Abstract: An improved design and method is disclosed that uses a novel nesting linear slide which incorporates machine tool slides or ways into a structural member. The design simplifies the fabrication and assembly of components requiring accurate sliding alignment, such as milling machine bases, saddles, tables and columns. Due to the use of the single piece, which replaces multiple pieces in the prior art, fabrication and assembly costs are also significantly lower. The invention also enables a method of construction utilizing the novel single shape component which simplifies the assembly of machines requiring sliding surfaces with accurate alignment. The invention essentially comprises a single structural element that includes both male and female sliding members. By nesting two of the single structural elements it is possible to create sliding joints for machine tool bases, saddles, tables, and columns, as well as a wide variety of other sliding joints, in an extremely cost-effective manner.

Abstract: A key cutting machine for cutting a notch pattern on a key blank is disclosed. The key cutting machine comprises a pair of cutting heads and a clamp mechanism. Each cutting head includes a cutting wheel having an edge and an alignment structure mounted behind the cutting wheel. Each alignment structure has a key guide portion aligned tangent to the edge of a corresponding cutting wheel to engage and position a key blank laterally. The clamp mechanism is positioned between the cutting heads and is configured to hold the key blank stationary.

Abstract: A woodworking planer having a main frame, a carriage slidingly mounted on the main frame to provide alternating longitudinal movement, a workpiece locking device also provided on the main frame for releasingly securing a workpiece in a fixed position relative to the longitudinal movement of the carriage, and cutting members provided on the carriage to plane four longitudinal sides of the workpiece simultaneously. The cutting members include horizontal cutter heads simultaneously moveable vertically towards and away from each other, and vertical cutter heads individually moveable horizontally towards and away from each other in response to predetermined shapes of a copying model co-acting with copying parts connected to the vertical cutter heads. The copying parts include spring biased rollers for following the predetermined shapes of the copying model. A feeder arrangement receives the workpieces for individually feeding the workpieces one at a time to the workpiece locking device.

Abstract: A system for controllably positioning printed circuit boards or the like for the automatic drilling of holes therein. A plurality of individual work positions is provided, together with corresponding work carrier plates having individual or groups of circuit boards affixed thereto. Each work position includes a work table, a drilling machine with associated control equipment, a carrier plate for the circuit boards, and means for supporting the carrier plate and circuit boards above the work table with minimal resistance to lateral movement of the carrier plate and boards. The carrier plates are tied to a central drive system controlled by an automatic control unit in a manner which rigidly maintains close tolerances to lateral movement while permitting vertical displacement relative to the work tables. A master table is included for the drilling of a master template and to prevent displacement errors in the holes to be drilled.