Abstract: The terminal holding device includes an attaching unit to be attached to a vehicle, a holding unit which removably holds a terminal device in such a manner that a display unit of the terminal device is exposed and which includes a contact surface to be contact with the terminal device, an acceleration sensor which detects acceleration in a direction from a side of the contact surface to a side opposite to the contact surface, and a supplying unit which supplies a detection signal of the acceleration sensor to the terminal device.

Abstract: A rotation rate sensor having a substrate including a main extension plane, force transmission elements that are movably fastened on the substrate using detection springs and a seismic mass are provided, the seismic mass being suspended over the force transmission elements, movably relative to the substrate, in such a way that the seismic mass is able to be excited, using a drive unit, to a drive vibration about a drive axis that is parallel to the main extension plane, and in response to the presence of a rotation rate that extends in parallel to the main extension plane and perpendicular to the drive axis, the seismic mass is excitable, as a result of Coriolis forces, to a detection vibration about a detection axis that is perpendicular to the main extension plane, the detection springs being connected to the force transmission elements in the region of the vibrational nodes.

Abstract: A wireless measurement device includes a sound acoustic wave (SAW)-based micro sensor converting a wirelessly received pulse signal into an SAW and generating a plurality of pulse signals by reflecting the SAW, and wirelessly transmitting the plurality of pulse signals to measure a variance of an environmental element; and a reader generating and wirelessly transmitting a pulse signal to the SAW-based micro sensor to measure variances in environmental elements.

Abstract: A tool for manipulating a transducer assembly. The tool had a shaft to space the transducer assembly from a handle end. The tool rotatably mounts the transducer assembly so that the transducer assembly can transmissively coupled to and follow an arcuate scanning path. The tool includes a guide member for following an edge of a component to be tested.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system of monitoring bending strain on a wind turbine blade.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting a test article relative to a loading axis includes a first member and a second member. The first member may have a concave surface. The second member may have a convex surface configured to engage the concave surface in a manner such that the second member is movable relative to the first member. The test article may be coupled to one of the first and second members such that relative movement thereof facilitates general alignment of the test article with the axial loading axis. The leveling apparatus may further include a plurality of positioning devices configured to facilitate adjustment of an orientation of the second number relative to the first member such that the alignment of the test article may be adjusted.

Abstract: A system for dynamically measuring viscoelasticity of material samples using shear wave induced resonance, the system comprising: i) an apparatus comprising a vibration source; a vibration detector; a processor, and a user interface, for example to select a sample holder configuration, and ii) a rigid sample holder connectable to the vibration source, wherein the vibration source generates shear waves that induce vibrations and the resonance of a sample through the holder, the vibration sensor measuring the sample vibrations and resonance, and the processor determining the viscoelasticity of the sample from the vibrations or resonances and from the selected sample holder configuration. Multiple measurement modalities using the system to study materials viscoelasticity as function of time parameters; temperature parameters; strain parameters; repetition parameters and mapping parameters.

Abstract: A magnet module for a nuclear magnetic flow meter including at least one permanent magnet and a jacket. The jacket protects the at least one permanent magnet against peeling of magnet material by mechanical loads when the magnet module is introduced into a magnet receiver of the flow meter, simplifies introduction of the permanent magnets into the magnet receivers by reduced friction between the magnet module and the magnet receivers, and influences the magnetic field which generated by the permanent magnets.

Abstract: Both a flow meter system and method are provided for accurately measuring the percentage amounts of liquid and gas phases in a multiphase flow through a conduit when the liquid phase constitutes a small minority portion (e.g., less than about 20%) of the multiphase flow. The system includes a flow meter that includes a differential pressure sensor connected across a Venturi in the conduit, and a dual energy fraction meter, each of which is operably connected to a digital processor. The system further includes a pump connected to the conduit upstream of the flow meter that introduces at least one pulse of a known quantity of liquid, the pulse being sufficient in volume to temporarily increase the liquid phase by a detectable amount.

Abstract: A multimode flow meter can use both the time-of-transit of upstream and downstream ultrasonic signals and time for transmission of downstream-only signals to determine a flow velocity of a medium flowing through a conduit. Based on factors, such as previously computed flow velocity and signal-to-noise ratio of the upstream signal, a mode of operation may be switched and only the time for transmission of the downstream signals may be used to determine flow velocity. The multimode flow meter can computer cross-flow to reduce its effect on the determination of flow velocity.

