Abstract: A method for sharpening radially extending teeth on a disk included: 1) sharpening a tooth by moving the disk relative to a cutting head, 2) separating the disk from the cutting head, 3) indexing the disk to the next tooth, 4) engaging the cutting head with the next tooth, and repeating steps 1)-4) until sharpening is complete. A machine for sharpening teeth includes: a table movable in the x-y plane, an angle plate mounted on the table for holding a disk, a digital indexer for rotating the disk, a cutting head for sharpening the teeth, and a computer for the controlling the movement of the disk relative to the cutting head by sequentially moving the disk via movement of the table and rotation of the disk on the angle plate. A rotary cutting head has a cutting element affixed at a periphery of the head.

Abstract: A workpiece holding fixture for receiving a workpiece and for use in a device for the machining of a workpiece with: a tool holding fixture for receiving the tool, a workpiece holding fixture for receiving the workpiece, characterised in that, during the machining, at least one first oscillation component in a Z-direction and a second, in particular simultaneous, oscillation component in the X- and/or Y-direction can be introduced by means of oscillation components.

Abstract: A system is provided for creating bevel edges on a plank. In some embodiments, the system comprises two bevel-cutting tools disposed in fixed positions and two guided cylinders disposed to independently move two edges of a plank to within varying degrees of contact with the bevel-cutting tools. Separate controllers can be provided to independently control the time, frequency, and rate of movement of the guided cylinders. Methods are provided for creating the appearance of a hand-scraped wood plank. A method for creating irregular bevel edges on a plank is also provided as are a system and method that use a plank production line operation. A plank having irregular beveled edges and the appearance of a hand-scraped wood plank is also provided.

Abstract: A machine tool for machining a workpiece with a tool moved relative to the workpiece is provided with a bed (13) providing a base, a column (15) vertically mounted on the bed (13), and a carriage (27) having supporting columns (27a and 27b), disposed on either side thereof, for oscillatably supporting a table (35), the carriage being oriented so that one (27b) of the supporting columns (27a and 27b) is positioned adjacent the column (15) and the other (27a) of the supporting columns is positioned away from the column (15).

Abstract: A system is provided for creating bevel edges on a plank. In some embodiments, the system comprises two bevel-cutting tools disposed in fixed positions and two guided cylinders disposed to independently move two edges of a plank to within varying degrees of contact with the bevel-cutting tools. Separate controllers can be provided to independently control the time, frequency, and rate of movement of the guided cylinders. Methods are provided for creating the appearance of a hand-scraped wood plank. A method for creating irregular bevel edges on a plank is also provided as are a system and method that use a plank production line operation. A plank having irregular beveled edges and the appearance of a hand-scraped wood plank is also provided.

Abstract: A multi-axis, computerized numerically-controlled (CNC) toolhead positioning device with six degrees of freedom of movement while utilizing only five axes of movement, comprising a rotating workpiece mount assembly (28) and a rotating gantry (64) with a mounted toolhead assembly base (80). Perpendicular rotational axes about a mounted workpiece (26) provide the capability to perform specific toolhead operations on the arcuate surface of the workpiece (26), subject to the type of mounted toolhead assembly. The computer (120) uses CNC software to integrate operator instructions, machining operations, and the sequence of operations into an automatic and coherent machining package.

Abstract: The process contemplates material removal from the surface of rotating bodies (11) by moving at least one milling cutter (5) along an arched trajectory (21) in a plane transverse to the axis of the bodies, so as to remove the material in the circumferential direction of the body surface and parallel to the axis of the milling cutter (5). This working can be carried out in addition to a vectorial milling. The trajectory (21) is obtained by composing two linear translations perpendicular to the milling cutter (5) by adjustment of the speed and the rotation direction of the motors producing such translations.

Abstract: A machine tool comprising a bed, a worktable movable relative to the bed along a linear path and a tool movable to engage a workpiece on the worktable wherein drive means for effecting the movement of the worktable relative to the bed and therefore to the tool comprises a friction drive so as to provide a smooth carriage motion to the worktable. The worktable may be slidable along a slideway which defines the linear path for the worktable and the drive means therefor comprises an elongate member forming a track mounted parallel to the slideway. Wheel means frictionally engages the track and is carried by drive means therefor mounted on the worktable so that the axis of rotaion of the wheel means is fixed in relation to the worktable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for machining the surface of a spherical segment, the surface being either convex or concave, by a circular milling cutter mounted on a milling machine and rotatably driven about an axis of rotation. The segment is carried by a fixture journally mounted for pivoting about a pivot axis passing through the spherical center of the surface to be cut, and the axis of rotation also passes through the spherical center. The teeth of the cutter lie in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation which is the furthest such plane that intersects the face of the cutter so that only the cutting teeth will contact the spherical surface to be formed. The fixture is pivoted about the pivot axis and the segment moves through and is cut by the rotating teeth to form the spherical surface.

Abstract: A device (1) for balancing rotors (3) by material removal is disclosed, which comprises a milling tool (18) provided with a first and a second cutting regions (18a, 18B) disposed transversely of each other, to remove material in the presence of feed movements for cutting, directed both radially of a rotor (3) and tangentially of the outer surface (4) of the rotor (3), and comprising support and relative-movement means (2) for positioning and moving the milling tool (18) and rotor (3) relative to each other, which means engages the rotor (3) in a manner adapted to cause rotation of said rotor about its rotation axis (5) even while the milling tool (18) is removing material from the rotor (3).

