Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated bidirectional integration of peripheral data sources for a production tool couples the system components together in a web-based arrangement. The process tools and the peripheral data sources are configured as websites to provide information to the system. Certain components of the system are also configured as browsers to obtain available information and use this information to make decisions and perform actions.

Abstract: A tool holder has a housing rotatable about a holder axis, a motor mounted on the housing and having an output rotatable about a motor axis transverse to the holder axis, and a rotation sensor mounted on the housing and coupled coaxially to the motor. A drive wheel mounted on the rotary motor output is rotatable by the motor about the motor axis and is connected to respective wheels of a pair of shafts each having a screwthread. The screwthreads are of opposite hand and respective nuts threaded on the shafts so that rotation of the motor output synchronously rotates the shafts and oppositely displaces the nuts. A tool-holding slide displaceable transversely of the axis on the plate is fixed to the nut of one of the shafts and a counterweight displaceable transversely of the axis on the plate is coupled to the nut of the other shaft.