Abstract: A subassembly of a Coriolis flowmeter is fabricated from a single monolithic piece of elastic polymeric material. The subassembly includes two flow-sensitive members and a base integrally connected to the two flow-sensitive members. The two flow-sensitive members include straight sections, and are substantially similar and parallel to each other. Flow passages are drilled along the straight sections of the two flow-sensitive members, and drilled entrances are sealed using the elastic polymeric material. A temperature sensor is fixedly attached to a flow-sensitive member for measuring a temperature of the flow-sensitive member and communicating the temperature to a metering electronics. The metering electronics determines a calibrated flow rate of fluid flowing through the Coriolis flowmeter that accounts for the temperature.

Abstract: An improved header assembly and corresponding port assembly comprising a tensioning member, wherein the tensioning member is isolated and separate from the weld portion and is adapted to place a threaded portion between the header assembly and port assembly in tension and maintain such tension, and thus relieve tension from the weld, before and after welding, thereby increasing the lifespan of the header and port assemblies.

Abstract: The present disclosure invention relates to a distribution apparatus for a sample exposition arrangement comprising at least two sample containers and a fluid source for fluid to be supplied to the sample containers, and to a sample exposition arrangement comprising the distribution apparatus.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for sampling gas in a flue gas stream (31) of an incineration furnace (1) or another CO2-containing gas stream. The method comprises sampling CO2 from the flue gas stream (31) of the incineration furnace (1) and storing CO2 from the flue gas stream (31) in a storage device (5). The storage device comprises a solid, preferably silica- or alumina-based CO2 storage material, which can be regenerated. The method further preferably involves transporting the storage device (5) to an analysis site (10) comprising an apparatus for 14C analysis, retrieving at least part of th stored CO2 from the storage device (5) and determining, based on the 14C analysis, the ratio of biomass-derived and fossil-derived CO2 in the flue gas stream (31).

Abstract: A sensor arm for a pipeline inspection tool is provided. The sensor arm comprises a body comprising: a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured for mounting the sensor arm on a pipeline inspection tool and the second end comprising a contact portion configured for contact with the internal surface of a pipe wall; and an elongate section which extends between the first end and the second end, the elongate section having an external profile which defines a top surface, a bottom surface and a main web arranged between the top and bottom surfaces, wherein the depth of the main web in cross section is greater than the width of the main web in cross-section.

Abstract: A telescopic test bar structure comprises a circuit unit and a winding device within a main body, and a telescopic test bar connected externally to the main body. The winding device has a shaft, which has a slit provided at the center thereof, protruding from a housing. A reel disk is received within the housing. A receiving groove for winding a sensing wire is formed on the reel disk and an accommodation space for receiving an elastic element is formed on the reel disk. The inner end of the sensing wire is electrically connected with the circuit unit. A sensor element on the outer end of the sensing wire is connected to the telescopic test bar. This structure has the advantage of better operational convenience in extension and shortening of the test bar without wiring entanglement.

Abstract: An air conditioner controlling device for a vehicle may include a knob rotatably installed on the front of a case, a cylindrical cam rotatably installed inside the case, interlocked with a shaft of the knob, and having a slot formed in an outer surface thereof, and a lever having one end rotatably mounted to the case and the other end insertedly coupled to the slot of the cylindrical cam to thereby reciprocate the cylindrical cam at the time of rotation of the cylindrical cam, wherein the lever may be insertedly mounted in a portion of the slot formed along the outer surface of the cylindrical cam, and a mounting position and angle of the lever may be thus adjusted, such that a reciprocation direction of the lever may be freely adjusted.

Abstract: A relative-rotation synchronous movement-aid device, which has a simple structure and is easy to assemble. The synchronous movement-aid device includes a linking arm and a rotational wheel assembled with the linking arm. The linking arm has a pivoted end and a free end mounted on the rotational wheel. The pivoted end is mounted on a rail. When an external force is applied to the linking arm, the pivoted end can freely move along the rail. The free end serves to make the rotational wheel relatively rotate along with the movement of the linking arm to achieve better synchronous movement effect than the conventional slide mechanism.

Abstract: Provided is a feed-screw type optical pick-up device transfer mechanism for transferring an optical pick-up device through a base member coupled to a follower member in a state in which teeth of the follower member are engaged with a screw portion threaded around an external circumference of a drive shaft, wherein the teeth of the follower member include two main teeth relating to the transfer of the optical pick-up device and at least one subsidiary tooth provided between the two main teeth and unrelating to the transfer of the optical pick-up device.

