Abstract: A high speed toolholder for driving a small high speed cutting tool from the large slow speed spindle of a machining center comprises a housing having a retention pin extending from side end thereof. An input shaft, dimensioned to be received in the machining center spindle, is rotatably journaled into the toolholder housing parallel to the retention pin. Rotatably journaled into the opposite side of the housing so as to be coaxial with the input shaft is an output shaft whose distal end has a tapered bore therein dimensioned to receive the shank of a high speed cutting tool. Within the housing, each of the input and output shaft carry a separate one of a pair of sheaves which are each lined by a V-belt to a separate one of a pair of sheave members on a step sheave rotatably journaled in the housing parallel to the input and output shaft.

Abstract: A servo system for the rotary spindle of a machine tool in which the spindle is driven by a drive motor through a gear train having shiftable gears for changing the rate of rotation of the spindle. The transducer for the servo system is mounted directly on the motor drive shaft in order to avoid all backlash between the resolver and the drive motor. However, the transducer is arranged to regulate the angular orientation of the spindle and must therefore be maintained in synchronism with the spindle. This is accomplished by arranging the shiftable gears so that when they are moving into engagement with a new gear, engagement with the previously engaged gear is maintained until initial engagement with the new gear is achieved. Further shifting movement into full engagement with the new gear operates to release the previously engaged gear. Thus, during the initial engagement with the new gear, the shiftable gear is momentarily in engagement with both gears.

Abstract: The tool change mechanism includes a tool storage magazine having a plurality of tool storage sockets disposed in two concentric circles. A tool transfer arm is mounted within the inner circle of sockets. The transfer arm may be rotated and extended or retracted and moved toward and away from the magazine for extracting a previously used tool from a ready socket and inserting such tool into a designated socket of the magazine. In like manner, the transfer arm will operate to extract a selected tool from any one of the sockets in the magazine and transfer it to the ready socket. The latter is mounted on a carrier which also supports a tool change arm. The carrier is pivotable between a loading position and a tool change position. When the carrier is in the loading position, the ready socket is located at the magazine where it is accessible to the tool transfer arm for extracting previously used tools from the ready socket and inserting new tools into it.

Abstract: This invention relates to a greatly simplified workpiece changer mechanism in combination with a simplified tool storage and changing mechanism for a machine tool. To accomplish this, a rotatable work carrying spindle is adapted to support a workpiece for selective rectilinear movement relative to an associated rotary cutting tool, and to support the same workpiece for selective rotational movement relative to a rectilinearly movable cutting tool carried by the same spindle. The work receiving spindle is mounted in spaced apart relationship to a storage support adapted to releasably carry a workpiece for selective interchange with a workpiece carried by the work spindle. To effect a selective interchange of workpieces between the work spindle and the storage support, a work transfer arm is pivotally supported between the work spindle and the work support.

Abstract: This invention relates to a greatly simplified workpiece changer mechanism in combination with a simplified tool storage and changing mechanism for a machine tool. To accomplish this, a rotatable work carrying spindle is adapted to support a workpiece for selective rectilinear movement relative to an associated rotary cutting tool, and to support the same workpiece for selective rotational movement relative to a rectilinearly movable cutting tool carried by the same spindle. The work receiving spindle is mounted in spaced apart relationship to a storage support adapted to releasably carry a workpiece for selective interchange with a workpiece carried by the work spindle. To effect a selective interchange of workpieces between the work spindle and the storage support, a work transfer arm is pivotally supported between the work spindle and the work support.

Abstract: A single drive and control means is selectively engageable to provide either rectilinear movement to the table base or rotary movement of an index table carried by the table base.