Abstract: A bar feed assembly for receiving and guiding a bar stock to be machined in a lathe, comprises a tubular member for rotatably receiving and guiding the bar stock to be machined and a member for advancing the bar stock through the tubular members. A plurality of stabilizing bodies are provided along said tubular member in spaced apart relation and each has a compliant surface disposed in surrounding relation to the tubular member in a manner which permits axial thermal growth of the tubular members through the stabilizing bodies.

Abstract: An expanding collet assembly comprises an arbor having a flange portion for securing to a machine tool spindle and a shaft portion extending from the flange portion. The shaft portion includes a first conical surface disposed at its free end and a second conical surface disposed adjacent the flange portion. Conical surfaces are parallel to each other and disposed radially inwardly in the direction away from the flange portion. An expanding collet having alternately disposed slots to form a plurality of fingers extend inwardly from opposite collet ends and have inner conical surfaces at the collet ends that cooperate with the first and second conical surfaces. The expanding collet is axially slidably disposed around the shaft portion between a relaxed position when the collet is disposed away from the flange portion and an expanded position when disposed toward the flange portion.

Abstract: A gang tooling is disclosed for a lathe having a main spindle with an axis of rotation, a longitudinal carriage movable along a z-axis parallel to the spindle axis and a cross-slide carried by the longitudinal carriage and movable along a x-axis transverse to the spindle axis. The gang tooling comprises a longitudinal plate for removably securing to the cross-slide. The plate has a dovetail mortise and a wedge that cooperates with a dovetail tenon on the cross-slide for removably securing the plate to the cross-slide. The plate has a dovetail tenon for cooperating with a dovetail mortise in a plurality of tool holders for removably securing the tool holders to the plate. The plate can be removed from the cross-slide without disturbing and removing the tools installed on the plate, thereby permitting the tool holders to remain secured to the plate at their original relative positions.

Abstract: A machine tool comprises a frame; a work holder operably associated with the frame; at least one carriage disposed on the frame and movable along an axis; at least one tool disposed on the carriage for operating on a work piece disposed in the work holder; at least one nozzle assembly disposed on the carriage for directing at least one fluid stream to the work piece and the tool; a screw-nut drive operably associated with the carriage, the drive including a lead screw; a device for stretching the lead screw for compensating for thermal growth of the screw during operation; and a resilient strip operably disposed between the frame and the carriage for absorbing impact forces.

Abstract: A collet chuck for holding a tool or workpiece on a spindle of a machine tool. The collet chuck has a hollow collet mount having a rear end to be attached to the spindle. A plurality of radially disposed holes extending from the exterior surface to the interior surface of the collet mount. A cam surface is disposed adjacent the front end on the interior surface. The chuck also has a two-piece, tubular collet with a collet cam adjacent the front end on the exterior surface for interacting with the cam surface of the collet mount. The two-piece collet comprises a collet head with an annular groove adjacent the rear end and a hook portion between the rear end and the groove, and a collet body with a flange portion at its front end. The flange portion of the collet body engages the hook and groove of the collet head. A slot associated with each radially disposed hole is provided in the collet body.

Abstract: A process for replicating a surface on a machine base support surface relative to a reference surface, comprising the steps of providing a reference surface on the machine base; providing a fixture having a surface; positioning the fixture surface over the support surface to a predetermined position in close proximity to the support surface so that a gap is maintained between the fixture surface and the support surface; adjusting the fixture surface relative to the reference surface such that the fixture surface is precisely parallel with the reference surface; filling the space between the fixture surface and the support surface with flowable hardenable substance; permitting the substance to cure; removing the fixture.

Abstract: A machine tool having a quick release draw tube includes a headstock with a spindle. A draw tube is slidably supported within the spindle and includes inner and outer surfaces. The draw tube includes a series of circumferentially spaced holes on the outer surface thereof. A draw tube locking or unlocking device cooperates with the spindle and includes a ball detent that is selectively received in one of the recesses provided on the draw tube for locking the same within the spindle. The machine tool also includes an adapter plate for mounting over the extended nose of the spindle for substituting a collet by a jaw chuck.

Abstract: In summary, therefore, this invention is directed to a thermal growth detector and compensator for detecting and compensating for relative movement between a work holder of a machine tool and a tool holder, that includes an elongated rod made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion of substantially zero that is attached at one end thereof to a part of a machine tool, and is attached at another end thereof to a part of a work holder on the machine tool.

Abstract: A machine tool comprises a base, a spindle operably associated with the base, a work holder operably associated with the spindle for securing a workpiece to the spindle, and a tailstock operably secured to the base. The tailstock includes a slideway and a tailstock body slidably secured to the slideway. The tailstock body is movable on the slideway between a home position away from the workpiece and a work engaging position. A limit switch and trip members associated with the tailstock, and a hydrulic circuit are provided for controlling the movement of the tailstock body from the home position to an intermediate position prior to the work engaging position at an initial feed rate and from the intermediate position to the work engaging position at a subsequent feed rate where the initial feed rate is greater than the subsequent feed rate.

