Abstract: A combination live/dead tool holder for use on an indexing tool turret of a machine tool includes a live tool holder as well as a dead tool holder mount. The dead tool holder mount is configured to interchangeably mount to a variety of different dead tool holders. The tool holder includes a y-axis adjustment mechanism that facilitates adjustment of the position of the tool holder relative to the turret along the y axis (i.e., along a circumferential direction of the turret).

Abstract: A failsafe workholding clamping assembly includes a base, an axially slidable draw bar and collet, and a force amplifier. A driver applies a continuous driving force to the force amplifier. The force amplifier amplifies the driving force and applies a resulting amplified force to the draw bar to bias the draw bar toward its closed position and the collet toward its gripping position. A collet opener mounts to the base and selectively applies an opening force to the draw bar to counteract the driving force and move the collet into its released position. The workholding clamping assembly holds a collet in a predetermined rotational orientation and includes a draw bar rotating mechanism to enable an operator to rotate the draw bar to threadingly engage the draw bar and a rotationally-fixed collet.

Abstract: A combination live/dead tool holder for use on an indexing tool turret of a machine tool includes a live tool holder as well as a dead tool holder mount. The dead tool holder mount is configured to interchangeably mount to a variety of different dead tool holders. The tool holder includes a y-axis adjustment mechanism that facilitates adjustment of the position of the tool holder relative to the turret along the y axis (i.e., along a circumferential direction of the turret).

Abstract: A collet adapter includes a spindle adapter body configured to removably mount to a non-collet-ready spindle of a machine (e.g., a lathe or machining center). The spindle adapter body has a collet seat configured to mate with a collet. The adapter also includes an adapter collar configured to removably mount to the spindle adapter. When the collar is mounted to the adapter body, it facilitates secure attachment of a device with a spindle mount to the machine via an enlarged mounting shoulder of the collar. The collar can be removed to provide improved radial access to a work piece being held by the spindle adapter body and a non-step collet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a belt drive system for a tool driving shaft of an indexing tool turret assembly. A plurality of toolholders are radially supported on a top plate assembly, which is rotatably supported on a hub connected to a turret housing. A housing is provided that supports a driven pulley connected to the tool driving shaft. A spindle motor connected to the turret housing is coupled to the live toolholder via a belt drive. The housing advantageously includes at least one removal portion that provides access to and replacement of the belt drive. Further, the tool driving shaft is supported on opposite sides of the driven pulley.

Abstract: This invention relates to a belt drive system for a tool driving shaft of an indexing tool turret assembly. A plurality of toolholders are radially supported on a top plate assembly, which is rotatably supported on a hub connected to a turret housing. A housing is provided that supports a driven pulley connected to the tool driving shaft. A spindle motor connected to the turret housing is coupled to the live toolholder via a belt drive. The housing advantageously includes at least one removal portion that provides access to and replacement of the belt drive. Further, the tool driving shaft is supported on opposite sides of the driven pulley.

Abstract: A rotary table for a material processing machine such as a vertical milling machine utilizes direct drive motor(s) to precisely angularly position a work piece along one or more pivotal axes. The direct drive motor(s) are thermally insulated from the remainder of the machine to limit misaligning thermal expansion of the components of the machine. The motors may be symmetrically attached to their respective supports such that thermal expansion/contraction of the motor and surrounding components occurs symmetrically with respect to the motor to limit misalignment of the motor's rotational axis. A motor may mount to its respective support only at a first axial end thereof such that thermal expansion of a second axial end of the motor does not adversely shift the position of the first end. Axially narrow clamps selectively secure the rotors of the motors in desired positions.

Abstract: A self-compensating hydrostatic (pressurized fluid film) linear bearing that maintains a fluid gap between a carriage and a rail when relative forces are applied. The geometric shape of the rail and mating carriage enable the bearing to have very high stiffness and load capacity without exessive detrimental carriage deformation. The carriages contain bearing grooves and lands which control and use fluid pressure to provide a very high degree of restoring force in response to changes in the fluid gap. The fluid emanating from the bearing gap is prevented from immediately leaking from the bearing carriage, and is instead routed back to the source from which it is pumped, thereby sealing the bearing carriage and simplifying the handling of the lubricating fluid. The hydrostatic bearing is particularly designed to be compact and to be bolt-for-bolt compatible with conventional linear bearings.

