Abstract: A method of automatic sawing employs an automatic sawing machine having an automatic workpiece shuttle, shuttle and stationary vises, an automatic saw blade feed, one or more incremental motion encoders and a programmable microcomputer. The microcomputer is capable of storing a series of sawing jobs. Each job has a number of sawing steps. Each step in turn defines a sawed workpiece length and (in an embodiment employing a saw blade tilting mechanism) a sawing angle, both of which parameters may be different from those of other steps. The microcomputer receives signals from the motion encoders to determine shuttle and (in a tilt embodiment) tilt position and uses these positions to control shuttle, (in the tilt embodiment) tilt, and vise operation. The microcomputer also corrects each workpiece length with a saw kerf and pivot point correction factor, both modified for sawing angle.

Abstract: Apparatus for guiding the alignment adjustment on vehicle wheels in which a computer is used to receive vehicle alignment specifications and tolerances data for a known vehicle, and to receive actual alignment information from that known vehicle, these two sources of alignment data being conditioned such that on recall it can be displayed in visual format or through a system of light bars which are driven by the computer to display only differences between the known vehicle specifications and tolerance data and the actual alignment data. The display of alignment data and actual data is made available on a CRT screen, as well as being transmitted to a portable display for movement about a vehicle during alignment adjustment.

Abstract: A method of effecting compensation of cooperatively coupled vehicle wheel aligner instruments since a shift or change of position of either one of a coupled pair of angle measuring transducer instruments can introduce changes in the signal values generated in both transducers which are representative of errors not heretofore recognized in prior alignment instruments. The method is directed to initially generating signals responsive to the position of rotation of vehicle wheels at each of two positions 180.degree. apart, simultaneously recording the generated responsive signals from each transducer instrument at each position of rotation of the vehicle wheels, and applying the recorded responsive signals at the two selected positions of wheel rotation upon the initial signals at the selected positions of wheel rotation such that the transducer instrument signals are mutually compensated for aberrations in the relationship of the mounting of the transducer instruments on the vehicle wheels upon being rotated.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the alignment characteristics of vehicle wheels in which electronic signal generators are coupled to each of the vehicle wheels and is so arranged that wheel position signals are produced in terms of angular relationship to a line of sight from another wheel of the vehicle, and are fed into a computer where calculations are performed to develop results related to a known reference axis of the vehicle and capable of being displayed. The preferred apparatus employs transducers in which signals substantially free of surrounding noise are easily produced and of such as to be readily processed for display.

Abstract: Apparatus utilizing solid state electronic components embodying circuit varifying means in the form of lights which provide a quick indication of the operability of important circuits contained in the electronic vehicle wheel alignment equipment, and indicate which of several circuits is functional, so that service persons operating the alignment apparatus are able, upon visual inspection of the console panel, to determine whether the instruments on the vehicle are functioning properly to produce the needed alignment information.