Abstract: Provided is a gimbal mechanism comprising a support stand, an outer frame and an inner frame. The support stand includes a spaced pair of L-shaped legs comprising a first member having at least one first slot formed therethrough. The outer frame is nested within the support stand and comprises outer frame sides joined to outer frame ends. Each one of the outer frame sides is pivotally engagable to the first slot of an adjacent one of the first members such that the outer frame is selectively angularly and laterally positionable relative to the support stand. The inner frame is nested within the outer frame and comprises inner frame ends joined to inner frame sides. Each one of the inner frame ends is pivotally engagable to an adjacent one of the outer frame ends such that the inner frame is selectively angularly adjusted relative to the outer frame about an inner frame axis.

Abstract: A chuck for grasping the internal cylindrical surface of a glass tube. An elongate tubular support structure with two sets of circumferentially spaced fingers or inserts that move radially outward under the influence of axial movement of a centrally positioned actuating member. The inserts are biased radially inward under the influence of spring members that contact each set of inserts. Movement of the centrally positioned actuating member causes one set of fingers or inserts to move radially outward into contact with the internal surface of a glass tube before the other set of inserts moves into contact with the internal surface of the glass tube.