Abstract: In a body of an electric actuator, dust collecting pipes are disposed as a pair along an axial direction of a hole portion of the body. The dust collecting pipes are connected respectively to negative pressure supply ports provided in an end block, and include plural first through fifth suction holes separated mutually along an axial direction of the dust collecting pipes. Distances between the first through fifth suction holes are formed so as to become smaller stepwise from one end side of the dust collection pipes, on the side of the negative pressure supply ports, to the other end side thereof.

Abstract: Implementations and techniques are generally disclosed for an actuator comprising: a first element, a second element, a third element, a first joint provided between the first element and the second element, a second joint provided between the second element and the third element, and a motor operably coupled to the first joint and configured such that the second element rotates with respect to the first element about a first rotational axis when the motor rotates, wherein the first joint is operably coupled to the second joint and configured such that the third element can rotate with respect to the second element about a second rotational axis when the motor rotates.

Abstract: A synchronous movement-aid device for slide module includes at least one aid device. The aid device includes a first arm, a second arm connected with the first arm and a rotational wheel connected with the second arm and rotatable with the movement of the second arm. The first arm has a pivoted end mounted on a rail. When an external force is applied to the first arm, the pivoted end can freely move along the rail relative to the second arm. The second arm has a fixed end connected to the rotational wheel. When the first arm moves along the rail, the rotational wheel is driven to rotate so as to achieve better synchronous movement effect than the conventional slide mechanism.

Abstract: A multi-shaft transmission is mounted on a work vehicle for performing loader work, and includes a power transmission mechanism for transmitting power from an input shaft through a countershaft to an output shaft. A shifting part shifts a drivetrain from the input shaft to the output shaft. The power transmission includes a forward clutch and a reverse clutch for forward-reverse shifting, and a plurality of speed stage shifting clutches for changing speed stages, wherein at least one of the forward clutch and the reverse clutch has a plurality of speed region shifting clutches. The shifting part shifts only one clutch among the plurality of speed stage shifting clutches and the plurality of speed region shifting clutches to change speeds when a plurality of speed stages are used in the loader work.

Abstract: There is provided a robot arm link comprising a base, a first section rotably coupled to the base, a second section pivotably coupled to the first section and a third section attached to the second section and having a fixed portion and a movable portion, the movable portion coupled to the fixed portion for movement between first and second portions, the movable portion having an attachment plate for attachment to another robot arm link. The links can be used to construct an arm with multiples of three degrees of movement. For example, three links are joined together and mounted on a rotation base and terminated with a pivot or wrist joint to provide a total of 11 degrees of movement.

Abstract: A steering column adjustment device that uses a positive locking system comprising in part of teethed locking cleats and teethed sawtooth locking plates. The steering column positive lock mechanism uses a lever to rotate a cross shaft which activates two cam-actuated locks. Once in the unlocked position, the telescopic and tilt adjustment of the steering column can occur at the same time. Once the vehicle driver has achieved the desired tilt and telescopic position for the steering wheel and the steering column, the driver uses the lever to reactivate positive locking system.

Abstract: In a steering device, when a telescopic position of a steering wheel is disposed at a vicinity of an adjustment end on a front side of a vehicle body, if a large force is applied erroneously to the steering wheel toward the front side of the vehicle body, rear ends of telescopic position adjusting long grooves are brought into contact with a fastening rod and push the fastening rod to the front side of the vehicle body. An engaging protrusion pushes an inner column to the front side of the vehicle body. A large force to the front side of the vehicle body, which is applied to the steering wheel is supported by the vehicle body via the inner column, and a force which is applied to a vehicle body attaching bracket can be reduced. This prevents the vehicle body attaching bracket from becoming detached from the vehicle body.

Abstract: A steering column arrangement for a vehicle comprises a first portion rotatably supported by a second portion. The steering column arrangement further comprises a first electrical motor that is adapted to be operably connected to a vehicle control system. The steering column is arranged to be moved laterally and/or axially by the first electric motor. The steering column arrangement further comprises locking means arranged to lock the steering column thereby preventing rotation of the steering column. The locking means comprise a first locking member attached to the steering column and a second locking member arranged to be attached to the vehicle chassis, where the first electric motor is arranged to move the steering column to a locked position in which the first locking member and the second locking member are arranged to engage, thereby preventing rotation of the steering column.

