JP2000052217A - Tool and processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processing method which does not reduce the surface coarseness at the center part of the processing form, and a forming bite tool which can manufacture a tool used in the above processing method easily. SOLUTION: This tool 3 has a cutting edge 3a with the form corresponding to the form of one side half of the convex lens 1 of a processing form. The cutting edge 3a faces to the outer side to the tool rotating center. While the tool 3 is rotated (autorotated) by making the rotation center O1 as the center, the tool 3 is revolved along the outer periphery of the convex lens 1 by making the center O2 of the convex lens 1 as the center, so as to process the convex lens 1. The peripheral part of the above convex lens 1 is processed by the rotating center O1, while the center part O2 of the convex lens 1 is processed by the peripheral part of the cutting edge 3a. At the center part of the convex lens 1, the processing speed is fast by the rotation of the tool 3, and the processing coarseness is improved. Since the tool center O1 and a specific position of the cutting edge 3a are not necessary to make coinside accuartely, the tool is manufactured easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cutting method and a grinding method, and more particularly to a method suitable for precision cutting and precision grinding of a microarray or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent spread of multimedia, there has been a demand not only for inter-LAN communication and high-speed computer communication in an urban business area, but also for simultaneous processing and transmission of a large amount of various kinds of information such as CATV and personal computer communication in a residential area. It is getting stronger. As a next-generation ultra-high-speed, large-capacity information processing system that solves this problem, ultra-parallel 1 trillion bits-per-second ultra-parallel optical information processing system, which is more than 1,000 times the current, by combining optical fibers, surface-emitting lasers, and microlens arrays, is prosperous. Has been studied.

[0003] Among them, microarray processing has been roughly classified into a photolithography technique using a semiconductor manufacturing technique and an ultraprecision machining technique using a diamond tool or a diamond grindstone.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a convex lens array. A shape in which the same shapes are regularly arranged at regular intervals is called an array, and a shape in which the convex lenses 1 are arranged as shown in FIG. 3 is called a convex lens array. The micro lens array 2 (the pitch of the array is 250 microns, the radius of the curved surface of the lens surface is about 400 microns, and the height of the lens is about 20 microns) 2 of the convex lens 1 is mainly used in the field of processing a micro shape. When a photolithography technique using a semiconductor manufacturing technique is used, the convex lens surface becomes a 2.5-dimensional approximation as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram when the convex lens 1 is processed by using the photography technique. FIG.
In the case where the convex lens 1 is processed by the photographic technology, the photographic technology can basically process only a flat surface. Therefore, the processing as shown by reference numeral 1 'in FIG. Only a convex lens of a 2.5-dimensional approximation (a three-dimensional step-like shape, but a two-dimensional approximation because the planes overlap) can be obtained. Therefore, there is a problem that the efficiency of the lens is low.

[0005] The three-dimensional curved surface processing by the photography technique is excellent in mass productivity, but has a problem that a highly accurate curved surface cannot be obtained because the three-dimensional shape is approximated stepwise. On the other hand, machining with a sharp tool such as a single crystal diamond cutting tool and machining with an ultra-precision machining machine capable of extremely smooth feed and ultra-precision positioning are not suitable for mass production. By forming freely, it is possible to cope with a smooth three-dimensional curved surface.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a processing method for processing the convex lens array 2 by applying the conventional processing method of a rotating body by the mechanical precision processing. When processing a convex lens array 2 in which a large number of convex lenses 1 are regularly arranged, a cutting edge 4a corresponding to one half of a lens surface contour shape in a cross section passing through the center of the convex lens 1 to be processed and perpendicular to the lens surface is provided as a tool. Using a single-flute end mill having a shaped tool 4, the shaped tool 4 is attached to the main shaft of an ultra-precision processing machine. In the figure, reference numeral 4b denotes a shank of the overall shape tool 4. Then, the desired convex lens 1 is obtained by cutting in the axial direction of the main shaft at a predetermined position corresponding to the pitch of the convex lens array 2 while rotating the forming tool 4 by rotating the main shaft.

The advantage of this processing method is that since only one axis of the machine is used in the processing step of each lens 1, it is hardly affected by the movement accuracy of the machine, and the processing time is short. However, on the other hand, since the tool 4 must be formed by accurately aligning the apex a of the cutting edge 4a of the forming tool 4 with the invisible center of rotation of the tool, there is a problem that it is very difficult to manufacture the tool.

Further, since the central axis of rotation of the tool 4 and the central axis of the convex lens which is the workpiece are coincident, the processing speed is very slow near the center of the convex lens 1 (the speed is "0" at the center of the lens). However, this portion has a drawback that it causes a decrease in surface roughness such as processing tears.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a working method which solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and which does not cause a decrease in surface roughness at the center of a workpiece. An object of the present invention is to provide a tool having a full-sized cutting tool in which a tool to be used is easily manufactured.

[0010]

A tool according to the present invention is a full-form tool for machining a convex curved surface including the vicinity of an axis of a rotating body, and is provided with a cutting edge or a grindstone for forming a shape along the curved surface. The cutting edge or whetstone is formed at the tip of the tool so as to face outward with respect to the tool rotation center axis. When processing using this tool, the workpiece is processed by rotating the tool about a rotation center axis and revolving the tool along the center axis of the processing shape. Thereby, a convex processing shape can be processed.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a tool according to an embodiment of the present invention and a working method using the tool.

