Abstract: A portable power tool includes a housing, a motor enclosed within the housing, an accessory tool holder secured to the output shaft of the motor, and an attachment interface on a nose portion near the accessory tool holder. An attachment is configured to attached and removed from the nose portion of the housing. The attachment includes a housing interface that is configured to interact with the attachment interface to position the attachment at a predetermined position on the nose portion of the housing. The attachment interface and the housing interface are configured to be magnetically attracted to each other with sufficient force to retain the attachment on the nose portion of the housing during normal operating conditions while allowing the attachment to be removed from the nose portion of the housing by hand by the operator.

Abstract: A power tool system includes a portable power tool having a housing, a motor with an output shaft in the housing, a tool holder secured on the output, and a data reader. The system also includes a power tool accessory configured to be retained by the tool holder that has a data storage device having data stored thereon. The data reader is configured to access the data stored on the data storage device when the power tool accessory is retained by the tool holder.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a laser engraving system includes a laser transmitter and a lens assembly configured to focus a transmitted laser beam onto a workpiece supported by a workpiece support surface. A rail system movably supports a base which in turn supports a mirror and a camera. A controller is operably connected to the camera and is configured to execute program instructions stored in a memory to obtain first image data from the camera indicative of a first location of the laser beam on the mirror when the camera and the mirror are at a first rail system location, obtain second image data from the camera indicative of a second location of the laser beam on the mirror when the camera and the mirror are at a second rail system location, and output a mirror adjustment signal for the mirror based upon the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: A 3D printer for synthesizing objects includes: an extruder configured to extrude layers of filament through a nozzle onto a build surface; a build platform; and a build plate that is structured for being removably clamped to the build platform and that includes the build surface, where the build platform includes a base, a heating layer, at least one compressible biasing element arranged between the base and the heating layer, and a clamp, and where the build platform is configured for receiving the build plate into a clamping position in which the clamp is configured to releasably clamp the build plate onto the build platform above the heating layer, causing the at least one compressible biasing element to compress and bias the heating layer upwards towards the clamped biasing plate for even distribution of heat by the heating layer over the planar extension of the build surface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a laser engraving system includes a laser transmitter and a lens assembly configured to focus a transmitted laser beam onto a workpiece supported by a workpiece support surface. A rail system movably supports a base which in turn supports a mirror and a camera. A controller is operably connected to the camera and is configured to execute program instructions stored in a memory to obtain first image data from the camera indicative of a first location of the laser beam on the mirror when the camera and the mirror are at a first rail system location, obtain second image data from the camera indicative of a second location of the laser beam on the mirror when the camera and the mirror are at a second rail system location, and output a mirror adjustment signal for the mirror based upon the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: A portable power tool includes a housing, a motor enclosed within the housing, an accessory tool holder secured to the output shaft of the motor, and an attachment interface on a nose portion near the accessory tool holder. An attachment is configured to attached and removed from the nose portion of the housing. The attachment includes a housing interface that is configured to interact with the attachment interface to position the attachment at a predetermined position on the nose portion of the housing. The attachment interface and the housing interface are configured to be magnetically attracted to each other with sufficient force to retain the attachment on the nose portion of the housing during normal operating conditions while allowing the attachment to be removed from the nose portion of the housing by hand by the operator.

Abstract: A 3D printer for synthesizing objects includes: an extruder configured to extrude layers of filament through a nozzle onto a build surface; a build platform; and a build plate that is structured for being removably clamped to the build platform and that includes the build surface, where the build platform includes a base, a heating layer, at least one compressible biasing element arranged between the base and the heating layer, and a clamp, and where the build platform is configured for receiving the build plate into a clamping position in which the clamp is configured to releasably clamp the build plate onto the build platform above the heating layer, causing the at least one compressible biasing element to compress and bias the heating layer upwards towards the clamped biasing plate for even distribution of heat by the heating layer over the planar extension of the build surface.