Abstract: A collet closer comprises a housing including a piston and a cylinder for collet opening and closing. A tubular member supported is in said housing and has an extension projecting from the housing. The tubular support member is secured to the piston and movable therewith. The tubular member is adapted to telescopically receive and support a draw tube. The tubular support member is secured to the draw tube at the extension.

Abstract: A headstock cooling system for a machine tool comprising a base having a top, bottom and a first fluid passageway extending centrally therethrough from the top to the bottom. A bed is mounted on the base top and provided with a second fluid passageway extending coaxially from the first fluid passageway and in fluid communication therewith. A headstock is mounted on the bed and is positioned coaxial with and directly above the second fluid passageway and includes means for communication with the second fluid passageway for directing a cooling fluid from the second fluid passageway out of the headstock thereby cooling the headstock over at least a substantial portion of the headstock.

Abstract: A coolant supply system for a machine tool comprises a coolant source; a nozzle for directing coolant to inside of a workpiece from the coolant source; another nozzle for directing coolant to outside of the workpiece from the coolant source; and a valve for automatically selectively directing coolant only to the inside of the workpiece, thereby increasing coolant flow to the inside of the workpiece when needed.

Abstract: A finished parts catcher for an automatic machine having a workholder and a part cut-off means comprising a finished part receptacle or chute positioned beneath the workholder; piston and cylinder means for imparted movement to the receptacle, the piston and cylinder means has first and second ends; the receptacle being positioned from the first end of the piston and cylinder means; at least one connecting rod extends between and is attached to the receptacle and the second end of the piston and cylinder means; means for limiting travel of the connecting rod and a control means to actuate the piston and cylinder means thereby simultaneously moving the connecting rod and causing the receptacle to move to a position beneath the workholder prior to release of the finished part so as to catch the finished part when released from the workholder. The caught finished part is directed to a parts basket from which it can be easily removed while the automatic machine is cycling.

Abstract: A chip flushing apparatus for connection to a machine tool for flushing chips of debris from cutting operations performed by the machine tool. The flushing apparatus includes a header bar having outlet means for dispensing fluid to a chip receiving area of the machine tool for transporting the chips to a recovery box. A fluid flow deflector is positioned near the outlets of the header to deflect the fluid streams into a laminar flow across the fluid receiving area. A removable tank is mounted below the receiving area to receive the flushing fluid. The tank is wheeled for convenient transport.

Abstract: A collet assembly comprises a collet head, a collet body and a mount for securing the collet head and the collet body to the spindle of a machine. The collet head has inside and outside surfaces and front and rear faces and the outside surface includes an outwardly flaring surface. The collet head includes an external annular groove and a hook portion adjacent the rear face. The hook portion extends radially outwardly from the axis of the collet head. The collet body has inside and outside surfaces, a tubular portion and a flange portion extending radially outwardly from the outside surface and axially beyond the collet head hook portion. The flange portion has an outside diameter substantially larger than the outside diameter of the tubular portion of the collet body. The flange portion has an inner annular groove and an adjacent hook portion. The collet head hook portion is positioned within the flange portion annular groove and the hook portion of the flange portion within the collet head annular groove.

Abstract: A tool for installing or removing a collet head, which has a plurality of spring loaded collet segments, from a collet body, comprises a body having an axis, a base and a skirt extending from the base. A member is operably secured to the body and axially movable relative thereto. A plurality of arms are pivotally secured at each of one of their end portions to each one of a plurality of recesses disposed in the skirt. The other end portion of each arms is movably secured to one end of the member such that when the member moves axially, the other end of each of the arms move with the member while the one end of each of the arms pivots in the recesses. A pin is operably associated with each arm for cooperating with its respective hole in the collet head such that each pin moves radially relative to the axis when the member moves axially relative to the body, whereby the collet head is compressed or expanded for engaging or disengaging the collet head from the collet body.

Abstract: The process for securing a machine tool bed to a base includes the steps of providing a base having a horizontally disposed first surface wherein a plurality of cooperating grooves are disposed. A selected quantity of hardenable grout material is deposited into the grooves. A bed has a second surface from which a plurality of tongues extend, and each tongue has side surfaces which are relatively rougher than the associated distal surface. The bed is horizontally positioned above the base so that each tongue is received in an associated groove and each distal surface is spaced from the associated underlying groove, thereby causing the grout material to rise by an amount insufficient to contact the second surface. The bed is maintained spaced above the base until the grout material has hardened and thereby binds each side surface but not the associated distal surface to the base.