Abstract: An all terrain vehicle parking brake for after market installation on an ATV, UTV, RUV or MUV that relies on placing the vehicle shift lever in a park position to hold the vehicle on a hill. The parking brake includes a brake handle that is mounted to the vehicle dash board to pivot between brake engaged and disengaged positions, extending and retracting a linkage that connects and disconnects through a straight sleeve, with the linkage connecting to a rod end bearing that connects to a brake pedal arm, depressing the brake pedal when an operator activates the parking brake.

Abstract: A shifter designed to actuate a gear change device of a bicycle by pulling and releasing a control cable. The shifter includes a base plate mountable to the bicycle, a cable spool and cable-pull and cable-release lever assemblies. The cable spool is rotated in a cable-pull direction to wind the control cable thereon and in a cable-release direction to unwind the control cable therefrom. The cable-pull and cable-release lever assemblies are operatively connected to the cable spool to rotate the cable spool in the cable-pull and cable-release directions, respectively. The cable-pull lever assembly includes a cable-pull lever rotated about a first axis and at least two winding pawls received by and rotating with the cable-pull lever about the first axis to transmit rotational movement of the cable-pull lever to the cable spool.

Abstract: A link apparatus includes a cam plate, a lever and an accommodation member. The cam plate has a cam groove. The lever has a roller engaged with the cam groove and a pin which is inserted through a center of the roller so that the roller is rotatably supported on the pin. The accommodation member accommodates the cam plate and the lever. The accommodation member and the pin have a distance “A” therebetween. The roller has a thickness “B” along an axial direction of the pin. The value of the distance “A” is smaller than the value of the thickness “B”.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ball balancer that increases a rate of balls in ball detention portions and restricts aggravation of unbalance caused by balls outside of the ball detention portions. When a rotation speed of a rotator is less than a first rotation speed, the ball detention portion allows the ball moved from a rolling face to be detained therein and to allow the ball therein to come into contact with the released ball outside thereof to prevent separation of the released ball from the rolling face. Anti-separation portions are provided to come into contact with the released balls outside of the ball detention portions to prevent separation of the released balls from the rolling face. When the rotation speed is greater than the first rotation speed, the ball detention portion allows separation of the ball therein to the rolling face by centrifugal force applied thereto.

Abstract: A powered binary masses flywheel assembly device that will extract gravitational energy and store it together with the energy inputted externally into the flywheel in the form of rotational kinetic energy while rotating in the substantially vertically plane. The device can be used as part of a drive motor assembly to power machinery or as an electrical generator assembly. The binary masses arrangement in the flywheel enables the system to rotate at ever higher rpm using less power input per revolution the higher the rpm. This phenomenon starts to take place when the kinetic energy being stored in the rotating flywheel disc is exceeded by the kinetic energy stored in the binary masses attached to the flywheel disc which form the flywheel assembly.

Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly includes a spindle inserted through a thin bearing-less pedal body or an axle formed integrally with a pedal body. The interior of the cage of the pedal body may include a variety of structures or no structures, such as open space. A medial portion of the spindle is inserted substantially through a hollow bolt with an internal passageway. One or more bearings are disposed outside the pedal body and in the hollow bolt to facilitate rotation of the spindle with respect to a crank arm. The bolt is screwed into a standard sized bore of the crank arm. Accordingly, the medial portion of the spindle extends transversely through the width of the crank arm.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic clutch (4) which is used to connect a steam engine (2) to a combustion engine (3) and which comprises a first shaft (8) that can be driven by the steam engine (2), and a second shaft (9) that can be driven by the combustion engine (3), an idler gear (23) being connected to the first shaft (8) and a clutch bell (26) being connected to the second shaft (9). A freewheel (27) is provided between the idler gear (23) and the clutch bell (26) and is used to transmit a rotational movement from the idler gear (23), which is connected to the first shaft (8), onto the clutch bell (26) and allows the clutch bell (26) to freewheel in relation to the idler gear (23). An electromagnetic actuation force can furthermore generate a frictional force between the idler gear (23) and the clutch bell (26) to carry along the steam engine (2).

