Abstract: A molded surface fastener has no stagger between the once engaged engaging elements and has high engagement force so as to strongly prevent the release of the engaging elements, whereby, it is possible to smoothly press and joint the molded surface fasteners made of a synthetic resin each other.

Abstract: An adapter clip for a hand held computer permits attachment of a cover for the computer. The cover is attached to the adapter clip at the top end of the computer body by cylindrical pins, permitting the cover to the flipped up during use of the computer without creating an interference with auxiliaries attached to the computer.

Abstract: A method of attaching a component onto a microbench includes laying the component in a groove in the substrate, and locally deforming a portion of the groove, to thereby hold the component in the groove. Preferably, the microbench is a silicon substrate used for MEMs-type structures in the fiber optics industry. In particular, the method is used for securing an optical fiber in a groove, DRI etched from a silicon substrate, before or after the fiber is aligned with other optical components, i.e. lenses, lasers etc. The local deformation is done using a laser welding device selected to be effective in locally melting the substrate while leaving the component relatively undamaged.

Abstract: A chucking device, in particular for workpieces that are to be machined on more than one side, has a workpiece carrier with at least one turret, arranged to receive workpieces, that is supported rotatably about an axis of rotation on the workpiece carrier, A positive-engagement locking device is associated with the turret, on the workpiece carrier, by which locking device the turret can be locked positionally precisely in a predetermined rotary angle position relative to the workpiece carrier. The locking device has at least three locking parts disposed coaxially to one another, which on the plane faces facing one another each carry pairs of cooperating locking means that can be brought into and out of engagement with one another by means of an axial relative motion of the locking parts.

Abstract: The piston ring compressor tool system comprises a compression skirt. The skirt has an interior surface and an exterior surface. It also has an upper edge and a lower edge. The tool system has a hollow, generally tapered, cylindrical tubular form and is further configured in a shape of an upper frustroconical funnel. The funnel forms a planar inlet within the interior of the upper edge. The funnel further forms a lower cylindrically shaped outlet within the interior of the lower edge. The outlet is parallel to the plane of the inlet and is for discharging the piston and ring assembly into a bore. The compression skirt has a generally outwardly curved upper horizontal portion. The lower horizontal portion is generally plumb to the plane of the opening of the lower edge. The middle horizontal area is a transition area between the radian outward curve of the upper horizontal portion and the generally plumb surface of the lower horizontal portion.

Abstract: A lightweight windshield wiper installation system is provided wherein the system includes a re-usable mounting device in combination with a lightweight windshield wiper assembly which does not require a connecting member. The mounting device includes a mounting arm having a first end and a second end, a first retaining means, a second retaining means. The lightweight windshield wiper installation system may further include an arm linkage, and a release handle. The mounting arm is operative to position a lightweight windshield wiper system onto a vehicle which is removably attached to the mounting arm via the first retaining means and the second retaining means. The release handle cooperates with the first retaining means and the second retaining means via an arm linkage to hold and release the lightweight windshield wiper system.

Abstract: A sign frame assembly for supporting a flexible fascia. In one embodiment, a frame member extends in a first direction and has first and second bracket-mounting sections spaced apart from each other in the first direction. First and second brackets have inner and outer opposite ends. The inner end of the first bracket is attached to the first bracket-mounting section of the first frame member. The inner end of the second bracket are pivotally mounted to the second bracket-mounting section of the frame member. First and second elongated fascia attachment members are affixed respectively to the outer ends of the first and second brackets. A flexible fascia having oppositely disposed edges is connected to the first and second elongated members.

Abstract: A process is for producing a circumferentially closed hollow profile, which is of frustoconical form in sections, from a sheet-bar blank. To produce hollow profiles of this type, the sheet bar is cut to size so that a blank with a rectangular section and a ring segment, the summit of which adjoins the center of one side of the rectangle, while its outer arc, which faces the rectangle, is of approximately the same length as the length of the side of the rectangle, is formed, sheet-bar material also being left on the blank outside the summit, between the ring segment and the side of the rectangle, this material joining the ring segment with the side of the rectangle integrally at all locations and also joining the corners of ring segment and rectangle which are closest together, so as to form a rounded edge contour. Then the side edges of the blank are bent into abutment with one another about the longitudinal center axis of the blank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for injecting material into a substrate. The apparatus 10 comprises a needle assembly having a needle 14, a movable central portion 26 and a substantially stationary top portion 26. The material to be injected 17 is threaded through apparatus 10 into needle 14, and is cut to the desired length by cutter 18. When needle 14 penetrates a substrate, an additional portion of material 17 is fed into the apparatus 10, and when needle 14 is removed from substrate 12, the additional material pushes into needle 14, forcing cut portion 16 to remain in the substrate. In the method of using the apparatus, additional steps for orienting the angle of the apparatus, and steps of controlling the concentration of the injected material in the substrate may be included.

