Abstract: A contaminant control system for reducing or substantially preventing the ingress of contaminants into a positioning system to prevent degradation in precision and accuracy of the positioning system. The contaminant control system directs a gas flow through the interior of the positioning system and creates an internal pressure within the positioning system that is greater than the ambient air pressure. The contaminant control system may include a temperature conditioner to heat and/or cool the gas flowing through the positioning system. Temperature conditioning may provide additional positioning system precision and accuracy by mitigating thermal effects. The contaminant control system includes a controller to control both the gas flow and gas temperature.

Abstract: A multi-tool positioning and manufacturing system moves a workpiece among many tools, such as grinding wheels, each of which performs a manufacturing operation on the workpiece. The system moves the workpiece automatically, quickly, repeatably, and precisely among the tools, without any manual intervention. It can perform the same manufacturing operations as many separate tools, such as grinding the inner diameter, outer diameter, and rib of a tapered roller bearing cone. Because a machinist does not have to move the workpiece between machines for different operations, the total manufacturing process can be faster and higher yield than with separate tools. The system can also move a single dresser among the tools for dressing and truing, further increasing manufacturing efficiency by eliminating the need for separate dressers for separate tools.

Abstract: A lathe or other rotating machine includes a tool rest on a carriage that is movable along the work piece. The carriage includes a post that is movable with the tool rest. The post supports a guard that is disposed between the user and the work piece. The guard may include a frame surrounding a transparent portion. The frame may support a plurality of light emitting elements directed onto the work piece. An extendable/retractable transparent portion may be extended from the guard between the user and the work piece. The extendable/retractable portion and/or the transparent portion may be a magnifier.

Abstract: A lathe or other rotating machine includes a tool rest on a carriage that is movable along the work piece. The carriage includes a post that is movable with the tool rest. The post supports a guard that is disposed between the user and the work piece. The guard may include a frame surrounding a transparent portion. The frame may support a plurality of light emitting elements directed onto the work piece. An extendable/retractable transparent portion may be extended from the guard between the user and the work piece. The extendable/retractable portion and/or the transparent portion may be a magnifier.

Abstract: A lathe or other rotating machine includes a chuck for holding a work piece or tool. The chuck is operated between grasping and releasing positions. A chuck guard is mounted on a housing of the rotating machine. The chuck guard has a transparent window and is mounted for pivoting movement between a position covering the chuck and a position exposing the chuck. A chuck guard extension with a window is attached at a front lower end of the chuck guard.

Abstract: A lathe or other rotating machine includes a chuck for holding a work piece or tool. The chuck is operated between grasping and releasing positions. At least one non-slip mat rests on the housing of the rotating machine, including raised edges.

Abstract: A lathe or other rotating machine includes a tool rest on a carriage that is movable along the work piece. The carriage includes a post that is movable with the tool rest. The post supports a guard that is disposed between the user and the work piece. The guard may include a frame surrounding a transparent portion. The frame may support a plurality of light emitting elements directed onto the work piece. An extendable/retractable transparent portion may be extended from the guard between the user and the work piece. The extendable/retractable portion and/or the transparent portion may be a magnifier.

Abstract: A lathe or other rotating machine includes a chuck for holding a work piece or tool. The chuck is operated between grasping and releasing positions. At least one non-slip mat rests on the housing of the rotating machine, including raised edges.

Abstract: A lathe or other rotating machine includes a chuck for holding a work piece or tool. The chuck is operated between engaging and disengaging positions by rotating a chuck key that has been inserted into a key receiving opening in the chuck. A chuck key docking station on the machine includes a sensor to sense the presence or absence of the chuck key at the docking station. The sensor is connected to prevent operation of the machine at speed if the chuck key is not sensed in the chuck key docking station.

Abstract: A lathe or other rotating machine includes a chuck for holding a work piece or tool. The chuck is operated between grasping and releasing positions. A chuck guard is mounted on a housing of the rotating machine. The chuck guard has a transparent window and is mounted for pivoting movement between a position covering the chuck and a position exposing the chuck. A chuck guard extension with a window is attached at a front lower end of the chuck guard.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for sampling a partial response input signal including a signal sampler for generating a sampled digital signal representation of a sampled analog signal in response to a sample-time control signal, and a timing error detector having an input port receiving the digital signal and generating a timing error control signal at an output port. The timing error control signal is a function of the non-return to zero (NRZ) sequence which was originally recorded or otherwise transmitted or communicated, the synchronous sampled data value, the estimated ideal partial response sample value, and the timing error estimate. A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) receives the timing error control signal and generates the sample time control signal. Several multi-level data estimators are described.