Abstract: A method for recycling noble metals from electronic waste materials and apparatus thereof. The method comprises the following steps: mechanically breaking up the electronic waste materials; removing rubber and plastic materials by electrostatic separation; removing ferromagnetic metals by magnetic separation; removing residual rubber and plastic materials by microwave pyrolysis; removing low-melting-point metals by indirectly heating using microwave; separating the noble metals from one another in turn from low-melting-point metal to high-melting-point metal for recycle. The apparatus includes a microwave housing. A filtering screen is positioned on the inside wall of the housing horizontally, and vertically-arranged and open-ended heating pipes are positioned over the filtering screen. The method and apparatus can adequately recycle resources in the electronic waste materials.

Abstract: In a method for producing pressed articles containing coal particles, before being mixed with a binder system containing water, at least a subset of the coal particles is subjected to at least two impregnation steps in which it is impregnated with at least one substance. The pressed articles may be used, for example, in methods of pig iron production in a packed bed or in methods for producing carbon carriers for methods of pig iron production in a packed bed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a knife (1) with a blade (2), a bolster (3) and a handle, in particular a tang (4), forged from a single piece of flat steel material (5), wherein, before forging, the flat material (5) is upset in the region between the blade (2) and the handle or tang (4) to form a bead (6), the longitudinal axis (LW) of which is arranged transversely in relation to the longitudinal axis (LM) of the knife, and is then formed by forging to form a bolster (3), which has at least one side edge (K2) positioned obliquely in relation to the longitudinal axis (LM) of the knife, wherein the longitudinal axis (LW) of the bead (6), which later forms the bolster, is oriented obliquely in relation to the longitudinal axis (LM) of the knife (1).

Abstract: A manufacturing method of an elastic C-shaped steel block is described, which includes the following steps. An ordinary steel is cut into a round steel tube. The round steel tube is processed into a ratchet hex socket steel tube. The ratchet hex socket steel tube is cut into a ratchet hex socket block. The ratchet hex socket block is transformed into an elastic ratchet hex socket block by a thermal treatment. An opening is formed in the elastic ratchet hex socket block to change the elastic ratchet hex socket block into a C-shaped elastic steel block.

Abstract: A fastening part tightening management system (1) that manages a tightening state of a fastening part such as a screw to fix a constituent part of an aircraft in an aircraft assembling process includes a manual torque wrench (2) that tightens a fastening part up to a set torque while activating a tightening torque and detects and transmits tightening torque information acting on the fastening part, a marking pen (3) that performs marking to the fastening part, the tightening operation of which is ended by the manual torque wrench (2), detects a writing pressure in the marking, and transmits marking completion information; an information processing device (5) that determines a tightening state of the fastening part based on the tightening torque information and the marking completion information, and a mobile information terminal (4) that notifies an operator of a determination result obtained by the information processing device (5).

Abstract: A cutting device includes a cutting tool, a chip guide unit including a hole-shaped chip guiding channel, which includes an inlet and an outlet defined respectively in a vicinity of an area of contact of the cutting tool with a workpiece and at a location remote from the workpiece, and a forced discharge fluid medium supply unit that supplies a fluid medium from a location along the chip guiding channel towards the outlet. The forced discharge fluid medium supply unit includes a fluid supply port defined in an inner wall surface of the chip guiding channel so as to open towards the outlet in a tilted orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the chip guiding channel. The fluid supply port opens in the inner wall surface of the chip guiding channel over an entire range of circumference thereof.

Abstract: A foam panel cutting machine for cutting foam panels used in insulated building panels. The foam panel cutting machine has a feeder system feeds the foam panel through the cutting blades. The cutting machine additionally includes a frame, a plurality of upper rollers and a plurality of lower rollers rotationally mounted to the frame. The foam panel cutting machine can be constructed so that it may be portable. One embodiment includes the upper rollers on an adjustable head that can adjust the gap distance between the upper and lower rollers so that foam panels of various thicknesses may be cut. The cutting blade may be a hot-knife wherein the blade is heated by passing an electrical current through it. The cutting blade may have a “L” or “J” shape to cut kerfs into the foam panel that receive metal studs to foil an insulated building panel.

