Abstract: A method for automatically sizing a ground surface utilizes a detector having a reference edge position provided adjacent the rotatable spindle of a jig grinder. The jig grinder spindle center is moved a distance from the detector's reference edge equal to the finished radius value of the surface to be ground, or any known distance to be used as a datum. A tool or grinding wheel mounted for relative movement to the jig grinder centerline along the U-axis is moved relative to the jig grinder centerline to clear the detector's pick-up edge. Then, with the grind side of the grinding wheel facing the detector pick-up edge, the wheel is lowered and outfed back along the U-axis while in a conventional dynamic grinding mode until the wheel's outermost cutting position is equal to or in proximity to the detector's reference edge position, which can be confirmed by laser, force or sound apparatus. When contact is made, the outfeed is instantly stopped with no over-travel.

Abstract: A precision device including a holding mechanism for holding an object and a supporting mechanism for supporting an operating element, one of which is movable in a predetermined direction. The precision device includes a detecting device for detecting the amount of movement of one of the holding holding and supporting mechanisms in the predetermined direction, and the detecting device includes a scale formed of a material having a coefficient of linear expansion, in a temperature range of -20.degree. to 100.degree. C., of not more than 10.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. as an absolute value. The precision device further includes a detecting device for detecting the amount of thermal expansion of at least a part of the supporting mechanism in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing flash from an article are provided. The method features the steps of striking the flash with a first lash at least partially along the side of the lash with enough force to initiate separation of the flash from the article while simultaneously supporting the lash sufficiently to prevent the lash from bending sharply on itself and breaking; these steps are repeated until the flash has been completely separated from the article. The apparatus comprises at least one lash with sufficient support to prevent it from bending on itself and breaking, and means for rotating the lash about a central axis for contact with the flash.

Abstract: Two machine tools are provided with control systems for machining two different types of pieces to be matched to each other. In order to obtain small batches of relevant pieces that basically can be completely matched to one another, the control systems are independent from each other and each of them comprises post-process and in-process checking stations; the first station, besides checking the proper operation of the in-process station progressively and at short regular intervals changes its zero condition, so as to obtain machining pieces having dimensions evenly distributed within the relevant tolerance range.

Abstract: A machine for grinding the cavity in a mold for optical lenses has a spherical grinding tool which is precisely positioned with respect to a predetermined reference by air slides which move the tool in orthogonal directions. The carriages of the air slides move relative to center rails. A film of air between the top plate of each air slide and the center rail is supplied from a first source at a pressure which supports the weight of the carriage. When precise alignment is obtained, the first air supply is cut off to lock the air slides in the position of alignment. A recess in end portions of the top plate has air holes communicating therewith which are supplied from air from a second source. The flow of air from this second source is continuous and is sufficient to prevent foreign material from entering the air slide.

Abstract: A dressing apparatus comprises a head movably mounted on a tip portion of a body, the head having a tip having formed therein a cut-out which opens in the direction of the movement of the head and into which one of outer and inner peripheral cutting edges formed on a cut-off wheel in the form of a disc is adapted to be inserted, a tape traveling device mounted on the head and the body for causing a tape having a layer of abrasive grain on a side thereof to travel across the cut-out in the head, and an actuator disposed between the head and the body for moving the head. The dressing apparatus and a dressing method are arranged such that the one peripheral cutting edge is inserted into the cut-out in the head, and the one peripheral cutting edge and the side of the tape are brought into contact with each other while causing the tape to travel by the tape traveling device, to apply the dressing to the one peripheral cutting edge.

Abstract: Spaced parallel circular tracks rotate 180 degrees on roller bearings. Matching openings through one edge of each track serve to admit a stone or heavy object into a receiving slot. Parallel roller conveyors line the top and bottom faces of the slot. A pivoting swing with a platform across the inside of the slot transfers the stone from one face to the other automatically when the apparatus is rotated. The center of gravity of the loaded turning apparatus coincides with the center of rotation thereby requiring very little turning power. A manual handle or motor drive shaft rotates the gear train to turn the apparatus. Transverse rollers permit entry and exit of the stone at opposite points on the circular track. Longitudinal rollers permit entry and exit of the stone from the same or opposite sides of the apparatus.

