Abstract: A gear cutter assembly incorporating a toothed flexible disk which acts as the cutting element, mounted between a cutter back and a disk retainer. The cutter back includes a convex, conical mounting face, and the disk retainer has a complementary mounting surface, so that the disk is clamped between these surface and deflected to create a negative rake angle. The disk is formed with teeth which protrude beyond the cutter back and retainer, and it has a constant cross-section throughout its width. When the cutting edges of the disk teeth become dull, the disk may be inverted and reused due to its untapered profile; after such reuse, the disk is discarded. The cutter disk is easily fabricated in groups, and enjoys economical, high performance operation.

Abstract: A gear cutter assembly incorporating a toothed flexible disk which acts as the cutting element, mounted between a cutter back and a disk retainer. The cutter back includes a convex, conical mounting face, and the disk retainer has a complementary mounting surface, so that the disk is clamped between these surface and deflected to create a negative rake angle. The disk is formed with teeth which protrude beyond the cutter back and retainer, and it has a constant cross-section throughout its width. When the cutting edges of the disk teeth become dull, the disk may be inverted and reused due to its untapered profile; after such reuse, the disk is discarded. The cutter disk is easily fabricated in groups, and enjoys economical, high performance operation.

Abstract: A computer controlled apparatus for periodically calibrating the electrical outputs of pressure transducers to compensate for circuit-induced errors and produce accurate outputs in real time. Reference signals are periodically input into various circuit elements to determine resultant outputs. The relationship thus determined between these known inputs and corresponding outputs is used to correct the output of the circuit elements during operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for compensating for thermal expansion and contraction causing structural part size variations of machine components. The apparatus senses the displacement and temperature of various components of a machine which are designed to move relative to each other along one axis and adjusts this motion in predetermined manner depending upon the sensed displacement and temperature. A programmed control system is responsive to the sensed temperature and converts various sensor outputs to the necessary correction signals for application to the motor causing the relative motion.

Abstract: A control system for a machine tool, such as a gear shaper, having a hydro-mechanically stroked cutter spindle, controls the stroking speed of the spindle, the feed of a workpiece relative to a cutter or other tool carried by the spindle, and the pressure of the fluid supplied to the hydraulic portion of the spindle stroking mechanism in such a way as to improve the efficiency of the machine both with regard to the time required to complete a given job and with regard to power consumption. The work force exerted by the spindle during its work stroke may be maintained within a selectable maximum limit and the cutter spindle stroking position is remotely adjustable to bring it into proper working relationship with a workpiece or to raise it to an elevated position to bring it out of working relationship with the workpiece. Various different stroking speeds of the spindle and various different feed rates of the workpiece relative to the spindle are available to suit different job requirements.

Abstract: A control system for a machine tool, such as a gear shaper, having a hydro-mechanically stroked cutter spindle, controls the stroking speed of the spindle, the feed of a workpiece relative to a cutter or other tool carried by the spindle, and the pressure of the fluid supplied to the hydraulic portion of the spindle stroking mechanism in such a way as to improve the efficiency of the machine both with regard to the time required to complete a given job and with regard to power consumption. The work force exerted by the spindle during its work stroke may be maintained within a selectable maximum limit and the cutter spindle stroking position is remotely adjustable to bring it into proper working relationship with a workpiece or to raise it to an elevated position to bring it out of working relationship with the workpiece. Various different stroking speeds of the spindle and various different feed rates of the workpiece relative to the spindle are available to suit different job requirements.

Abstract: A hydro-mechanically operated reciprocating spindle for a machine tool is disclosed in the environment of a vertical gear shaper. The spindle comprises a piston which is slidable in a cylinder and which carries a cutting tool at its bottom end. The spindle-piston has two faces of different area to which hydraulic fluid under pressure is directed, the larger area face being used to drive the spindle downwardly in the cutting stroke, and the smaller area face being used to drive the spindle upwardly in the return stroke. Further, the spindle-piston has an axial bore which receives a vertically reciprocable valve. The valve is reciprocated by linkages driven by a rotating shaft, and the arrangement is such as to drive the valve downwardly and thus to move the spindle downwardly at a controlled velocity and under a controlled hydraulic force, and then as the valve is moved upwardly the spindle is moved upwardly on the return stroke at preferably a higher velocity.