Abstract: Method (FIGS. 4A through 4C) and system (FIG. 3) are disclosed for automatically calibrating a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) (10). The system guides an operator through instrument set-up and data collection procedures. The system automatically converts the collected data into error compensation or axis correction data which represents 21 different geometry errors (i.e. pitch, yaw, roll etc.) of the CMM (10). The error compensation data is then transferred to a CMM measurement processor (36) for subsequent use by the CMM (10) during operation thereof to thereby compensate the CMM (10) for its entire measuring volume (102).

Abstract: A measuring device (60) measures the value (t) of a chosen parameter (thickness) of what has been lifted by a lifting assembly (40) from a stack of sheets (1) of material and allows the lifted material to be moved from the stack when the value is in a predetermined relationship to a reference value (T). One (45a) of a plurality of selectively releasable members (45) on the lifting assembly (40) is moveable in two horizontal directions to locate a sheet attached to the one releaseable members (45a) against locating pins (5, 6) on the work table (3) of the punch press (4). The entire system may be operated automatically by a controller (90).

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine (10) having a pneumatic probe counterbalance system housed within the probe shaft (14) is disclosed, the system including a piston (54) fit into a cylinder (30) extending along the length of the probe shaft (14). The piston (54) is fixed so that air pressure acts on a cylinder end cap (32) to counterbalance the weight of the probe assembly (12). A stationary tube (34) extends into the cylinder (30) from above the piston (54) and directs a source of regulated air pressure to the cylinder interior (58) from a fluid pressure fitting (48) connected to the upper end of the tube (34). The piston (54) is at least partially spherically shaped and the tube (34) is supported by a spherical bearing (42) to accommodate misalignment of the tube (34) and cylinder (30) without binding during movement of the probe shaft (14). A length of wire (56) is connected at one end to the piston (54) and extends upwardly through the tube (34), and is fixed at its upper end to anchor the piston (54).

Abstract: A joystick controller (38) for three axis control of a powered element such as a probe shaft (24) of a coordinate measuring machine (10) is disclosed in which a joystick handle assembly (40) is mounted for pivoting movement along either of orthogonal horizontal X or Y axis, with a plunger (64) mounted within a hollow joystick shaft (58) for up and down movement along a vertical Z axis orthogonal to the X and Y axes. Control signal generators, such as potentiometer assemblies (84, 106, 134), are drivingly engaged with the hollow joystick shaft (58) and plunger (64), each generating control signals corresponding to each motion of the joystick handle assembly (40). These signals are used to produce corresponding controlled movement of the probe shaft (24) of the coordinate measuring machine (10) along respective X, Y and Z axes.

Abstract: The cam lift data is analyzed (110) through the use of a fast fourier transform (FFT) (116) to thereby obtain FFT coefficients (118) which define the amplitude and frequency content of the cam lift data. Through a combination of the kinematic model and an inverse FFT procedure, an axis control function including a position control function (Eq. 1 and Eq. 14) is determined (128) for each axis. Dynamic compensation (130) of each axis is provided for system lags and inertia loads by altering the axis control function as a proportion of the axis velocity and acceleration (130), respectively. For each controlled axis an independent vector and a corresponding dependent vector containing axis control data is generated (132). During the actual control of first and second drive motors (72, 70) of the grinding machine, position and velocity feedback signals are generated for each axis by feedback devices (82, 78).

Abstract: A tooling assembly (10) is disclosed having a plurality of tool holders (18, 20) for independently driven cutting tools (14, 16), the tooling assembly adapted for automatic insertion and removal from a spindle assembly (12). The plurality of cutting tools (14, 16) are disclosed as arranged to be able to simultaneously machine concentric round features on a workpiece (8), such as a valve stem guide bore (9) and valve seat (7). The tooling assembly (10) includes inner and outer tool bodies (30, 24) rotatably mounted together, each carrying a tool holder (20, 18), the tool bodies (30, 24) rotated at different speeds. A coupling arrangement for the tooling assembly includes an outer draw bar (82) moveable to couple the tooling assembly (10) to the spindle assembly (12), and an inner draw bar (84) separately coupled to moveable element (20) to enable independent axial advance of one of the cutting tools (14) by axial movement of the inner draw bar (84) and coupled moveable element (20).