Abstract: A steel bar 12 is located in a mold. A plug 22 is inserted through the end of the mold to contact a recess in the end of the portion 14 of the bar and plugs 24 are inserted through the sides of the mold into grooves 20. The plugs hold the bar in position whilst carbon fiber is injected around the bar and around portions of pins 26 to fix the pins 26 in relation to the bar.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a nanotube cartridge including the steps of: adhering numerous nanotubes to a surface of a holder, disposing a knife edge at an inclination to the surface of the holder so that the knife edge is raised with its tip end being in contact with the surface of the holder, and collecting the nanotubes to near the tip end of the knife edge by moving the knife edge in a direction opposite from the tip end with the tip end being kept in contact with the surface, thus allowing the nanotubes to be arranged on the tip end of the knife edge with the nanotubes protruding from the tip end. When adhering the nanotubes to the holder surface, nanotubes are merely put in a vessel, the holder is placed in the vessel, and then the vessel is vibrated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for the production of locally reinforced drawn parts, in which the basic sheet of the structural part, in the flat or only preformed state, is connected in a defined position to the reinforcing sheet and this patched composite sheet structure is subsequently jointly formed. In order to improve the production method in terms of the product and result of the method and to relieve the forming tools during joint forming of the parts, the patched composite sheet structure is heated before forming at least to about 800° C. to 850° C. The composite sheet structure is then introduced quickly in the hot state to be rapidly formed. During forming the composite part is fixed mechanically and is subsequently cooled in a defined manner by contacting with the forming tool positively cooled from inside. Passage through a critical temperature range of 800° C. to 500° C. thus takes place with a defined temperature gradient.

Abstract: A method of producing a metal socket for attachment to a flexible pressure hose that comprises a cylindrical metal sleeve defining an axis, with a plurality of non-annular V-shaped grooves formed in an outer surface thereof and corresponding non-annular V-shaped projections formed opposite said grooves on an inner surface thereof. The socket is both economical to produce and exhibits improved strength in gripping the end of a hydraulic hose.

Abstract: An armature apparatus for brushless and brush type electric motors and a manufacturing method for same armature. The armature represents and improved design for electric motors having a rigid, thinwall configuration and high conductor packing density in the magnetic flux air gap that results in motors with higher torque and speed capabilities and the ability to operate at higher temperature than conventional motor designs. The armature is fabricated from pre-machined copper sheet metal parts with an electrical conductor pattern of numerous axially extending conductive bands. These precision machined sheet metal parts are cold rolled to form two work hardened cylinders, each cylinder having a complimentary pattern of electrically conductive bands creating a half-electric circuit. The two cold rolled metal cylinders are sized such that the smaller diameter inner cylinder fits inside the larger diameter outer cylinder.

Abstract: A method for forming a disc stack assembly suitable for use in a disc drive. A number of discs are loaded onto a spindle motor hub and a disc clamp assembly is installed to secure the discs to the hub. The disc clamp assembly includes an annular retaining ring and a substantially planar, disc shaped clamp plate. The annular retaining ring is secured within an annular ring recess of the spindle motor hub and deforms the clamp plate so that the clamp plate applies an axially directed clamping force to the discs. The disc clamp includes an annular hat flange. The disc stack assembly is preferably balanced by selectively removing material from the hat flange or by attaching a balance weight to the hat flange.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for assembling a head gimbal assembly useful in a hard disk drive and for testing such an assembly. In a method in accord with the present invention a head/slider is mounted to a circuited gimbal in an automated assembly machine. Following this step the head/slider circuited gimbal assembly will be subjected a dynamic electrical test with those head/slider circuited gimbal assemblies not passing being sorted from the lot. Following this step the head/slider circuited assembly will be attached to a suspension.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a magnetic field sensing element including an electrode layer overlying a second antiferrogmagnetic layer and a first free magnetic layer where the electrode layer exposes a portion of the second magnetic layer, a portion of the second antiferromagnetic layer not covered with the electrode layer and a portion of the first free magnetic layer are removed using the electrode layer as a mask after laminating each layer to form a bottom type spin-valve thin film magnetic element, thereby enabling the first free magnetic layer to be endowed with a sufficient exchange coupling magnetic field by substantially eliminating the tapered portion of the remaining second antiferromagnetic layer thereby enabling the magnetization of the second free magnetic layer to be put into a single domain state.

