Abstract: In a gear hobbing machine, the combination of a support, a rotatable hob, a slide mounting the hob for axial shifting on the support, a stepping motor operatively connected to the slide, electronic means operative at the conclusion of a hobbing cycle to apply drive pulses to the motor and thereby to cause the motor to impart a predetermined axial movement to the slide in response to each pulse, a subtractive counter for counting the pulses applied to the motor and means for stopping the motor when the count in the counter is reduced to zero.

Abstract: A gear hobbing machine, which comprises a hobbing spindle which is supported at its outboard end in a bearing assembly attached to but removable from a supporting member and including a bearing sleeve surrounding the spindle, and means between the sleeve and the spindle which normally occupies a position in which it eliminates any significant radical play between the sleeve and the spindle but is movable to an alternative position in which it permits movement of the sleeve with respect to the spindle to enable the hob to be changed.

Abstract: In a pressure die casting apparatus, a die locking device in which a locking member is pivotably mounted on a frame and is movable into a position opposing a die part mount to have the force on the die part in the casting operation act through the locking member onto the frame substantially in the direction of that force. Another die locking device employs a main cylinder and piston assembly and an auxiliary cylinder and piston assembly with the chambers of the two cylinders interconnected whereby actuation of the auxiliary piston locks pressurized fluid in the main chamber. A sprue ejector mechanism has a plunger movable in a tubular piston rod, the end of the plunger being threaded to a collar and held to the piston rod and a cap threaded to the end of the piston rod, all for precise adjustment of the plunger in the die cavity.