Abstract: Two simultaneously driven worm shaped globoidal tools of identical shape are radially adjustable towards the workpiece having tooth profiles. Their tooth thicknesses are smaller than the tooth gap widths of the finished tooth gaps on the workpiece. The workpiece is supported in a freely rotating manner. One tool is angularly displaced with respect to the other tool with a controlled speed and amount of the angular displacement forcing one tool into contact with only the left side of a tooth profile and the other tool into contact with the right side of a tooth profile. During the angular displacement, the left and right tooth sides are processed simultaneously.

Abstract: The surface of a rotating cylindrical workpiece is monitored by an optical testing unit while the workpiece rotates and is treated by the grinding wheel in a circular grinding machine. The optical testing unit is mounted in part on one sensor of a second testing unit which monitors the diameter of the surface of the workpiece. A transducer and a light source of the optical testing unit are remote from the one sensor and are connected by fiber optic conductors with a head which is recessed into the one sensor and focuses light upon the surface of the rotating workpiece and intercepts light which is reflected by the workpiece. Lubricant which coats the surface of the workpiece in the course of the grinding operation is blown away from such surface in the region where the light beam is focused upon the workpiece.

Abstract: A narrow guide gear is mounted on an axially facing side of a gear-shaped tool. The tool effects a precision working of the flanks of gearlike workpieces. The teeth of the tool have an abrasive surface, that is a surface which does not have uniformly directed cutting edges. During dressing of the tool tooth flanks with a gear-shaped dressing tool, the guide gear mates with a guide pinion which is arranged next to the dressing tool. Adjusting structure is provided for relatively rotatably connecting the precision working tool and the guide gear to one another, so that during dressing a forced guiding of the dressing tool exists.

Abstract: A tile-cutting machine consists of a main base on which the tile is placed, a guide rail mounted on the base, a handle on the guide rail so that it can move freely along the guide rail and has a part which presses upon the tile on its bottom end, a knife holder with a sliding part which is fixed to the handle by an axle and fits on the guide rail, and a cutting knife which is fixed to the bottom part of the knife holder by an axle. After inscribing a cutting line on the top surface of the tile, the tile is cut along the cutting line.

Abstract: A clamping device is mounted to the machine bed of a grinding machine and is longitudinally slideable along said machine bed. Adjacent to the machine bed a rotatably driven grinding wheel is arranged such that by means of several actuators relative movements are possible between workpiece and tool in an X-Y-Z coordinate system related to the workpiece, while the grinding wheel is slideable parallel to its rotational axis which is adjusted according to the pivoting angle. To achieve a smooth transition without a ridge between the shaft portion and the hemispherical portion of the workpiece, the grinding wheel is moved, without interrupting its path curve such that the rotational axis describes roughly the arc of a circle about the hemispheric end. Simultaneously the grinding wheel performs a translatory movement parallel to its rotational axis such that the cutting edge in the hemispherical portion runs at a positive rake in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the workpiece.

Abstract: Apparatus for modifying building blocks which vary somewhat in size to provide spaced-apart depressions in the top and bottom surfaces thereof with the bottoms of the depression in the bottom surface being at a uniform distance from the top surface of the blocks comprises groove cutting and associated block drilling means. The drilling includes movable plates carrying a plurality of drills, means to move one of the plates before the other, and means to position the blocks for proper drilling. Also, a plurality of cutters are used to speed the cutting operation.

Abstract: A collar assembly is described, for use on a concrete cutter, which enables the major portion of the machine to be easily detached from a stuck sawblade and moved forwardly or rearwardly away from the blade so the blade can be cut out. The outer end of the shaft has a recess of the same diameter as the hole in the blade, and has a smaller threaded hole therein. The outer blade plate which lies on a face of the blade opposite the shaft, has a projecting collar that passes through the hole in the blade and into the recess in the face of the shaft, and a screw passing through the parts fastens them together.