Abstract: A process for fabricating coils using a Damascene process uses a curved substrate having a surface extending along and about an axis made of a first material. A groove is formed in the curved surface along and around said axis, and the groove is filled with a second material that is different from the first material to form a coil of second material in said first material. Excess second material is then removed from the surface of the first material, leaving the coil of second material in the groove.

Abstract: The scribe line 4 is constituted by a large number of depressed portions of desired depth formed by radiation of a laser beam in a surface of the raw substrate correspondingly to a boundary line between adjacent insulating substrates so that the depressed portions are arranged in a line at fixed pitch intervals along the boundary line, and a portion where the pitch intervals of the depressed portions are reduced is provided over a desired length on the way of the scribe line, or a portion where the depth of the depressed portions is increased is provided over a desired length on the way of each of the scribe lines.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide an electrode structure composed of a low resistance electrode film with good bonding properties on a current-collecting member surface. This invention relates to an electrode structure 1 by coating a compound mixture 31 comprising an electrode material 11, binder 17, and solvent 19 onto a current-collecting member 13, directing warm breeze 51 onto the compound mixture 31 coating to vaporize the solvent 19 and form an electrode film 18 on the current-collecting member and a manufacturing method for a battery and a double-layer capacitor using the electrode structure 1.

Abstract: A vertical pipe expander to be used to expand the pipes assembled with fins of finned heat exchangers comprises, on a supporting frame, supports for rods of pipe expanding cones, performing vertical translational motion and arranged above a seat for a heat exchanger to be subjected to pipe expansion. At least one cone supporting rod magazine is further provided that is arranged vertically with the cones directed downward, for arrangement, during machine setup, at the seat, the supports for the rods being constituted by a rod engaging and supporting device. The rod engagement and support device is associated with a device for selecting the rods of the magazine to be engaged or released.

Abstract: A grip tip of a gripper for a parts having a different shape adapted to the surface mount device is disclosed. The grip tip includes: a piston installed inside of a through hole formed at the holder, and lifted or lowered by air flown in/out through the through hole; a moving unit connected to fixed blocks of the holder by a connection means for increasing or decreasing an interval according to the lifting or lowering operation of the piston; and multiple grip tips for supporting at least three points of a parts having a different shape.

Abstract: There is provided a circuit board fixing table having a structure in which no vibration or shock is applied to a transport motor when a circuit board is fixed and an electronic component mounting apparatus utilizing the circuit board fixing table and capable of mounting electronic components without causing operational failures during transportation. A circuit board fixing table for transporting a circuit board placed on transport belts to a predetermined position and fixing it with an elevating fixing device, the table having a transport motor provided separately from a support member for the transport belts for driving the transport belts and power transmission mechanisms A and B for transmitting a driving force of the transport motor to the transport belts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tray for holding components having first and second sides, wherein the first side has at least one first component receptacle for engaging said component; and the second side has at least one component engaging member, and further wherein the first component receptacle and the component engaging member are aligned such that when multiples of the tray are stacked upon each other the first component receptacle and the component engaging member will cooperate to restrain the motion of the component relative to the tray. In such an embodiment the component will have first and second engagement surfaces and the first component receptacle will engage the first component engagement surface and the component engaging member will engage the second component engagement surface.

Abstract: In a cable processing equipment a cable changer stands perpendicularly relative to a base plate, at which a straightening unit and a cable transport unit are arranged. The cable changer is movable upwardly or downwardly and consists of a frame with horizontal frame members and vertical frame members. Cable guides are arranged at the vertical frame members. Cable guides which are at the inlet side as seen in cable transport direction are provided with clamping/retracting units, and cable guides at the outlet side are provided with clamping units. The clamping/retracting units at the inlet side are switchable by means of a first actuating device arranged at the base plate. The clamping units at the outlet side are switchable by means of a second actuating device arranged at the base plate. Cables which are not at the moment transported in the cable transport direction, are clamped by the clamping/retracting units and the clamping units.

