1. Introduction
In recent years, simultaneous 5-axis and multi-task machining are increasingly in demand for large scale products, such as ship propeller, crank shaft of ship engine, and so on. Multi-tasking machine tool (MTMT) is very efficient and beneficial because it has various machining functions, such as milling, drilling, turning, grinding, as shown in Fig. 1, all together at one machine. Therefore it can complete 5-face machining and multi-task machining at once with just single set-up.
Typical machining functions of a MTMT for machining a crank shaft