Abstract: During operation of an apparatus to machine a workpiece, an unfinished workpiece is gripped by a workpiece loader and unloader assembly at a conveyor station. The loader and unloader assembly moves the workpiece along the axis of a spindle assembly through an opening in a shield which minimizes the accumulation of material cut from a workpiece on the loader and unloader assembly and on a conveyor assembly. The loader and unloader assembly moves a finished workpiece from the spindle assembly, rotates a support arm through a distance which is less than 90.degree. to the condition of an unfinished workpiece in alignment with the spindle assembly and inserts the unfinished workpiece into the spindle assembly. The workpiece loader and unloader assembly then comes back through the opening in the shield and transfers the finished workpiece to an outfeed section of the conveyor assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming planar parts (WA) by progressively punching out the shape of the part (WA) from a piece of sheet material (W) in which the part (WA) is automatically removed from the remaining sheet material (W), by a hinged trap door section (37) in a work supporting table (33), one end lowered to form a chute. The punching process is carried out primarily in a first punching station (A), where punch and die set magazines (18, 19) may be mounted, but connecting sections (WC) are left to be removed in a second punching station (B) where the trap door section (37) is located. The separated parts (WC) are deposited on a conveyor system (36) located beneath the table 33, and detector unit (59, 61) enables shut down of the press if a part fails to move after each punching operation.

Abstract: A part feeder capable of moving individual parts to a receiver from a storage tube having an internal track therein generally conforming to at least a portion of the vertical cross-section of parts stored within the tube to permit the parts to freely slide along the track within the tube. The part feeder comprises a base; a horizontally movable support member slidably mounted on the base; a tiltable arm member pivotally mounted on the support member; and a receiver on the tiltable arm member. An air cylinder is provided for releasably securing one end of the tube on the arm member against the receiver. Another actuator is provided for tilting the arm member so that the end of the tube adjacent the receiver is sufficiently lower than the remainder of the tube to permit one part to slide out of the tube onto the receiver. The tube is then returned to a horizontal position.

Abstract: A foundry machine for forming molds or cores from a molding material such as sand provides completely automated loading and unloading of tooling elements (24). The tool elements (24) comprising a sand magazine (36), blow plate (34), combined gassing manifold and top ejector unit (32), upper mold box (30), lower mold box (28) and bottom stool (26) are automatically transferred, in stacked, separable relationship, by tracks (40) to a vertically displaceable, work table. Vertical displacement of the work table (42) sequentially elevates the tooling elements (24) to positions within a mainframe (10) where automatically operated clamping means secure the appropriate tooling elements (24) in respective operating positions. The gassing manifold (32) includes an ejector pin assembly (274, 280) mounted therewithin.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine (1) of the type having a plurality of movable members, a probe (2), carriage (5), and bridge (6), each movable along an orthogonal axis adjacent member (16), in which a selectively engageable fine feed mechanism (10) is disclosed providing a limited range of precision adjustment of movement each movable member anywhere along the total range of member movement. The mechanism (10) includes a pair of opposing locking elements (18), selectively spreadable to frictionally engage a slot (20) formed in the adjacent member (16); and also including an adjustment knob (44) axially fixed relative to the locking elements in mounting plate (12) attached to a movable member or fixed member, rotation of the adjustment knob (44) allowing precision adjustment of the position of the movable member after the locking element (18) is engaged with the slot (20).

Abstract: An improved apparatus for grinding a workpiece (W) includes a base (10) upon which a headstock (21) and a tailstock (23) are mounted to support a workpiece for rotation about axis (A). A carriage (300) is movable along the base. A light weight wheel slide (400) is mounted on the carriage and is movable toward and away from the workpiece. A grinding wheel (501) is rotatably supported on the wheel slide. In order to provide a solid support for the light weight wheel slide, the carriage has a plurality of guideways (901, 902, 903) which are enclosed by the carriage. The carriage extends throughout the length of the guideways and provides a solid support for the guideways.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in machining a workpiece includes a housing (102) which is operable between a closed condition enclosing a chuck (101) and an open condition. When the housing (102) is in the open condition, an opening (117) extends across the top of the housing and down opposite sides of the housing to provide access to the chuck (101) from both sides of the housing. A workpiece transfer assembly (200) has a downwardly extending structure (204) which is movable along a path (A) extending through the housing (102) when the housing is in the open condition. This enables the transfer structure (200) to move unfinished workpieces (W) to the chuck (101) from one side of the housing and to move finished workpieces from the chuck to the opposite side of the housing. The transfer structure is supported on tracks (201) which extend above the housing.

