Abstract: A tool for use in the installation and removal of golf spikes from the sole of a golf shoe. The golf spikes are of the type made of plastic and having a ground-engaging surface. Projections are formed on this surface, defining a variety of patterns such as a spiral pattern consisting of a plurality of curvilinear ridge portions extending radially outwardly from the center of the spike to the outer edge thereof. A plurality of rills are formed in the spike surface with a rill located between each pair of adjacent ridge portions. The tool comprises a head portion and a concave recessed surface defined by the head portion for engagement with the ground engaging surface of the spike. The recessed surface of the tool defines a plurality of spaced-apart projections dimensioned to be received within the spike rills, and a plurality of curvilinear recesses with each recess being located between each pair of adjacent projections. Each recess is dimensioned to receive one of the spike ridges.

Abstract: A gantry assembly and appurtenances therefor for a linear motor driven laser cutting machine. The gantry box is made of honey comb construction characterized by high strength, light weigh, high stiffness to weight ratio and vibration absorption. The gantry box is supported at each of its ends on a linear motor driven carriage by a torsion plate. The torsion plates are exteriorly flanked by protective panels which support a light weight cover for the upper part of the gantry assembly. The beam end of the gantry box is additionally attached to its gantry carriage by a snubber pin-snubber bushing assembly and by a gantry pin-carriage pin-link assembly. These last two assemblies, together with the torsion plates and gantry carriages, limit or restrain certain movements of the gantry box. The laser cutting machine is controlled by a high performance multi-axis motion controller.

Abstract: A computer-based control for a press brake of the type having a ram for bending a sheet metal workpiece to a desired bend angle. The control incorporates a teach mode which collects ram force and position data during the bending of one or more test workpieces and calculates from the force and position data parameters representative of the ram reversal position necessary to produce the desired bend angle. The control also incorporates a bend mode for bending a production workpiece to the desired bend angle wherein force and position data is collected during the bending of the production workpiece and is used in conjunction with the parameters calculated during the bending of the test workpieces during the teach mode to calculate the exact position of ram reversal necessary to produce the desired bend angle in the production workpiece. The control also incorporates correction of the position of ram reversal to account for ram overshoot during the bend mode.

Abstract: A deflection compensating assembly for deflection sensitive fabricating machine tools such as a press brake. In a press brake, for example, the deflection compensating assembly is mounted between the bed and the lower die or between the ram and the upper die. When mounted on the bed, the deflection compensating assembly, under load, will cause the lower die to become substantially parallel to the upper die. The deflection compensating assembly, under load, will cause the upper die to become substantially parallel to the lower die, when affixed to the ram. The deflection compensating assembly, is preferably a self-contained unit attachable to and detachable from the bed or ram and comprises a variable rate spring, the deflection of which, when under uniformly distributed full length load, is such that, when added to the combined bed and ram deflections, it yields a total deflection which is constant along the length of the bed and ram and will compensate for the bed and ram deflections.

Abstract: A deflection compensating cylinder and auxiliary cross-member assembly, for use with a press brake of the type having a bed, a ram, and a pair of main cylinders actuating the ram. The assembly causes the die-supporting edges of the bed and ram to remain substantially parallel under load. A pair of auxiliary cross-members are located to each side of the bed, extending the majority of the length thereof. The cross-members are affixed to the bed by a pair of pins, each located near an end of the cross-members and extending therethrough and through the bed. The cross-members have corresponding, coextensive, longitudinal slots formed therein and located centrally thereof. The bed contains a similar slot, slightly offset in a vertical direction with respect to the cross-member slots. A deflection compensating cylinder is mounted in the cross-member and bed slots with the cylinder contacting one of the bed and cross-members and its piston contacting the other of the bed and cross-members.

Abstract: An electronic control system for use with hydraulic press brakes to provide compensation for material spring back to accurately produce a desired bend angle in the work piece. The ram force and flank angle of the work piece are monitored during the forming cycle to calculate the theoretical unloading curve of the work piece. Intersection of the plastic portion of the work piece force-angle curve with the theoretical unloading curve provides a calculated point of ram reversal resulting in the desired bend angle. The system compensates for changes in springback resulting from changes in material properties from one work piece to the next.