Abstract: There is provided a method for estimating the thermal displacement of a component of a machine tool comprising the steps of detecting the temperature of at lease one rotatable component of a machine tool having a variable rotational speed and a variable temperature; converting the detected temperature into a numerical value; and estimating the thermal displacement of the component based on the numerical value using an operational expression which includes a time-varying coefficient.

Abstract: A crankshaft miller performs cutting work by means of a cutter mounted on a rotary cutter drum, for a work which both ends are gripped by chucks, and clamps a portion in the vicinity of a processed portion of the work by a rest arm to be opened and closed. An arrangement for preventing chip from flying around includes a chip flying around preventing cover which is designed for preventing chip from flying around upon stopping of the rotary cuter drum. The chip flying around preventing cover includes a main cover positioned in the vicinity of the rotary cutter drum and having an opening with a diameter sufficiently larger than an external diameter of the chuck when a rotary cutter drum is positioned at a stand-by position; and an auxiliary cover mounted on an opening portion of the main cover and having an opening with a diameter slightly larger than the external diameter of the chuck.

Abstract: A numerical control apparatus can process a workpiece at high speed and high precision while suppressing tool abrasion by maintaining optimum cutting conditions determined by a combination of spindle rotational speed and tool feed speed. A spindle rotational speed control section changes the speed of the spindle according to a tool feed speed obtained by a tool feed speed deciding section based on the shape of the tool moving path commanded by a machining program. Alternatively, the spindle rotational speed is changed by a spindle rotational speed control section based on a change in the contact position between the tool and the workpiece to be cut in the tool axial movement direction. Further, the spindle rotational speed may be changed by the spindle rotational speed control section based on the tool feed speed including tool axial movement direction data obtained by a feed speed deciding section based on the shape of the tool moving path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing concave, self-contained bearing surfaces, which are at least part of spherical indentations which extend beyond the sphere equator, by means of machining involving the removal of material of pre-formed indentations in workpieces by means of a tool having a tool cutting edge orbiting around a tool axis of rotation with an orbit diameter which is equal to the length of a chord extending up to a deepest point of the bearing surface, whereby the cutting movement is made up of the orbital movement of the tool cutting edge and a rotational relative movement between workpiece and tool around a vertical axis through the sphere center, and the feed movement is a movement of the tool relative to the workpiece along the tool axis of rotation which is obliquely set at the same angle of inclination relative to the vertical axis as is the chord set to the sphere equator.

Abstract: An automatic tool exchanging apparatus carries tools between a magazine pot allocated to an exchanging position and a leading end of a spindle of a machine tool spinning a tool about a vertical axis through the turning and displacement movements of an exchanging arm. A single drive motor is used to drive the tool exchanging arm for rotation and displacement and a tool magazine for rotation. The drive system is thus simplified, thereby reducing the substantial production cost and the space to be occupied.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating the inner surface of a vacuum chamber includes a support, means for anchoring the vacuum chamber to the support and holding the vacuum chamber, a broach having a plurality of cutting edges having cutouts, and broach drive means to which the broach arranged on the support is fitted. The broach drive means unidirectionally moves the broach relatively to the vacuum chamber in an axial direction to cut off a contaminated layer on an inner surface of the vacuum chamber. The outer diameter of each cutting edge, excluding the cutouts, is set greater than that of an immediately preceding one in a direction of a rearmost edge face from a front edge face. The apparatus may also include means for supplying an inert gas or a mixture of nitrogen and inert gases to a surface of the vacuum chamber being treated by the broach, or means for supplying a lower alcohol for dissolving contaminants contained in the contaminated layer to the surface of the vacuum chamber being treated by the broach.

Abstract: In a tool changer system comprising one or more tool grippers together with a pressure foot insert change pod supported on a U-V slide which is independent of the machine work table. The slide services a tool magazine mounted on the machine tool in close proximity to the work table. Because the tool changer is independent of the machine table, the selection and retrieval of the next tool to be used is performed while the machine tool is working. Similarly, the replacement of the tool back into its storage location is done while the machine tool is working. The exchanging of the pressure foot insert is done as part of the tool change process. Time is saved because the work table does not have to be moved to position the tool changer under the spindle. In fact, the work table may be moved to the next work location while the tool changer changes the tool in the spindle.

Abstract: A machine tool module has a platen supported on a track above a metal-removing tool. A workpiece is placed on the platen at a loading station at one end of the track. A drive is provided to move the platen from the loading station to the metal-removing station where the tool removes material from the workpiece and then to an unloading station at the opposite end of the track. After the workpiece is unloaded, the platen is moved back to the loading station. A workpiece loading elevator is provided at the loading station and a workpiece unloading elevator is provided at the unloading station. Two such machine tool modules may be placed end-to-end so that a workpiece on the platen of one module may be transferred to the platen on the other module for machining by both modules in sequence.

Abstract: An automatic tool changer in a machining center includes a reducer, a compound cam, a cylindric cam, a four-bar mechanism, an elliptic trammel mechanism, and a tool changer device. The compound cam and the cylindric cam are driven by a motor after speed reduction through a belt and gear train. The compound cam which is composed of a roller gear cam and a face cam performs the tool change motions. During the tool change motions, the cylindric cam drives the follower which is fixed on the slider of the elliptic trammel mechanism to make the other slider push the pull bar which produces the pushing and pulling tool motions in the spindle head. By way of using this design, the tool change time is largely reduced, the tool change motions are smoother, and the cost is less expensive than the previous designs.