Abstract: A self-compensating hydrostatic (pressurized fluid film) linear bearing that maintains a fluid gap between a carriage and a rail when relative forces are applied. The geometric shape of the rail and mating carriage enable the bearing to have very high stiffness and load capacity without exessive detrimental carriage deformation. The carriages contain bearing grooves and lands which control and use fluid pressure to provide a very high degree of restoring force in response to changes in the fluid gap. The fluid emanating from the bearing gap is prevented from immediately leaking from the bearing carriage, and is instead routed back to the source from which it is pumped, thereby sealing the bearing carriage and simplifying the handling of the lubricating fluid. The hydrostatic bearing is particularly designed to be compact and to be bolt-for-bolt compatible with conventional linear bearings.

Abstract: A bushing has an externally threaded portion with a thread pitch P1. A collet body has an internally threaded portion with a thread pitch P2, which is smaller than P1 by a pitch differential, ?P. To assembly the bushing and collet body, the collet body is heated relative to the bushing to reduce the ?P. The threaded portions of the bushing and collet body are then threadingly engaged with each other. The temperatures of the bushing and collet body are then equalized, which tends to increase the ?P, which causes the threaded portions to bind with each other and resist relative loosening rotation. The threaded portions may additionally/alternatively be reverse tapered and/or include variable thread pitches that cause the threaded portions to further bind with each other.

Abstract: A workholding assembly for releasably holding a work piece includes a master variable-volume fluid chamber disposed between a machine and the machine's axially-movable draw bar such that the workholding assembly converts the mechanical axial force/movement of the draw bar into fluid pressure/fluid flow. The resulting fluid pressure operates a fluid-driven gripping assembly such as a radial-piston-based hydraulic collet assembly or a diaphragm-based hydraulic gripping assembly. The hydraulic collet assembly may be a quick-change assembly that enables an operator to quickly and easily change between differently sized or shaped collets.

Abstract: A failsafe workholding clamping assembly includes a base, an axially slidable draw bar and collet, and a force amplifier. A driver applies a continuous driving force to the force amplifier. The force amplifier amplifies the driving force and applies a resulting amplified force to the draw bar to bias the draw bar toward its closed position and the collet toward its gripping position. A collet opener mounts to the base and selectively applies an opening force to the draw bar to counteract the driving force and move the collet into its released position. The workholding clamping assembly holds a collet in a predetermined rotational orientation and includes a draw bar rotating mechanism to enable an operator to rotate the draw bar to threadingly engage the draw bar and a rotationally-fixed collet.

Abstract: A force limiting workpiece holding device for holding a workpiece in a workpiece processing assembly having a spindle and a closer that applies a force, comprises a workpiece holder slidably mounted to the spindle. The workpiece holder includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced gripping segments that are movable between expanded and contracted positions to grip and release a workpiece. A force limiting coupling structure includes a biasing structure having a spring force. The coupling structure is operatively mountable between the workpiece holder and the closer such that a force applied by the closer to move the gripping segments of the workpiece holder between the expanded and contracted positions is transferred to the workpiece holder through the coupling structure and the biasing structure thereof, whereby a resultant force being applied to the workpiece holder by the closer is limited to the spring force of the biasing structure.

Abstract: A self-compensating hydrostatic (pressurized fluid film) linear bearing that maintains a fluid gap between a carriage and a rail when relative forces are applied. The geometric shape of the rail and mating carriage enable the bearing to have very high stiffness and load capacity without exessive detrimental carriage deformation. The carriages contain bearing grooves and lands which control and use fluid pressure to provide a very high degree of restoring force in response to changes in the fluid gap. The fluid emanating from the bearing gap is prevented from immediately leaking from the bearing carriage, and is instead routed back to the source from which it is pumped, thereby sealing the bearing carriage and simplifying the handling of the lubricating fluid. The hydrostatic bearing is particularly designed to be compact and to be bolt-for-bolt compatible with conventional linear bearings.