Abstract: A tool force sensor assembly (20) generates an electrical signal which is related to the change in force applied by a tool (24) to a workpiece (28) and is indicative of the wear condition or failure of the tool (24). The sensor assembly (20) is mounted in force transmitting relationship between a movable tool support (30, 36) and a nut member (44, 45) which is driven by screw shaft (40, 41). The sensor assembly (20) comprises a plurality of ring-shaped piezoelectric transducers (48) which are held in preselected, circumferentially spaced relationship to each other around the screw shaft (40, 41) by a retainer ring (56, 58) which is sandwiched between a pair of load distribution plates (52, 54). Fasteners (46) extend through each of the transducers (48) and mount the sensor assembly (20) between the nut member (44, 45) and the tool support (30, 36).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for finishing pistons (10) and the like from foundry-turned castings during one clamping operation provide enhanced manufacturing productivity. Separate boring and turning modules (34, 24) of the apparatus are mounted on a primary base (18) and a grooving module (54) is mounted on a secondary base (72). The modules automatically groove the ring grooves (11), turn the complex shape of the skirt (15) and bore the wrist pin bore (13) through an ordered sequence of manufacturing steps. The piston stock is mounted for rotation on headstock and tailstock assemblies (82, 84). These assemblies are carried on the secondary base (72) which is slidably mounted on the primary base for movement into operative position with respect to the boring and turning modules according to the ordered sequence. The method and system improve piston quality while reducing manufacturing costs including saving factory floor space.

Abstract: A device-implemented method for monitoring the cutting condition of a machine tool during machining of a workpiece senses acoustic emissions resulting from the machining of the workpiece, produces an electrical signals which varies in accordance with changes in the sensed acoustic emissions, and variably amplifies the signal by a gain level selected by a set of digital data stored in the memory (12) of a computer (15). The signal is amplified by an amplifier (32) having a variable gain input (34) controlled by the computer (15). The signal is processed by two circuits (36, 40, 56 and 36, 42, 50) which respectively generate two separate sets of digital data representing the cutting condition of the tool. The computer (15) compares the data with memory-stored information to determine whether an alarm signal should be generated. A circuit (75) is provided for generating a control signal indicating that cutting of the workpiece has commenced.

Abstract: A roller bearing installation, in which one or more roller bearing assemblies (30A, 30B, 30C) are prepackaged in a housing (18) having corresponding recesses (28A, 28B, 28C) receiving each bearing assembly (30A, 30B, 30C). An angled gib plate (52A, 52B, 52C) is bedded in each recess, each gib plate (52) including an inclined section (54) mating with an inclined surface (58) on a bearing assembly cover (72) to allow a bearing depth adjustment by lengthwise adjustment of the bearing assembly (30) in its recess, enabling position adjustment of the supported structure (10) and bearing preload adjustment. Accurate alignment of the bearing assembly (30) is achieved by a ball plunger (100) urging the same against a guide surface (57) of the gib plate (52). A fixture (110) is used to precisely locate each gib plate (52A, 52B, 52C) in a recess (28) while a moldable bonding material (109) in which each gib plate (52) is bedded sets up.

Abstract: A fixture (50) is used to precisely locate the horizontal (20, 30) and vertical (10) guideways on the bed (40) of a grinding machine. After locating the guideways (10, 20, 30), a bonding material (70) is placed in the spaces (1, 2, 3) between the guideways (10, 20, 30) and grinding machine bed (40). After the fixture (50) is removed, bolts (80) are tightened to apply a compressive force on the bonding material (70) located between the vertical guideway (10) and the machine tool bed (40).

Abstract: A machine for making molds and molding cores (126) includes a pair of mold boxes (42a, 42b) removably mounted on a frame (60) for rotation between an upright, molding position in which molding mateiral is introduced into the molding cavity of the molding boxes (42a, 42b) by a carrier (26) and an inverted discharge position in which the mold (126) is removed from the boxes by a mold receiving assembly (76). A pressure head assembly (46) both compresses molding material within the molding cavity and introduces a catalyst gas into the cavity for curing the molding material. A system for removing the spent gas from the molding cavity includes a pair of gas receiving chambers (122a, 122b) integral with the frame (60) which receives gas through the bottom of the mold boxes (42a, 42b) and an exhaust assembly (68, 70) which is selectively coupled with exhaust ports (124a, 124b) in the chambers (122a, 122b ).

Abstract: An improved machine tool (10) has a driven cutting tool (T) which is rotatable about an axis (C) extending perpendicular to the axis (B) of rotation of a turret (200) when a toolholder (300) is mounted on an end face (203) of the turret (FIG. 7). The cutting tool is rotatable about an axis extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the turret when the toolholder (300) is mounted on a side face (204) of the turret (FIG. 10). A drive assembly (600) is operable to drive the cutting tool when it is mounted on either the end face (203) or the side face (204) of the turret. The drive assembly (600) extends through the turret and has output at a location disposed between the end and side faces (203, 204) of the turret. A pair of actuators are (400, 500) provided to operate the toolholder (300) to engage and release the cutting tool (T) when the toolholder is mounted on either the end face or side face of the turret.