In this embodiment, as a method of processing a rotating body and a tool therefor, a method of processing a convex lens array 2 and a forming tool used for the processing are shown. As a tool for processing the convex lens 1 which is axisymmetric, a cutting edge 3 for full-form processing adapted to one half of a contour shape in a vertical cross section of a lens surface passing through the center of the convex lens 1 to be processed.
A full-form cutting tool 3 having a at the tip end face is used. In the tool 3, the cutting edge 3a faces outward, the peripheral portion of the convex lens 1 to be processed is processed at the center of rotation of the cutting edge 3a, and the central portion of the convex lens 1 is processed at the peripheral portion of the cutting edge 3a. A cutting edge 3a is formed. That is, as compared with the conventional tool 4 shown in FIG. 2, the cutting edge of the processed portion is directed outward, and the full-length cutting tool 3 is formed offset by a substantially radius of a circle on the bottom surface of the lens. The rotation center axis O1 of the tool 3 and the start position of the cutting edge 3a on the rotation center side do not necessarily have to coincide with each other. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3b denotes a shank of the tool 3.

When processing the convex lens (rotating body) 1 of the convex lens array 2 using such a tool 3, the tool 3 is attached to the main axis of a machine tool having three orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes.
Attach, the workpiece to form the convex lens array 2 is attached to the table. For example, the main axis moves in the Z-axis direction,
In addition, using a machine tool in which the table moves in the X and Y directions, the tool is positioned at a desired position on the workpiece (convex lens array 2), and the spindle is rotated to rotate the tool 3 in the Z-axis direction. The main axis (Z axis) is revolved with respect to the table (XY plane) along the circle on the bottom surface of the lens around the center 02 of the convex ring to be cut and processed. The lens processing for the cut is completed. The convex lens 1 is machined by sequentially making cuts and performing the above-described rotation and revolution, and when the total amount of cuts reaches a predetermined target amount, the convex lens 1 is processed.
Processing of is ended. The orbital motion is performed by controlling two linear axes (X and Y axes) so as to make a circular motion on a two-axis plane of X and Y axes.

As described above, while rotating (rotating) the tool 3 (spindle) about its rotation center O 1, the tool 3 (spindle) extends along the circle on the bottom of the lens about the center O 2 of the convex lens to be processed. The convex lens 1 is processed by moving the main shaft relative to the workpiece and revolving it.
To process the convex lens 1 into an array, the tool 3 is offset relative to the workpiece (table) by one pitch of the array and positioned, and the above-described operation is performed. I do.

As described above, in the tool 3 of the present invention, the peripheral portion (the peripheral portion of the convex lens) of the processing shape of the workpiece is processed by the cutting edge 3a at the center of rotation of the tool. Since the portion (the central portion of the convex lens) is machined with the cutting edge 3a around the tool, the central portion of the workpiece (the central portion of the convex lens)
Is processed at a high cutting speed by tool rotation (rotation), so that there is no tearing at the center and no reduction in surface roughness is caused. Further, since the peripheral portion of the processing shape is processed by revolving the tool, this portion does not cause a decrease in surface roughness. Since the adjustment of the surface roughness is related to the number of rotations of the tool and the feed speed, the adjustment may be performed by adjusting these parameters according to the required accuracy.

Further, in this machining method of the present invention, it is not necessary to exactly match the tool rotation center O1 with the specific position of the cutting edge 3a of the tool 3. That is, unlike the conventional example shown in FIG. 2, it is not necessary to align the vertex a of the cutting edge with the rotation center axis O1, and the tool can be easily prepared.

In the above embodiment, the example of the tool 3 having the cutting edge 3a at the tip end face of the forming tool (form milling tool) has been described. Grinding may be performed.
In addition to the above-described processing of the convex lens, the present invention is applied to the case where the processing of the convex shape is processed by the rotating body to improve the processing surface roughness of the central portion and facilitate the tool production. It is.

[0018]

According to the tool of the present invention, in the forming tool for machining a convex curved surface including the vicinity of the axis of the rotating body, the center of the machining shape is machined around the cutting edge or the rotating periphery of the grindstone. The processing surface roughness at the center of the processing shape does not decrease, and processing with high processing surface accuracy can be performed. As a result, the machining of the convex curved surface portion of the rotating body in the form of a macro such as a microlens array is enabled. Further, it is not necessary to exactly match the specific position of the processing portion of the tool with the center of rotation of the tool, and the tool can be easily manufactured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a tool and a machining method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional method for processing a convex lens array by mechanical precision processing.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a convex lens array.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram when a convex lens is processed by using a photography technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 convex lens 2 convex lens array 3 tool 3a cutting edge 3b shank 4 tool 4a cutting edge 4b shank

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A forming tool for machining a convex curved surface including the vicinity of an axis of a rotating body, wherein a cutting edge for forming in a shape along the curved surface is formed at a tip end of the tool with respect to a tool rotation center axis. Tool formed outward. 2. The tool according to claim 1, wherein a whetstone is used in place of said cutting edge. 3. The tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tool is rotated about a rotation center axis.
A processing method for processing a workpiece by revolving around a central axis of a processing shape. 4. The processing method according to claim 3, wherein the processing shape is line-symmetric and convex. 5. The processing method according to claim 4, wherein the processing is processing of a convex lens.