Abstract: An apparatus and method for a precision alignment of parallel fixed and movable platens of a machine, including a laser emitter for transmitting a narrow collimated laser beam having a control surface which is orthogonal to an axis of the laser emitter; a target for receiving the laser beam and producing an output voltage which is proportional to the displacement of the laser beam from the center of the target, and a pair of adapters for rotatably mounting the laser emitter on a fixed platen and the target on a movable platen of a machine. The adapters have control surfaces which are precisely orthogonal to axes of rotation of the emitter and target and a stud for tightly pulling together the orthogonal control surfaces of the emitter and target against the control surfaces of the adapters. Voltages from the target are processed in an electronic console and displayed on a display unit in alphanumeric form.

Abstract: A laser apparatus for inspecting machine tie bars. The apparatus broadly comprises a laser emitter, a photocell target, a control unit, a computer, a display unit and precision adapters for mounting the emitter and target. The laser emitter is mounted on a fixed platen and oriented substantially square to a surface of the fixed platen. The target is mounted on the tie bar and intercepts a laser beam from the emitter to generate voltages which are processed in the control unit and computer. Angular and lateral deviations of the laser beam from a rotational axis of the target, which are indicative of tie bar straightness and squareness, are displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning a crankpin grinding machine of the type having a pair of opposite facing workheads for mounting a crankshaft on its end journals and rotating the crankshaft about an axis passing through selected crankpins during the grinding of the selected crankpins and an indexing device in one of said workheads for indexing the crankshaft about the axis of the end journals to position and grind other selected crankpins. The apparatus is comprised of a laser for projecting a narrow collimated beam of light, a photoelectric target to intercept the target and produce an output which is indicative of where the laser beam intersects the target, an input-output unit to process the output of the target and display information to an operator; and special adapters to mount the laser and target on the crankpin grinding machine to align the workheads, workholders and indexing device of the machine.