Abstract: A machine (10) for attaching electrical terminals (12) to a wire conductor (14) includes a wire depressor (50) for guiding the individual strand of the conductor into proper seating engagement with the terminal and holding the conductor in that position during the crimping cycle. The wire depressor includes a fixed member (52) that is removable secured to the ram (34) of the machine (10) and a movable member (55) in sliding engagement with the fixed member. One or more resilient members (54) are arranged between the fixed member and the movable member to urge the movable member into pressing engagement with the conductor while permitting the ram to continue its movement during the crimping cycle.

Abstract: The present invention provides an assembling system of rubber cones of computer keyboards and an assembling method for the same. The assembling system of rubber cones of computer keyboards of the present invention comprises an assembly housing, a moldboard stage, a rocking apparatus, and a rotating apparatus. The assembly housing has an operational space. The moldboard stage has a plurality of moldboards, and is arranged above the operational space of the assembly housing. Each moldboard corresponds to a keyboard to be assembled, and has a plurality of recesses corresponding to key switches of the keyboard on the surface thereof. The rocking apparatus and the rotating apparatus join with the moldboard stage at two sides thereof to provide required rocking and rotating forces for the moldboard. Thereby, the present invention can partly automate the originally wholly-artificial assembling method, increase the assembly efficiency, and reduce the cost of manpower.

Abstract: A method of processing a leadframe strip defining a first row of alignment holes and a second row of alignment holes. One embodiment of the method comprises allowing incremental advancement of said leadframe strip using said first row of alignment holes and refraining from using said second row of alignment holes to allow said advancement.

Abstract: A mounting structure of an integrated circuit device includes an integrated circuit device, a mounting board, a first solder bump, and a second solder bump. The integrated circuit device is mounted on the mounting board. The interposer board is interposed between the integrated circuit device and the mounting board. The first solder bump electrically connects the interposer board to the mounting board. The first solder bump is provided between the interposer board and the mounting board. The second solder bump buffers a stress. The second solder bump is provided between the interposer board and the mounting board.

Abstract: In the invention, there is provided an apparatus for mounting electronic components in which a plurality of mounting heads pick up electronic components concurrently from a plurality of component feeding units for mounting the electronic components on a print circuit board, with assured pick-up and holding of the electronic components.

Abstract: An apparatus has a holder that receives a component from a component supply and then places the component on a substrate. In operation, it is determined whether the holder makes an interference with another component mounted on the substrate. If the judgement is affirmative, an mounting of the component held by the holder is prohibited. If, on the other hand, the judgement is negative, the component held by the holder is mounted on the substrate.

Abstract: A slide-type solvent transfer unit is used, and a plurality of nozzles at a head part which suck and hold components are moved down simultaneously to transfer flux to electronic components. In comparison with an electronic component mounting method including a transfer operation whereby nozzles are lowered one by one by a conventional electronic component mounting apparatus equipped with a rotary type solvent transfer unit, the time required for moving the nozzles up and down is shortened and a total cycle time is reduced, so that production efficiency is improved.

Abstract: One end of a metallic wire having a rectangular cross-section is widened by upsetting the end of the wire in its axial direction. At the same time, a swollen portion is formed at a position where the widened end portion is to be bent from a straight portion of the wire. Then, the widened end portion is bent at the bending position having the swollen portion. Thus, a metallic wire segment having the widened end portion bent at the bending position is manufactured without wasting any part of wire material, while avoiding formation of cracks on the outer surface of the bending position. Plural wire segments thus manufactured are combined to form a rotor winding of a rotational electric machine, forming a commutator surface by the widened end portions at the same time.

Abstract: In a method of producing a piston (10) for an internal combustion engine including at least one strengthened piston ring groove at least one relatively narrow groove (14) is configured in the region of the upper and/or lower flank of the provided piston ring groove (18) and the groove (14) is filled with a hard-wearing material (16) and the piston ring groove (18) is worked out such that the upper and/or lower flank is formed at least in part by the hard-wearing material (16).

