The study deals with ultraprecision 3-dimensional shaping by means of a lathe-type milling machine. To set a rotational tool at an arbitrary position within the working space, the polar coordinate system transformation is used to change sets of the 3-dimensional position data, given as workpiece shape data, to the combined motion of the main spindle orientation (C-axis) and the translational movement (X-axis) as well as the motion of the tool (Z-axis). Two kinds of rotational tools are provided : one is a pseudo-ball-end mill to carry out ultraprecision micromachining, and the other is two oblique fly-cutting tools to increase the cutting speed. From the experimental results, it is found that the lathe-type milling machine can perform ultraprecision micromachining and 3-dimensional shaping.
