Abstract: A method of processing a piece of bar stock material having spaced ends and a predetermined diameter.

Abstract: A lathe assembly having a guide with a passageway for movement of a piece of bar stock, with a leading end and a trailing end, in a substantially straight path between a feeding position and a working position. A sensor assembly is capable of detecting the position of the trailing end of a piece of bar stock within the guide passageway to thereby allow a user to determine if a piece of bar stock in the guide passageway has a length sufficient to perform the desired operation thereon. Also, a method of using the lathe assembly.

Abstract: A system and method for extinguishing or controlling a fire. The system has a source of a substance which is usable to extinguish a fire in a prescribed area, a control system, and an activation system. The control system has (a) a first state in which the substance from the source is prevented from being released to the prescribed area and (b) a second state wherein the substance from the source is permitted to be released to the prescribed area to extinguish or control a fire at or adjacent to the prescribed area. The activation system has a first ignition element which ignites in response to exposure to at least one of (a) a flame, (b) heat above a predetermined temperature, and (c) a product of combustion. The control system is changeable from the first state into the second state an incident of the first ignition element being ignited.

Abstract: A machining system having a first machine tool assembly with a first workpiece holder and a first machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the first workpiece holder, and a second machine tool assembly having a second workpiece holder and a second machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the second workpiece holder. The machining system further includes a base assembly on which the first and second machine tool assemblies are supported in an operative position. At least a part of the first machine tool assembly is repositionable by movement along a first line. At least a part of the second machine tool assembly is repositionable by movement along a second line that is non-parallel to the first line. The parts of the first and second machine tool assemblies are relatively repositionable along the first and second lines to facilitate transfer of a workpiece between the first and second machine tool assemblies.

Abstract: A machine tool assembly having a frame, a workpiece holder, and at least one machining unit that is operable to perform an operation on a workpiece in an operative position on the workpiece holder. The frame has first and second spaced end supports and at least one reinforcing element which extends between the first and second end supports so as to maintain the first and second end supports in a desired operative relationship. The workpiece holder and at least one machining unit each are connected to at least one of the first and second end supports and at least one reinforcing element so that the machining unit can be operated to perform an operation on a workpiece in an operative position on the workpiece holder.

Abstract: A system and method for extinguishing or controlling a fire. The system has a source of a substance which is usable to extinguish a fire in a prescribed area, a control system, and an activation system. The control system has (a) a first state in which the substance from the source is prevented from being released to the prescribed area and (b) a second state wherein the substance from the source is permitted to be released to the prescribed area to extinguish or control a fire at or adjacent to the prescribed area. The activation system has a first ignition element which ignites in response to exposure to at least one of (a) a flame, (b) heat above a predetermined temperature, and (c) a product of combustion. The control system is changeable from the first state into the second state an incident of the first ignition element being ignited.

Abstract: A lathe assembly having a guide with a passageway for movement of a piece of bar stock, with a leading end and a trailing end, in a substantially straight path between a feeding position and a working position. A sensor assembly is capable of detecting the position of the trailing end of a piece of bar stock within the guide passageway to thereby allow a user to determine if a piece of bar stock in the guide passageway has a length sufficient to perform the desired operation thereon. Also, a method of using the lathe assembly.

Abstract: A lathe assembly having a guide with a passageway for movement of a piece of bar stock, with a leading end and a trailing end, in a substantially straight path between a feeding position and a working position. A sensor assembly is capable of detecting the position of the trailing end of a piece of bar stock within the guide passageway to thereby allow a user to determine if a piece of bar stock in the guide passageway has a length sufficient to perform the desired operation thereon. Also, a method of using the lathe assembly.

Abstract: A machining system having a first machine tool assembly with a first workpiece holder and a first machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the first workpiece holder, and a second machine tool assembly having a second workpiece holder and a second machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the second workpiece holder. The machining system further includes a base assembly on which the first and second machine tool assemblies are supported in an operative position. At least a part of the first machine tool assembly is repositionable by movement along a first line. At least a part of the second machine tool assembly is repositionable by movement along a second line that is non-parallel to the first line. The parts of the first and second machine tool assemblies are relatively repositionable along the first and second lines to facilitate transfer of a workpiece between the first and second machine tool assemblies.

