened, such as the blade of an ice skate. The grinding wheel assembly further includes an identification tag attached to the grinding wheel, the identification tag having (1) secure memory including a usage location for persistently and securely storing a usage tracking value, and (2) interface circuitry for engaging in communication with a transceiver of the sharpening system to enable electronic circuitry of the sharpening system to both read from and write to the usage location to track usage of the grinding wheel for sharpening operations. The memory may also store other data including user-specific system parameters usable to customize operation, and fault information usable to diagnose fault conditions.

A grinding wheel assembly for use in a sharpening system includes a grinding wheel configured to be mounted in the sharpening system to carry out sharpening operations in which the grinding wheel removes material from a blade to be sharpened, such as the blade of an ice skate. The grinding wheel assembly further includes an identification tag attached to the grinding wheel, the identification tag having (1) secure memory including a usage location for persistently and securely storing a usage tracking value, and (2) interface circuitry for engaging in communication with a transceiver of the sharpening system to enable electronic circuitry of the sharpening system to both read from and write to the usage location to track usage of the grinding wheel for sharpening operations. The memory may also store other data including user-specific system parameters usable to customize operation, and fault information usable to diagnose fault conditions.