Abstract: Life of a tool used in a machining center having various sorts of tools can be detected by steps that a tool selection code at every execution of NC program is detected and the current-use tool number is stored, the machining distance of each tool is calculated, the machining distance is accumulated per each tool, the cumulative machining distance is compared with predetermined machining life distance to indicate the life of each tool, and then the life of each tool is determined on the basis of a result obtained in the comparing step.

Abstract: A photographic element comprised of a support having provided thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer, the element containing a development inhibitor precursor, is disclosed. The development inhibitor precursor is a compound represented by following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein A represents an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl group or a 5-membered or 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring; Q represents a naphthalene skeleton; R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent; and n represents 1 or 2. The photographic element gives improved image quality particularly in the low Dmin area. The element can be processed over a wide range of different processing temperatures and has improved preservability.

Abstract: In a photographic element for the color diffusion transfer process having a neutralizing system comprising a neutralizing layer and a timing layer, the improvement which comprises said timing layer containing a mixture of acetyl cellulose and a polymer represented by the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein A represents a repeating unit represented by the general formula (II): ##STR2## wherein R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a methyl group; R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, ##STR3## R.sub.4 represents an alkyl group or an aralkyl group; R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, which may be the same or different, each represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group; and a represents 0 or 1; R.sub.

Abstract: A photographic element having on a support at least one silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a development inhibitor precursor represented by the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein A is a phenyl group, a substituted phenyl group or a 5- or 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring; said A splitting together with the sulfur atom in the above molecule from the residue of the molecule to provide a silver halide development inhibitor; R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and R.sup.2 is a cyano group, a carbamoyl group or the group represented by the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 is an aryl group.