Method and apparatus for machning v grooves

Abstract

There is provided a V-groove machining method and apparatus which, by measuring the depth of a V groove cut by a cutting tool and correcting the cutting depth of the cutting tool based on the measurement data, enables high precision machining of four-sided pyramids having vertices of a uniform height. The V-groove machining method includes the steps of: feeding a cutting tool relative to a workpiece in a first direction to create a first V groove, extending in the first direction, in the surface of the workpiece, and repeating this machining operation to create first V grooves at a predetermined pitch; moving the cutting tool along one of the first V grooves and scanning the first V groove with a distance sensor, disposed near the cutting tool, to measure the distance to the bottom of the first V groove, thereby detecting undulation of the bottom of the first V groove along the first direction; and feeding the cutting tool relative to the workpiece in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction to create a second V groove in the surface of the workpiece, and repeating this machining operation while correcting the position of the cutting tool in the machining position for each second V groove based on the results of detection of the undulation, thereby creating second V grooves at a predetermined pitch.