Abstract: A grinder wheel table feed apparatus which converts a rotation of the table driving motor into a reciprocation movement of the grinder wheel table through a ball-screw mechanism and exerts a traverse movement to the table between a stand-by position and a working position. Additionally, a device of the invention converts a rotation of a reciprocation axle drive motor into a reciprocal movement of said table through an eccentric cam, and it also exerts an oscillation operation to the table in its working position. A drive control means of said eccentric cam is comprised of an encoder operable to read a rotation position of the reciprocal axle drive motor and to control same through a control device so as to be effective to stop the eccentric cam at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A dicing machine for cutting a semiconductor wafer along cutting lines arranged in a lattice pattern. The dicing machine comprises a cutting station, at least one alignment station, a cutting means disposed in the cutting station, a detecting means disposed in the alignment station for detecting the cutting lines of the wafer, and a wafer transferring means. The wafer transferring means includes two wafer supporting means and the dicing machine is capable of positioning one of the two wafer supporting means in the alignment station and performing alignment of a semiconductor wafer supported with said one of the wafer supporting means while positioning the other of the wafer supporting means in the cutting station and cutting a semiconductor wafer supported with said the other of the supporting means by the cutting means. The cutting means includes two cutting blades and a cutting blade interval setting-up means for setting up the interval of these cutting blades.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of continuous compensation of unbalance present in a rotor, in particular, a grinding wheel. This is done by feeding a compensation fluid into correction chambers which are rotated with and arranged on the rotor at various angular locations. The supply of fluid is effected in successive balancing operations during rotation of the rotor and as a function of the minimum and maximum unbalance signals measured by a transducer over a certain period of time. The tolerance is determined for acceptable unbalance values. The balancing operation is terminated on the basis of the minimum and maximum which is multiplied by a multiplier determined as a function of allowable variations of the measured unbalance signal.

Abstract: A surface grinding machine wherein the turret for two grinding tools is indexible with reference to a support by disengaging the surfaces of its two coaxial sections from opposite sides of an annular component of the support. This is effected by cylinder and piston units which move one of the sections axially of any away from the other section before moving the other section away from the annular component. The one section carries one portion of a first bearing which engages the other portion of such bearing on the support when the one section is disengaged from the annular component. The other section carries one portion of a second bearing which engages another portion of the second bearing on the support in response to disengagement of the other section from the annular component. The turret is then indexible to a different position before the cylinder and piston units effect of allow a return movement of the two sections of the turret into frictional engagement with the annular component.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to provide a rotary dressing tool, formed to the geometric shape of any part piece to be ground, which is utilized to reform an abrasive wheel so that it will produce desired dimensional characteristics on the part piece. A combination of diamond particles and preformed polycrystalline diamond segments are spaced around the outer perimeter of the tool and surrounded by a matrix of abrasive resistant nickel based alloy. Co-utilization of the diamond particles and the preformed segments creates a rotary dressing tool which is highly resistant to abrasive wear, enhancing the performance and durability of the tool.

Abstract: Grinding and dressing wheel support and release apparatus adapted to maintain a high degree of accuracy and adapted for quick change of a grinding wheel and dressing roll. A grinding wheel unit is maintained between two axially aligned shafts for rotation therewith. One shaft is axially movable to permit ease of replacement of the grinding wheel unit. Mechanism is provided for sensing the axial position of the axially movable shaft and for control of the axial position of the axially movable shaft. A dressing roll structure has a dressing roll engageable with the grinding wheel. The dressing roll structure preferably has the same type of shaft support as the grinding wheel structure. Mechanism is provided for automatic removal and replacement of the grinding wheel and/or dressing roll. Mechanism is provided for automatically maintaining the dressing roll in engagement with the grinding wheel for continuous dressing of the grinding wheel.