Abstract: A self-compensating hydrostatic (pressurized fluid film) linear bearing that maintains a fluid gap between a carriage and a rail when relative forces are applied. The geometric shape of the rail and mating carriage enable the bearing to have very high stiffness and load capacity without exessive detrimental carriage deformation. The carriages contain bearing grooves and lands which control and use fluid pressure to provide a very high degree of restoring force in response to changes in the fluid gap. The fluid emanating from the bearing gap is prevented from immediately leaking from the bearing carriage, and is instead routed back to the source from which it is pumped, thereby sealing the bearing carriage and simplifying the handling of the lubricating fluid. The hydrostatic bearing is particularly designed to be compact and to be bolt-for-bolt compatible with conventional linear bearings.

Abstract: An improved machine tool having a support structure (16), a spindle (18) rotatably supported by the structure, the spindle adapted for engagement with a workpiece (56), the spindle operatively arranged to selectively rotate in an annular A-axis (19) and about a linear Z-axis (20), a tool frame (25) supported by the structure, the tool frame having an array of individual tool-holding stations adapted for engagement with a tool (49), an actuating mechanism (24), the actuating mechanism operatively arranged to selectively provide movement of the workpiece in the spindle relative to the tool in the tool frame in the Z-axis, in a linear Y-axis (21) that is perpendicular to the Z-axis, and in a linear X-axis (22) that is perpendicular to both the Z-axis and the Y-axis, the position of the stations in the array defined by at least an X-axis coordinate and a Y-axis coordinate, at least two of the stations in the array positioned such that the two stations have neither the same X-axis coordinate nor the same Y-axis co

Abstract: A force limiting workpiece holding device for holding a workpiece in a workpiece processing assembly having a spindle and a closer that applies a force, comprises a workpiece holder slidably mounted to the spindle. The workpiece holder includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced gripping segments that are movable between expanded and contracted positions to grip and release a workpiece. A force limiting coupling structure includes a biasing structure having a spring force. The coupling structure is operatively mountable between the workpiece holder and the closer such that a force applied by the closer to move the gripping segments of the workpiece holder between the expanded and contracted positions is transferred to the workpiece holder through the coupling structure and the biasing structure thereof, whereby a resultant force being applied to the workpiece holder by the closer is limited to the spring force of the biasing structure.

Abstract: An expanding, inner diameter gripping collet assembly for a pick-off spindle. An arbor base is connected to the pick-off spindle and is moveably connected to a moveable arbor. The moveable arbor engages and is driven by the pick-off spindle nose. The moveable arbor has motion-translating cam surfaces on one end that engage corresponding surfaces on one end of an expanding collet. A drawplug having motion-translating cam surfaces that engage corresponding ones on the other end of an expanding collet is inserted through the moveable arbor and secured into the arbor base. The collet assembly also includes an ejector housing, in which an ejector is positioned for sliding movement. A compression spring biases the ejector forwardly.

Abstract: An indexing tool turret assembly is disclosed including a rotatable indexable turret tooling plate having mounted thereon stationary as well as live tooling. A single drive motor is utilized in order to perform indexing as well as to drive the live tooling. A plurality of live tools can be simultaneously mounted on the turret tooling plate and the single drive motor is selectively engageable with each of the live tools so that only one of the plurality of live tools is driven at a given time. The selective live tool drive train includes an axially movable drive shaft and bevel drive gear for selectively engaging the driven bevel gear of the desired live tool. The axially movable shaft assembly includes a mechanism for adjusting the backlash between the driving and driven bevel gears when these gears are engaged with one another.

Abstract: A collet chuck assembly includes a mount, a selectively-axially-movable collet closing sleeve, and a multiple-segment collet head. The collet head includes two axially-spaced outer circumferential cam surfaces that engage two axially-spaced inner circumferential cam surfaces of the closing sleeve. A quick-release cap attached to the mount includes two inwardly-radially-extending tabs that engage two outwardly-radially-extending lips of the collet head to prevent the collet head from moving axially relative to the cap. Flat resilient collet seals are disposed between each set of adjoining collet segments to prevent debris from getting into the collet chuck assembly between the segments. The collet seals maintain full-surface contact with adjoining segments even when the collet head is fully opened. A slinger bore formed in the cap directs debris radially-outwardly out of the collet chuck assembly.