Abstract: A lathe assembly having a guide with a passageway for movement of a piece of bar stock, with a leading end and a trailing end, in a substantially straight path between a feeding position and a working position. A sensor assembly is capable of detecting the position of the trailing end of a piece of bar stock within the guide passageway to thereby allow a user to determine if a piece of bar stock in the guide passageway has a length sufficient to perform the desired operation thereon. Also, a method of using the lathe assembly.

Abstract: A system for processing elongate workpieces. The system consists of a first machining unit for performing a first processing operation on an elongate workpiece that is situated at a first location and a second machining unit for performing a second processing operation on an elongate workpiece that is situated at a second location that is vertically spaced from the first location. The system further consists of a first supply unit on which a plurality of elongate workpieces can be placed in a stored position. A transfer assembly engages an elongate workpiece in a stored position and selectively delivers an elongate a workpiece engaged by the transfer assembly to one of the first and second locations.

Abstract: An apparatus for stitching a penetrable material. The apparatus has a support for material to be stitched and a head assembly with a stitching head capable of directing a thread carrying needle through the material to be stitched that is in an operable position on the support to thereby produce a pattern on the material in the operative position. The support has a surface against which a material to be stitched can be placed in the operative position. The surface on the support is movable relative to the stitching head around a first axis to thereby allow material in the operative position that is to be stitched to be repositioned relative to the stitching head.

Abstract: The combination of at least a first base, a first machine tool assembly placed in an operative position on the at least first base, and a second machine tool assembly placed in an operative position on the at least first base above the first machine tool assembly.

Abstract: A lathe assembly having a guide with a passageway for movement of a piece of bar stock, with a leading end and a trailing end, in a substantially straight path between a feeding position and a working position. A sensor assembly is capable of detecting the position of the trailing end of a piece of bar stock within the guide passageway to thereby allow a user to determine if a piece of bar stock in the guide passageway has a length sufficient to perform the desired operation thereon. Also, a method of using the lathe assembly.

Abstract: An automated machine tool is provided and includes a frame having a first workpiece transfer station at a first location on the frame; at least two self-contained processing units, each of the units including structure for holding the workpiece for processing and structure for performing a process on the workpiece; and structure for sequentially indexing the processing units to the first workpiece transfer station for transferring workpieces to and from each of the processing units.

Abstract: An automated machine tool is provided and includes a frame having a first workpiece transfer station at a first location on the frame; at least two self-contained processing units, each of the units including structure for holding the workpiece for processing and structure for performing a process on the workpiece; structure for sequentially indexing the processing units to the first workpiece transfer station for transferring workpieces to and from each of the processing units; a shared tool storing device; a first cutting tool transfer device for transferring cutting tools to and from the processing units; and a second cutting tool transfer device for transferring cutting tools between the first transfer device and the storing device.

Abstract: A system for delivering elongate workpieces to a point of use. The delivering system has a first storage unit for a supply of a first type of elongate workpiece, a second storage unit for a supply of a second type of elongate workpiece, a pickup unit for selectively picking up elongate workpieces one-by-one from the first and second storage units, and a guide system for guidingly moving the pickup unit with a workpiece picked up thereby to a predetermined transfer location.

Abstract: A structural frame is provided for a machine tool including a tool holder and a workpiece holder for holding the workpiece as the workpiece is machined by a cutting tool held in the tool holder.

Abstract: A slant-bed structural frame is provided for a slant-bed machine tool. The structural frame includes a bed element having a first flat surface on which the bed element can be supported in a machining position and a second machined, flat surface that is parallel to the first surface and at least partially formed with the bed element supported on the first surface. The second surface defines a support for an operating component of the machine tool. Additionally, a base element is provided having a third surface. The third surface cooperates with a surface on the bed element to maintain the bed element in an operative position on the base element, wherein the second surface is neither fully vertical nor fully horizontal.

Abstract: A method of for performing a machining operation and recovering a liquid used in the machining operation. The method includes the steps of providing a machine tool to perform a machining operation, directing a liquid against at least one of a) a part of the machine tool and b) a workpiece on which the machining operation is being performed by the machine tool in such a manner that discrete particles become entrained in the liquid, directing at least a part of the liquid with the discrete particles entrained therein to a first location, and at the first location separating the liquid from the discrete particles.