Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided of detecting tool abnormality in a machine tool. Permissible minimum and maximum values of load current in a real cutting section are determined for a spindle motor and a servomotor during normal operation of the machine tool. The load current of the spindle motor and the servomotor is measured while the machine tool is operated. The load current measured in a real cutting section other than a non-cutting section is extracted by way of filtering the load current measured. A judgment is made as to whether the extracted load current is within a range between the minimum and maximum values. Occurrence of the tool abnormality is confirmed if the extracted load current falls outside the range. This enables the machine tool to detect not only overload condition due to excessive wear of a tool but also non-load condition induced by a tool breakage.

Abstract: A wear-resist mechanical component used in a frictional contact area requiring wear-resistance and a method of producing the same is provided. The method comprises the steps of: depositing hard particles of one or more substances selected from the group consisting of carbides, nitrides and borides on an iron-based metal body to a predetermined thickness; depositing binder powders atop of the hard particle layer to a predetermined thickness; and heating the hard particles, the binder powders and the iron-based metal body, so that the iron-base metal body and the hard particles are bonded together. This can obtain a wear-resistant mechanical component having high hardness and excellent wear resistance without having to go through the step of mixing hard particles with binder to form the mixture. The super-hard alloy can be bonded to the base metal body regardless of the shape of the base metal body.

Abstract: A tool magazine feeder for an automatic tool changer for feeding a tool magazine to a spindle comprises a carriage horizontally movable, under the state of supporting the tool magazine, between a remote position where the carriage is separated from the spindle and a proximate position where the carriage is adjacent to the spindle, a driving mechanism for reciprocating the carriage from the remote position to the proximate position and vice versa, and a guide mechanism positioned between the carriage and the driving mechanism. The guide mechanism is provided with one or more rollers and one or more rails for guiding the carriage to horizontally move between the remote position and the proximate position.

Abstract: A cooling device for cooling a built-in-spindle type spindle motor of a machine tool, in which the spindle motor includes a motor housing enclosing a spindle, a rotor fixed around the spindle, and a stator secured to the inner circumferential surface of the motor housing to surround the rotor with a clearance being formed between the rotor and the stator, wherein the cooling device comprises: a cooling gas supply source for supplying cooling gas; a motor housing with a cooling gas introduction passage for introducing and guiding the cooling gas supplied from the cooling gas supply source to one side of the rotor and the stator; and a cooling gas injection nozzle removably installed in the motor housing and having one or more nozzle openings oriented to inject the cooling gas to the clearance between the rotor and the stator.

Abstract: A method is provided of producing a hardmetal-bonded metal component with an enhanced bond strength. The method comprises the steps of providing an iron-based metal body, mixing and compressing raw material powder of hardmetal and binder powder containing nickel, silicon and boron into a preform, heating and sintering the preform, and applying heat to the sintered body and the iron-based metal body under a state that the sintered body is brought into contact with the iron-based metal body, to thereby cause the sintered body to be bonded to the iron-based metal body. The sintered body and the iron-based metal body are thermally treated at a temperature of 1,000 to 1,200° C. for 30 or more minutes so that boron present in the sintered body is infiltrated into grain boundaries of the iron-based metal body to form a plurality of boride spikes in a bonding interface.

Abstract: A fuel tank cradle device for forklift trucks is swingable to the lateral side and then foldable into a substantially vertical position, thereby assuring easy and safe change of a used fuel tank with a new one. The cradle device includes a counterweight, a cradle provided with a first body and a second body, the first body pivotally mounted to the counterweight for rotation between a home position above the counterweight and a rotated position outside of the counterweight, the second body capable of replaceably supporting a fuel tank and foldably connected to the first body so that the second body can be moved between an unfolded position and a downwardly folded position with respect to first body, and a locking arrangement for locking the cradle to the counterweight while the first body of the cradle is at the home position.

Abstract: An automatic tool changer for machine tool comprises a machine frame with a changer frame portion, and a spindle rotatably attached to the machine frame and adapted to removably grip a tool in position. An up-down carriage is mounted to the changer frame portion of the machine frame for elevational movement between a raised position and a lowered position. A magazine carriage is laterally movably mounted to the up-down carriage for movement between a home position far away from the spindle and an operative position close to the spindle. A tool storage magazine is carried by the magazine carriage and has a plurality of tool holders for changeably holding different kinds of tools. A vertical magazine actuator serves to cause the up-down carriage, the magazine carriage and the tool storage magazine to move in a vertical direction. A horizontal magazine actuator is adapted to cause the magazine carriage and the tool storage magazine to move in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A method is provided of producing a hardmetal-bonded metal component with an enhanced bond strength. The method comprises the steps of providing an iron-based metal body, mixing and compressing raw material powder of hardmetal and binder powder containing nickel, silicon and boron into a preform, heating and sintering the preform, and applying heat to the sintered body and the iron-based metal body under a state that the sintered body is brought into contact with the iron-based metal body, to thereby cause the sintered body to be bonded to the iron-based metal body. The sintered body and the iron-based metal body are thermally treated at a temperature of 1,000 to 1,200° C. for 30 or more minutes so that boron present in the sintered body is infiltrated into grain boundaries of the iron-based metal body to form a plurality of boride spikes in a bonding interface.

Abstract: A fuel tank cradle device for forklift trucks is swingable to the lateral side and then foldable into a substantially vertical position, thereby assuring easy and safe change of a used fuel tank with a new one. The cradle device includes a counterweight, a cradle provided with a first body and a second body, the first body pivotally mounted to the counterweight for rotation between a home position above the counterweight and a rotated position outside of the counterweight, the second body capable of replaceably supporting a fuel tank and foldably connected to the first body so that the second body can be moved between an unfolded position and a downwardly folded position with respect to first body, and a locking arrangement for locking the cradle to the counterweight while the first body of the cradle is at the home position.