Abstract: A precision drill for drilling noncircular bores, comprising a drill bit on a shaft and a holder for the workpiece being drilled, for providing a drill that can operate economically at high speeds. The workpiece holder oscillates translationally in at least one direction at a frequency controlled by the speed of the drill bit, and moves along a path determined by the desired shape of the bore to be drilled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the production of panels for a large segmented parabolic telescope reflector, using a simple adaptation of a technique common to a lathe. The reflective surface of each panel is contoured both radially and circularly by oscillating a platen supporting the panel about a fixed axis relative to a tool which is fixed during platen oscillation. The tool is repositionable between oscillations along an x axis to achieve the radial contour and along a z axis to achieve the desired parabolic or spherical contour. Contrary to the normal contouring of such a surface with a 5-axis CNC machine, tool positioning along either axis is independent of tool location along the other axis, simplifying the machine structure as well as its computerized operation. A unique hinge is provided to restrain the platen in a radial direction while allowing floating action of the platen on an air cushion during its oscillation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved piston milling machine. The invention milling machine in a preferred embodiment incorporates a breakaway lift arm whereupon a workpiece caught in the machinery will not damage the lift arm assemblies of the machine. Any excessive loads causing the lift arm to break away will further signal the milling machine to cease operations.

Abstract: Apparatus for machining splines on the internal surface of a tubular member comprising cutter means for forming the splines on the internal surface; a carrier for the tubular member for enabling the tubular member to be moved in an axial direction relative to the cutter means; and means for angularly indexing the cutter means relative to the tubular member whereby splines at angularly predetermined intervals can be provided around the interval circumference of the tubular member.

Abstract: A staircase stringer fabricating apparatus includes a structural machine frame having a carriage moveably mounted with respect to the frame for supporting an elongated stringer work piece. A track mounted upon the structural frame defines a guide for the carriage so that the carriage can move on a controlled path with respect to the frame. Material working stations, such as wood routers, welding torches or the like are spaced upon the machine frame for simultaneously preparing the work piece with selectively spaced apart tread assembly positions that define the horizontal stair step positions (including the spacing and angular positions) upon the stringer during use. The tread positions are preferably formed responsive to the movement of the carriage and work piece upon the track along the controlled path so that the work stations traverse the work piece.

Abstract: A milling assembly 10 for machining an I-beam 12 including tube flange portions 14, 16 and a web portion 18 therebetween including a pair of oppositely disposed and spaced milling heads 134 for milling the two flanged portions 14, 16 of the I-beam 12 and a support table for supporting the I-beam 12 thereon for reciprocating movement relative to the milling heads 134 to bring the ends of the I-beam 12 in contact with the milling heads 134. Alignment buttons 49, 76, 108, 124 are mounted on the support table for aligning the I-beam 12 upon the support table 128 in a predetermined position and three clamping stations 24, 26 and 28 are mounted on the support table 128 for fixedly clamping the I-beam 12 along the length of the support table 128.

Abstract: A machine for sharpening the blade of an ice skate has a vertically mounted, thin grinding wheel with a convex transverse cross-section corresponding to the concave transverse cross-section desired for the blade edge. Clamping plates on a cradle hold the blade above the wheel with their central planes coplanar and with the wheel biased against the blade. The cradle is pivotable about a horizontal axis above the skate so that the skate can be swung in an arc. Hence the movement of the blade over the wheel takes place in an arc that is curved in the same direction as the convex profile of the blade edge. This action reduces the problem of unevenness of depth of cut along the length of the blade, that has been experienced with prior machines employing straight line relative travel between the skate and the wheel.

Abstract: A welding machine can form continuous welds of three hundred and sixty degrees on workpieces which are rotated through angles of less than three hundred and sixty degrees by moving the welding torch of that welding machine in one direction circumferentially of those workpieces while those workpieces are being rotated in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A motion translation apparatus and method is provided which is particularly suitable for use with machine tools wherein the workpiece is moved relative to a tool. A stationary guideway member having a track of ball bearings mounted partially projecting from a V-shaped channel is fixed relative to the tool and relative to a rotatably driven turntable on which a hydraulic fluid operated actuator is pivotably mounted at one end. The piston of the actuator is pivotably secured to a link member which is in turn pivotably mounted on one end to the turntable. The free end of the link member opposite the end pivotably mounted to the turntable is pivotably connected to a movable guideway member which has a V-shaped channel adapted to receive and engage projecting portions of the ball bearings in the stationary guideway member for a predetermined arc of rotation of the turntable.

Abstract: Power feed apparatus adapted for driving the feed screw of a milling machine including a gear mounted on the end of the feed screw, a second gear driven by a reversible electric motor, an idler gear rotatably mounted on a lever for movement into and out of engagement between the first two gears, an adjustable pressure lock for retaining the lever in the position which keeps the idler gear engaged, and a housing mountable on the milling machine table supporting the motor, lever and pressure lock.