Abstract: A laser level including a housing. A laser generator assembly is housed in the housing and generates a laser beam. A projector projects the beam from the laser generator outside of the housing onto a target surface. The laser is a rotary laser and the projector rotates to rotate projection of the beam. The laser level also includes protective arms extending from the housing, the protective arms blocking projection of the beam along part of its path as the projector rotates. A width of the beam is at least twenty percent greater than a width of the leg where the beam contacts the leg.

Abstract: A measuring probe for measuring a screw groove of a relatively rotatable ball screw includes a stylus having a tip end portion configured to contact the screw groove, a radial-direction displacement mechanism configured to support the stylus so as for the stylus to be displaceable in an X direction toward an axial center of the ball screw, an axial-direction displacement mechanism configured to support the stylus so as for the stylus to be displaceable in an axial direction (Z direction) of the axial center, and sensors configured to detect displacement of the stylus produced by the radial-direction displacement mechanism and the axial-direction displacement mechanism. This enables high-accuracy measurement of a predetermined position of a side surface of a relatively rotatable work.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring apparatus includes a base on which an object to be measured is mounted, a movable X-axis beam, a Y-axis column with a hollow part that is provided on the base and supports the X-axis beam, a control unit that is provided under the base and controls the movement of the X-axis beam, and a cable that is wired from the X-axis beam to the control unit through the hollow part of the Y-axis column.

Abstract: A level includes a frame having a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface, and a web coupling the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface. The top planar surface and the bottom planar surface are parallel. The level further includes a vial supported by the frame. The vial has a longitudinal axis passing through a center of the vial and a body defining an interior containing a liquid and an indicator bubble. The level further includes a plurality of LEDs. Each of the LEDs has a light emitting point, and each of the plurality of LEDs is positioned adjacent an end of the vial and is oriented such that the light emitting point is positioned within the interior of the body of the vial.

Abstract: A method for determining a size grid, the method comprising following steps: a) determination of N morphological parameters, N being ?2; b) acquisition of a set of values of the parameters for a sample of a targeted population of individuals, each individual being associated with an individual point supplying, for each parameter, a value of the parameter; c) independently of steps a) and b), determination of rate of coverage of sample to be covered by the grid; d) determination of a set of coverage zones, each coverage zone being a set of individual points relating to a set of individuals for which a same orthesis according to the model is adapted and thus corresponding to a size adapted to set of individuals; the number of coverage zones being determined such that percentage of individual points included in at least one coverage zone is ? the desired coverage rate.

Abstract: A setting system (20) for a tool (10) is described, and in particular for a rotary metal working tool, wherein the setting system (20) aligns at least one insert (14) of the tool (10). The setting system (20) comprises an adjusting unit (22), which cooperates with the insert (14), and actuating device (24), which includes at least one electric actuator (26) exerting an adjusting force on the adjusting unit (22). Furthermore, a tool (10) is described.

Abstract: Provided are self-retractable centering assemblies and methods of using these assemblies for alignment of parts having determinant assembly alignment holes. An assembly includes a center pin having a threaded portion threadably engaging a drive component. The assembly also includes a puller bushing rotatably coupled to the drive component. The center pin protrudes through the puller bushing and can slide with respect to the puller bushing when the drive component is rotated relative to the center pin. The sliding distance is controlled by a limiter disposed within the cavity of the puller bushing. During operation, a portion of the center pin extends from the puller bushing and is inserted into alignment holes of parts being aligned. The drive component is rotated relative to the center pin resulting in the center pin being pulled out of the alignment holes while the puller bushing is being pressed against the parts.

Abstract: A rail gauge measurement tool includes a frame mounting the tool to a rail vehicle, and an engagement unit that moves relative to the frame. The engagement unit has a first contacting element that maintains contact with a rail as the vehicle moves along a rail track, and a pair of parallel connecting shafts. The tool also includes an air cylinder exerting a biasing force so that the engagement unit maintains contact with the rail as the vehicle travels along the rail track. The tool also includes a linear sensor, separate from the air cylinder, that measures movement of the first rail engagement unit relative to the frame. The linear sensor and the air cylinder are parallel, but in a different plane from the parallel connecting shafts to lend structural support to the tool.

Abstract: An adjustment dial assembly for a sealed system includes a knob having a flanged head and a body, wherein the body is dimensioned to extend through an opening in a housing wall, wherein the flanged head is dimensioned to interface with the housing wall. The body includes a seal detent disposed below of the flanged head for receiving a seal, a fastener interface disposed below the seal detent configured to interface with a fastener for retaining a movement regulation assembly and the knob to the housing wall, and a drive screw opening disposed within the body and configured to receive a drive screw such that the drive screw can be axially moved relative to the knob when the knob is rotated and the drive screw is rotationally fixed.

Abstract: A level includes a top surface, a bottom surface parallel with the top surface, and a body accommodating at least one vial. The body has at least one through hole, at least one portion of the vial is exposed through the through hole, a close-ended locating hole is mounted at a side of the through hole, an opened-ended locating hole is mounted at another side of the through hole, and two sides of the vial are accommodated in the two locating holes respectively. A side of the opened-ended locating hole is mounted with a locating aperture so that a magnet is positioned in the locating aperture so as to fix the vial.