Abstract: A reciprocating saw blade has a blade body defining first end and second ends. A first cutting edge is located on one side of the blade body, and a second cutting edge is located on an opposite side of the blade body thereof. A first tang is located at one end of the blade body and defines a first acute cutting angle of the first cutting edge. A second tang may be located at another end of the blade body and defines a second acute cutting angle of the second cutting edge. The first and second tangs are alternately and releasably engageable by the chuck of the reciprocating saw. At least one cutting edge may be defined by a plurality of groups of cutting elements. Each group of cutting elements is oriented at a respective acute cutting angle relative to a tang edge that defines an effective cutting angle for that group of cutting elements.

Abstract: A system and method utilizes strategies, priority rules, specifications, and comparisons to calculate the fewest number of cuts to separate individual instances from an imaged media sheet. Embodiments of the systems and methods may produce an optimal or more efficient arrangement of the media instances on an imaged media to minimize a total number of cuts to separate the instances, and thus reduce an overall cost.

Abstract: A post-processing apparatus which enable reduction of shift alignment time and improvement of productivity. A shift unit performs a shifting operation for shifting a conveyed sheet, in a lateral direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction. An alignment unit aligns the sheet by a pair of alignment members thereof which are moved toward each other such side edges of the sheet in the lateral direction are held therebetween. A CPU of a finisher controller controls the alignment unit and the shift unit such that an operation for moving the alignment members from respective first standby positions in the lateral direction to respective second standby positions closer to the sheet than the corresponding first standby positions is executed in parallel with the shifting operation by the shift unit.

Abstract: Grid forming machine for making plates of electric storage cells, which comprises two pressing towers operatively active in succession on a continuous lead band that advances with a substantially constant speed, and each equipped with a framework slidably mounted along the direction of forward movement of the band on the support structure of the machine; with a linear actuator mounted on the framework of the tower and supporting a relative press; and with, a matrix fixed to the framework under the linear actuator. The two presses of the two pressing towers are moved cyclically and alternatingly by the linear actuators to move between a raised position and a lowered position, in which they cut the band forming it in the shape of a continuous grid.

Abstract: A guide assembly in one embodiment includes at least one guide rigidly supported by a table saw, a bearing assembly including a first, a second, and a third bearing engaged with the at least one guide, and a fence base assembly supported by the bearing assembly, wherein the first and the second bearings are biased in a first direction with respect to the at least one guide and the third bearing is biased in a second direction with respect to the at least one guide, the second direction at least partially opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A saw attachment mechanism includes at least one guide roller configured for releasable engagement with a track, a guide roller shaft and a guide roller pivot, each coupled to the guide roller, at least one pushrod configured for engagement with the guide roller shaft, and a cam shaft coupled to a handle. The guide roller can rotate around a guide roller axle. The guide roller pivot is coupled to the one guide roller to allow rotation of the guide roller and guide roller shaft toward and away from an engaged configuration. The pushrod can engage the guide roller shaft at a first end and the cam shaft at a second end. As the cam shaft is rotated, the pushrod slides to engage the guide roller shaft, to swing the guide roller shaft into an engaged position.

Abstract: A blade guard for a circular saw blade. The blade guard includes at least two pieces coupled together. The blade guard also includes at least one bottom plate having a slot formed therein for accommodating the circular saw blade and at least one top cover. Additionally, the blade guard includes a plurality of fastening rods for coupling the bottom plate with the top cover, the plurality of fastening rods further configured to secure the at least two pieces to the at least one bottom plate and the at least one top cover.

Abstract: A cutting system includes a cutting assembly and an anvil. The cutting assembly includes an ultrasonic cutting tool having a stylus with a tip and an actuator to move the tip along a path. The path is oriented in a transverse manner relative to movement of a backed ply material. The anvil includes a rigid base for securing the anvil to the cutting assembly and a surface coinciding with the path. The system is configured to drive the tip into the surface and draw the tip along the path to generate a groove disposed upon the surface. The groove being in cooperative alignment with the tip.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a high performance stringed instrument. In one embodiment, the stringed instrument comprises an electric guitar constructed entirely of sheet metal, with the body and neck permanently joined together to produce a one piece (unitary) style guitar construction. This method of construction results in improved overall consistency of the product. In particular, the construction utilizes a substantially homogenous material throughout the guitar and further includes a stronger, stiffer and straighter neck that allows for a more consistent sound than is possible using traditional manufacturing materials such as wood. Such a construction also offers improved sustain of string vibration, an attribute that is highly desirable to guitar players. The incorporation of a unique supporting structure into the headstock contributes to a unique warm timbre when played that has heretofore been unachievable in combination with improved sustain characteristics.