Abstract: A process for producing a metallic honeycomb body includes winding, laminating or intertwining at least one at least partly structured layer of sheet metal to form a matrix placed in a tubular jacket. At least the tubular jacket is elastically deformed by successively exerting a substantially linearly and radially inwardly directed force on the peripheral surface of the tubular jacket, as seen in circumferential direction of the tubular jacket. An apparatus for producing a metallic honeycomb body includes at least two mutually movable and variably spaced apart pressure elements for receiving the honeycomb body therebetween and bringing the two pressure elements to bear against the peripheral surface of the tubular jacket, to successively exert a substantially radially inwardly directed force on at least part of the periphery of the tubular jacket for elastically deforming at least the tubular jacket.

Abstract: A method for producing a heat sink includes extruding a first material in a second material, and cut into a billet. The second material is removed from the billet to produce a base and a plurality of fins. The second material is removed from the billet by placing the billet into a chemical bath. The heat sink is rinsed to remove chemical residue from the heat sink. Mounting holes are stamped into the base, and a mounting surface is ground on the heat sink. Another method for producing a heat sink includes ramming fins into a base. The base is heated prior to the entry of the fins. The base is also provided with dimples to accept entry of the fins.

Abstract: A chassis inverter consisting of a set of clamps that hold a mobile vehicle chassis and a hydraulic driven rotary actuator. The apparatus and an overhead crane system provide a method of inverting and transferring chassis in a short time period needed to meet high volume vehicle manufacturing needs. The apparatus consists of two c-shaped clamps that cradle the chassis. The clamps are assembled to a shaft that is driven by a hydraulic cylinder through a sprocket and chain arrangement that provides a full inversion of the chassis. One clamp has a motorized trolley that provides adjustment needed for handling chassis of widely varying wheelbase. The process involves an overhead crane system with a bridge crane section that provides the necessary broadside loading motion, and an interlocking monorail section that allows the hoist carriers to exit the bridge and travel perpendicularly to the inverting apparatus' loading direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a formwork panel that is made of an insulating material and incorporates a corrugated reinforcing metal core. Thanks to its reinforcing metal core that is corrugated, the panel is very strong and resistant to pressure whatever be the direction in which such pressure is exerted. Of course, since it is made of an insulating material, especially polyurethane foam, the panel is also heat and/or cold insulating and moisture resistant. Therefore, it can efficiently be used to build up permanent self-supporting formworks into which concrete can be cast to form insulated walls. Also disclosed in a process for the industrial manufacture of such panels in a continuous manner. In this process, the metal cores of the formwork panels are manufactured in the form of a continuous metal core band. The metal core band is supplied onto a main conveyor.

Abstract: A nail clipping apparatus designed to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art. Synthetic nail clippers are easier to manufacture and much more cost-effective than metallic clippers. However, synthetic clippers often produce results that are unsatisfying due to the flexible nature of synthetic materials. Such unsatisfactory performance can result in injury and imprecise cutting. This invention has undertaken to remedy the shortcomings of the prior art and to provide an economical synthetic clipper body with separate metallic cutting portions, along with a catch-lock mechanism and several alignment components that result in a newer nail clipping apparatus which is both precise and cost-effective.

Abstract: A combination cutter and server includes a first thin flexible blade having front and rear opposite ends; a second thin flexible blade having front and rear opposite ends; a connecting section which connects together the front end of the first thin blade and the front end of the second thin blade; a first handle connected to the rear end of the first thin blade; and a second handle connected to the rear end of the second thin blade and being unconnected with the first handle, the first handle being coplanar with the first thin blade in an unbiased condition of the combination cutter and server, and the second handle being coplanar with the second thin blade in an unbiased condition of the combination cutter and server; only rear ends of the first and second handles being in contact with other to form the combination cutter and server into a first geometric cutting configuration when the first and second handles are initially moved toward each other to an initial biased position; and the first and second handl

Abstract: The present invention provides a combination utility retractable saw and knife device that comprises a handle member having a predetermined configuration and a knife blade disposed within a cavity formed in the handle member when in a retracted position. The knife blade member has a predetermined configuration. It further includes a saw blade disposed within a radially opposed cavity of such handle member when in a retracted position. Such combination device further includes a means engageable with the saw blade for connecting it with the handle and a means engageable with the knife blade for connecting it with the handle. There is also a means engageable with the saw blade for at least one of slidably moving and pivotably rotating the saw blade to an operable position, the means being at least partially disposed within the handle and a means engageable with the knife blade for slidably moving the knife blade member to an operable position, such means also being at least partially disposed within the handle.

