Importance

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Abstract

There is provided a lens generating apparatus and method for generating a surface on a lens blank, or other workpiece, of a wide range of shapes utilizing rotary movement of the components without a linear way system. The lens generating apparatus includes a rotatable tool support spindle which rotates a spheric tool about a first axis. The tool spindle is directly carried by a high torque, low inertia, direct drive servo motor which rotates the first rotational axis of the spherical tool about a second rotational axis. A workpiece spindle holds the workpiece and rotates it about a third axis which generally lies in the same plane as the first axis. The workpiece spindle is rotatably supported by a second high torque, low inertia, direct drive servo motor which rotates the third rotational axis about a fourth axis. The orientation of the first and third rotational axes are controlled by a CNC computer which controls the rotation of the two direct drive servo motors in dependence upon the rotational orientation of the workpiece. The spherical tool is controlled so as to follow a predetermined three dimensional tool path relative to the lens blank.

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First Claim