Abstract: A series of nominally identical workpieces is received from a manufacturing process and measured on a measuring apparatus. They are received at a non-ambient temperature because of heat introduced during the manufacturing process, but they are placed on the measuring apparatus in a repeatable manner, e.g. by a robot, such that their non-ambient temperatures when measured are repeatable. One of the workpieces is measured as a reference workpiece at the non-ambient temperature, and these measurements are compared to calibrated values obtained from an external source, in order to generate an error map or error function. The error map or error function is used to correct measurements of subsequent workpieces of the series which are measured at the repeatable non-ambient temperature.

Abstract: An adjustable picture frame tool comprising a longitudinal device for housing slidable members at each end wherein the slidable members have the ability to expand and contract in length at both ends of the longitudinal device is disclosed. The longitudinal device and end slidable members each defines a plurality of center spaced holes along their longitudinal axis, respectively. In one preferred embodiment the holes are spaced a mm apart from each other. A clickable circular locking button is located in the middle of the longitudinal device that allows the slidable members to be locked in place to the longitudinal device. In use, a simple click or push of the center button locks the slidable members relative to the longitudinal device wherein a second click of the button and the slidable members can move either outwards or inwards.

Abstract: A punch centering block device can include a first block and a second block. The first block can define a first reference surface and a first notch extending along a first axis. The first reference surface can lay flush on a workpiece. The first axis can be transverse to the first reference surface. The second block can define a second reference surface and a second notch extending along a centered second axis. The second reference surface can lay flush on the workpiece. The second axis can be transverse to the second reference surface. The first block and the second block can selectively abut one another and render the first axis and second axis collinear to receive a punch. The punch is slidable against the first notch and the second notch during the marking operation.

Abstract: There is provided a linear displacement measuring apparatus which notifies a user when being installed defectively. A slider includes a traveling body which travels along a main scale on the main scale, a carriage part mounted on an object, and coupling means which couples the traveling body with the carriage part. The coupling means allows relative displacement between the traveling body and the carriage part and biases the traveling body towards the main scale. The coupling means has a connecting rod arranged so as to couple the traveling body with the carriage part via a ball joint. The slider further has misalignment detecting means which detects that the relative displacement between the traveling body and the carriage part exceeds a prescribed allowable range. The misalignment detecting means is a pair of projecting pieces arranged in a vicinity of the connecting rod so that the displacement of the connecting rod is regulated within a predetermined range.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided herein for measuring 3D apparatus (e.g., manual tool or tool accessory) orientation. Example implementations use an auto-nulling algorithm that incorporates a quaternion-based unscented Kalman filter. Example implementations use a miniature inertial measurement unit endowed with a tri-axis gyro and a tri-axis accelerometer. The auto-nulling algorithm serves as an in-line calibration procedure to compensate for the gyro drift, which has been verified to significantly improve the estimation accuracy in three-dimensions, especially in the heading estimation.

Abstract: A template 13 comprises a cusp base forming part 11 having a shape corresponding to a cusp base is provided to obtain cusp material for dispersing stresses exerted on the cusp. Such a cusp forming template may further comprise wing forming parts 15 corresponding to wing parts provided outside the cusp base forming part 11. As examples of the wing forming part, there may be employed a single or plural holes provided at a part or parts corresponding to the outline of each wing, and guide parts provided at parts corresponding to the outline of wings.

Abstract: A system includes an environment for programming workpiece inspection operations for a coordinate measurement machine (CMM). The environment includes a user interface comprising a program simulation portion configured to display a 3D view of the workpiece and/or representations of inspection operations to be performed on the workpiece. The user interface further includes auxiliary collision avoidance volume (CAV) creation elements that create CAV's that are represented in the 3D view. The 3D CAVs and/or their representations have integrated graphical modification properties which are controllable in the user interface. The modification properties are activated by selection of a face of the CAV representation, without the explicit activation of a separate modification control element mode or tool. This results in a simplified and intuitive user interface. Users perform a constrained set graphical modifications in the 3D view using an input device, to modify a CAV.

Abstract: During a retraction where a stylus tip separates from a work piece from a state where the stylus tip and the work piece are in contact, whether there is contact between the stylus tip and the work piece is monitored. When the contact between the stylus tip and the work piece is detected during the retraction, a probe is displaced to a position where the stylus tip does not come in contact with the work piece and a recovery process is executed. When a distance between a point on a surface of the work piece at a retraction start point and a contact point between the stylus tip and the work piece is Lm, and a value defined by (Lm?d) multiplied by a coefficient k (0<k<1) is a proper retraction amount Lr in view of a diameter d of the stylus tip.

Abstract: A surveyor wheel has an assembling seat, a supporting element, a handle, and two wheels. The assembling seat has a moving direction, an upper surface, a lower surface, and two opposite ends. The upper surface of the assembling seat and the lower surface of the assembling seat are opposite each other. The supporting element is formed on the assembling seat, protrudes downward, and has a supporting end. The handle is formed on the assembling seat. The two wheels are rotatable and are respectively connected to the two opposite ends of the assembling seat. The supporting end of the supporting element is to abut against the ground or a horizontal surface to provide support.

Abstract: A device for measuring a workpiece surface along an X-axis, the measured surface residing generally within an X-Y plane. The measuring device has a ring body supported on a pivot body for pivoting in a limited angular range about a pivot axis spaced from and substantially parallel to the X-axis. The measuring device also has a base fixed in the direction of the Y-axis and a ring body supported on the base for limited movement relative to the base in a direction substantially parallel to the Y-axis. A measurement wheel is rotatable about an axis of rotation defined by the ring body and rolls along the workpiece surface when the workpiece and the measurement device move relative to one another in the direction of the X-axis.