Abstract: A safety utility razor knife is normally maintained in a locked closed condition which protects the user or carrier from accidental injury by the blade. No action on the part of the user or carrier is required to lock the protective hood over the blade. The hood pivots into the open position, exposing the razor blade, when the knife is in use, and automatically self-locks the safety hood immediately after use, requiring no action or adjustment on the part of the user. The knife is designed for easy and convenient use in cutting cartons, and other materials, including but not limited to dry wall, floor coverings, and insulation, etc. The hood is unlocked by the user's thumb by moving a slide forward. The amount of blade exposed may be determined by a hood stop on the shoulder of the knife, or as regulated by the depth of cut cam action dial. This insures that only enough blade is exposed for the task at hand, i.e.

Abstract: Cutting pliers for surgical purposes are used to cut through wires (40) or the like. The cutting pliers have a first two-armed hand lever (1), whose shorter, front lever arm (3) is provided with a cutting edge on its front end section. A short lever arm (11) of a second hand lever (10) is connected in terms of transmission to a two-armed cutting lever (20) having the second cutting edge via a lever transmission. To reduce the number of joints needed and to obtain higher progressions of the cutting forces on the cutting lever during the cutting operation, the short lever arm (11) of the second hand lever (10) is provided at a radially spaced location from the joint of pliers (Z) with a curved path (K1, K2), via which this short lever arm (11) acts on the cutting lever (20). This lever arm (25) is provided for this purpose with a transmission element (31, 31′) sliding on the curved path (Kl, K2).

Abstract: The shear blades of a lawn edge trimming shears are angularly relatively displaceable about the pivotal coupling between the blades under the action of a spring restored motion conversion means operable to convert downwards translational motion imparted to the conversion means by the application of a downwards manual force applied at the single handle with which the shears is provided, into a torque acting to produce relative angular displacement, about their pivotal coupling, between the shear blades.

Abstract: A blade tensioner is configured with a base, a blade shoe having a chain sliding face provided on base, and several plate-spring-like blade springs stacked on the reverse side of the chain sliding face of the blade shoe in order to apply a spring force to blade shoe. A base part of blade shoe is provided in such a manner that it can pivot freely on the base, and a friction material is provided at the part where a tip part of the blade shoe contacts a sliding face of the base. In addition, respective edge parts of the blade springs are inserted into respective slots on the blade shoe.

Abstract: A drawing compass including a body having a pivot point and a longitudinal slot formed therein, the longitudinal slot defining a first inner surface. The drawing compass further includes a carriage received in and movable along the longitudinal slot. The carriage has a guide to receive a writing instrument therethrough and a movable arm biased against the first inner surface. The compass also includes means for releasably coupling the arm to the body.

Abstract: A trim installation tool includes a base with first and second ends, inner and outer faces, and opposite side edges. First and second clamp assemblies are mounted on the base in proximity to its first and second ends respectively. The clamp assemblies have engaged and disengaged positions for respectively clamping and releasing a wall edge adjacent to the wall opening. An elongated level with an orientation-display device is mounted on the base inner face and extends generally between the ends thereof. The orientation-display device indicates a level or plumb orientation of a trim piece clamped in position by the tool for attachment to the frame members surrounding the wall opening.

Abstract: A chain saw accessory that enables the operator to quickly and easily cut equal length segments of a log. The accessory includes a discernible marking path source capable of providing a discernible mark on the log in proximity to the cut end of the log, and an adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the location of the discernible mark on the log.

Abstract: A level having a frame with a reference surface and a level sensor secured to the frame. The level includes one or more attachment devices that are detachably secured to the level. The one or more attachment devices may include a torpedo level, a second level sensor, a tape measure, a writing instrument, notepad, or other auxiliary device that may be used by a user of the level.

Abstract: A coordinate positioning machine has an operating module such as a tool or probe (10) mounted for translational motion relative to a table (16) with three degrees of freedom by means of three articulated linkages (18). Each of the linkages is made up of a torsion box (22) which is pivotally mounted to a vertical pillar (20) with one degree of freedom, and a pair of struts (26), each of which is pivotally mounted with two degrees of freedom to the torsion box at one end, and to the operating module at the other. The linkages cooperate to prevent all rotational motion of the operating module, while allowing translation. Motion of the operating module is actuated manually, and the mass thereof is counterbalanced by an articulated counterbalance arm which guides a cable that is in turn connected to a fusee. Displacement of the operating module is measured using scale and readhead encoders.