Abstract: A plurality of axial grooves are formed on the outer circumferential surface of a shaft member by applying an arcuate edge defined between an end surface and outer circumferential surface of a rotatable cylindrical forming tool having a generally smooth surface. Typically, the rotational center of the forming tool is tilted backward as it is moved along the length of the shaft member. Owing to the plastic flow of the material of the shaft member, a pair of ridges are formed on either side of the groove. The end surface of the forming tool causes a more pronounced plastic flow than the outer circumferential surface of the forming tool so that one of the ridges is greater in height and higher in hardness than the other. This provides various benefits when this shaft member is press fitted into a bore of an armature core or the like.

Abstract: A plurality of axial grooves are formed on the outer circumferential surface of a shaft member by applying an arcuate edge defined between an end surface and outer circumferential surface of a rotatable cylindrical forming tool having a generally smooth surface. Typically, the rotational center of the forming tool is tilted backward as it is moved along the length of the shaft member. Owing to the plastic flow of the material of the shaft member, a pair of ridges are formed on either side of the groove. The end surface of the forming tool causes a more pronounced plastic flow than the outer circumferential surface of the forming tool so that one of the ridges is greater in height and higher in hardness than the other. This provides various benefits when this shaft member is press fitted into a bore of an armature core or the like.

Abstract: A bracket having an arm extending therefrom is securely attached, at a base end thereof, to a first belt passed around a pair of pulleys, and a second belt is passed around another pair of pulleys and guided along the length of the arm by rollers or the like. A carriage is securely attached to a part of the second belt extending along the length of the arm. Therefore, by moving the first belt, the arm is moved along the length of the first belt or in the X-direction. By moving the second belt while keeping the first belt stationary, the carriage is moved along the length of the arm or in the Y-direction. Thus, the carriage can be moved to an arbitrary point along a desired path in a X-Y coordinate system by individually moving the first and second belts in an appropriate manner.

Abstract: A method of metering an air-gap in an electric rotating machine comprising a rotor core provided integrally on a rotary shaft and a stator core arranged coaxially with the rotor core around the outer periphery thereof is disclosed, which method comprises measuring the width of the stator core in the radial direction prior to assembling the stator core and the rotor core, also measuring the position of an outer periphery of the stator core from the axis of the rotor core after the assembling, calculating the position of an inner periphery of the stator core from the axis of the rotor core based on the difference between the result of measurement of the width of the stator core in the radial direction measured prior to the assembling and the result of measurement of the position of the outer periphery of the stator core from the axis of the rotor core after the assembling, and further calculating the difference between the position of the inner periphery of the stator core and the position of the outer peripher