Abstract: A machine (10) is disclosed for inserting terminals (22) into a substrate (14). The machine (10) includes an insertion head (90) having an improved mechanism for shearing the terminal (22) from its carrier strip (26). The shearing mechanism includes a die (124) and opposing punch (130) arranged to cooperatively engage the terminal to sever it from its carrier strip. A pair of pivoting cam arms (154), each having a die side cam surface (164) and a punch side cam surface (166), are arranged to move the die (124) and punch (130) into shearing engagement with the terminal upon pivoting of the two cam arms. A pair of followers (168, 170) are in following engagement with the die side and punch side cam surfaces (164, 166) so that when the followers are moved vertically by a linear actuator (184), the followers cause the cam arms to pivot.

Abstract: A wire-insertion and/or cutting tool comprises a handle having an axial bore, in which a wire-insertion and cutting blade assembly holder is installed. A wire-insertion and/or cutting blade assembly is inserted into the holder in a selected one of a plurality of blade assembly insertion orientations. The blade assembly includes a wire-insertion and/or cutting blade, that is configured to engage a wire to be inserted into a terminal block, and is operative to either seat, or to both seat and cut the wire in accordance with the selected blade assembly configuration and its insertion orientation. The blade assembly may include a rotatable cutting blade, and the holder configured to rotate the cutting blade and cut a wire engaged thereby for a first insertion orientation of the blade relative to the holder, but to prevent the cutting blade from rotating for a second insertion orientation of the blade assembly relative to the holder.

Abstract: A rotary tool, in particular a high-speed milling or boring tool, has at least two balancing rings (17, 18) with a variable mass around their circumference mounted on the tool holder or tool body (1). Two concentric balancing rings (17, 18) whose position in relation to the axis of rotation (6) of the tool (1) may be adjusted are releasable mounted in the tool holder or in the tool body (1) and are supported in the radial direction (14) in the tool holder or tool body (1). A short rotary tool (1) is thus obtained with a simple support of the balancing rings (17, 18) in the radial direction.

Abstract: In connection with a device for receiving workpieces, in particular for machine tools with continuous-path control, preferably numerically controlled machine tools, a dividing mechanism having a dividing spindle, which is seated in a housing, can be brought into predetermined angular positions and is connected with a workpiece holder. It is possible to achieve an exact and rapid setting of the dividing mechanism in that it is arranged for actuation by means of a continuous-path-controlled actuator, by which an indexing mechanism associated with the dividing spindle, with whose aid the dividing spindle can be locked in place in a predeterminable angular position, can be brought into a position which releases the dividing spindle, and through which the dividing spindle can be rotated.

Abstract: Ball screws are moved axially to move a spindle unit in directions X, Y to position a cutter mounted on the spindle unit. Support arm assemblies which support the spindle unit are also moved. Then, a slide table which supports the support arm assemblies is moved in a direction Z to cause the cutter to machine a workpiece.

Abstract: A tube connecting apparatus includes first and second tube holders holding flexible tubes, a cutting blade for heating, melting and cutting the tubes held by the holders between the holders, and a holder displacing mechanism for relatively displacing the second holder to the first holder to closely contact and connect cutting ends of the tubes each other. Each of the first and second tube holders has a tube holding portion which holds the tubes in a state that the circular cylindrical surfaces of the tubes which are contacting each other.

Abstract: A method of machining one or more tooth slots in a bevel gear-shaped workpiece with a cup-shaped tool having one or more stock removing surfaces. The method comprises indexing the workpiece by rotation about a workpiece axis to bring one of the tooth slots to a final machining position. Simultaneously with at least a portion of the indexing, positioning the tool to contact the workpiece to commence machining the slot and infeeding the tool during the indexing while moving the tool with the indexing workpiece to maintain the tool positioned in the slot. The infeeding, movement of the tool, and indexing continuing at least until the final machining position is achieved.

Abstract: An optical unit for projecting an image including first and second locating lines for substantially eliminating the introduction of visual parallax error. In one preferred form, the optical unit is incorporated into a machine for performing a forming operation on a workpiece and is operative to project an image of a portion of a scale to a position easily read by the user during machine operation. The optical unit includes a prism portion having a first side disposed adjacent the scale, a second side at an angle to the first side for reflecting the image and a third side through which the projected image may be viewed. The first locating line is disposed on the first side and the second locating line is disposed on the third side such that visual alignment eliminates the introduction of visual parallax error associated with reading a scale.

Abstract: The machine tool includes a spindle rotor, a tool receptacle and a clamp for clamping a tool in the tool receptacle. The clamp is moveable in the direction of the spindle axis by a spindle drive which is actuated by rotation of the spindle rotor. A spreading member is provided in the tool receptacle for positive gripping and clamping of the tool. The spindle drive preferably includes an externally threaded section on the spreading member and an internally threaded section on the tool receptacle, the latter being non-rotatably joined with the spindle rotor.

Abstract: A disposable tip for a milling cutter. The disposable tip has a top surface, a side surface and a cutting surface. The cutting surface has a cutting edge formed at the intersection of the cutting surface and the side surface. The cutting edge is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction defined by the top surface. A plurality of flutes are formed on the cutting edge. The cutting surface and the top surface define a rake angle between 2.degree. and 30.degree..

Abstract: The present invention is a quill interlock for a milling machine. Structurally, the present invention includes a clasp or other attachment means attachable to a milling machine. The clasp carries a switch which is activated when the quill of the milling machine reaches a predetermined, user selected, position on the Z-axis. The switch is connected to the computer controlling the milling machine, causing the computer to relocate the milling machine table to a new X and Y location each time the quill is raised to the predetermined position on the Z-axis.