Abstract: An illumination device having a first housing member with a threaded stem and a second housing member with a threaded bore wherein the threaded stem and the threaded bore are positioned at opposite ends of the device when the housing members are coupled together. An electrical power source, which may take the form of a battery, is disposed within the device and a selectively activated light source, which may take the form of an LED, is operably coupled with the power source. In some embodiments, the light source is selectively activated and deactivated by relative rotation of the first and second housing members.

Abstract: An adjustable stop tool has a rigid elongate body having a tool end, and a stop element slidably positioned on the rigid elongate body. The tool enables a method for positioning a segment of stock for machining and cutting, wherein the stop element is first locked on the rigid elongate body such that the stop element is separated from the tool end by a distance. A segment of the stock is then pulled out of the collet until the stock end is separated from the collet by more than the distance. The adjustable stop tool is then positioned against the stock and pushed towards the collet until the tool end abuts the collet.

Abstract: The invention refers to a working machine with a machining tool which can be set in a spindle head of a working spindle. A monitoring unit is provided which monitors the shape of the spindle head.

Abstract: A method for positioning a tool (24) on a tool chuck (20) employs a tool holding device (22, 50, 58), which includes a tool-accommodating area (32, 52, 66) for at least partly receiving the tool (24), a connecting area (26, 54 62) to be arranged on the tool chuck (20), and a positioning opening (48) through which a positioner (18) can be placed against the tool (24), which is located at least in part in the tool-accommodating area (32, 52, 66). The tool (24) is optically scanned to obtain a measurement. Subsequently, the tool holding device (22, 50, 58) is removed from the chuck (20), and the chuck is heated. Then, the tool (24), which is separated from the tool holding device (22, 50, 58), is shrink fitted in the chuck (20) at a position that is based on the measurement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fixing a tool (10, 22, 64), especially a shaft tool, in a clamping chuck (8, 18, 60), whereby the tool (10, 22, 64) is introduced into the clamping chuck (8, 18, 60) and fixed therein (8, 18, 60) upon reaching an axial nominal position. According to the invention, the tool (10, 22, 64) is brought against an abutment (42, 70) and the position of a characteristic element of the tool (10, 22, 64) is measured. The tool (10, 22, 64) is positioned in the axial nominal position by moving the abutment (42, 70) along a positioning section (Z1) calculated from the measurement.

Abstract: A machining unit comprising a quill carrying a spindle, a tool clamping mechanism on a forward end of the spindle, a drive shaft for rotatably driving the spindle through the quill, a tool feed actuator for extending and retracting the quill to and from a home position in both axial directions, the clamping mechanism being arranged to grip a tool holder when the quill is at or forward of the home position and to release or accept a tool holder when it is rearward of the home position.

Abstract: A setup jig for a router bit for setting the desired depth of the router bit includes a profile member having a plurality of outwardly extending projections wherein each projection is shaped with a profile that corresponds to a different router bit shape. The second component of the setup jig is a support member that is constructed and arranged and cooperating with the profile member so as to enable the controlled axial movement of the profile member relative to the support member. The profile member is internally threaded and the support member is externally threaded and the selected pitch is set so as to axially move the profile member 1/32 of an inch for each 45 degrees of rotation of the profile member relative to the support member.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing screw threads in hard material workpieces with a series of taps. The present invention employs a threaded bore formed in a bracket assembly to align and position multiple taps on a rotary machine. The taps are used in sequence to cut threads progressively deeper into a substrate. The present invention provides a method of aligning and orienting each progressive tap to begin its cut at the same initial starting point.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing screw threads in hard material workpieces with a series of taps. The present invention employs a threaded bore formed in a bracket assembly to align and position multiple taps on a rotary machine. The taps are used in sequence to cut threads progressively deeper into a substrate. The present invention provides a method of aligning and orienting each progressive tap to begin its cut at the same initial starting point.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing screw threads in hard material workpieces with a series of taps. The present invention employs a threaded bore formed in a bracket assembly to align and position multiple taps on a rotary machine. The taps are used in sequence to cut threads progressively deeper into a substrate. The present invention provides a method of aligning and orienting each progressive tap to begin its cut at the same initial starting point.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing screw threads in hard material workpieces with a series of taps. The present invention employs a threaded bore formed in a bracket assembly to align and position multiple taps on a rotary machine. The taps are used in sequence to cut threads progressively deeper into a substrate. The present invention provides a method of aligning and orienting each progressive tap to begin its cut at the same initial starting point.

Abstract: A method of measuring the position of the cutting edge of a tool T mounted to a spindle 14 of an NC machine tool includes steps of measuring the dimension of the center of an end surface of the spindle 14 relative a reference position in a machine coordinate system of the machine tool in the axial directions of the X-, Y- and Z-axes, measuring the dimensions of the position of the cutting edge of the tool T mounted to the spindle 14 relative to the center of the end surface of the spindle 14 in the axial directions of the X-, Y- and Z-axes, obtaining the dimensions of the position of the cutting edge of the tool T mounted to the spindle 14 relative to the reference position in the machine coordinate system through a calculation on the basis of the relative dimensions of the center of the end surface of the spindle 14 in the machine coordinate system and the dimensions of the position of the cutting edge of the tool T mounted to the spindle 14.

Abstract: A presetting device is proposed for a tool holder (1) which holds the shank (23) of a rotary tool (3) in an interference fit in a locating opening (5) and releases said shank (23) during heating, in particular by means of an induction heating arrangement (7), and which has inside the locating opening (5) an axially adjustable positioning stop surface (21) for the tool shank (23). The presetting device comprises a holder receptacle (11), which holds the tool holder (1) in an axial position and has an opposing reference surface (25), and means (43) for measuring the axial overall length of the rotary tool (3). The presetting device also comprises a measuring device (27) which measures the axial distance between the positioning stop surface (21) of the tool holder (1) and the opposing reference surface (25) of the holder receptacle (11) and has a measured-value indicator (55), the indicated distance value of which can be increased by the measured value of the overall length of the rotary tool (3).

Abstract: A movable spindle tool machine, such as a printed circuit board line drilling machine includes a base and a spindle mounted to the base. A magazine is mounted proximate the spindle for storing a supply of tools. A pitch independent tool changer is moveably mounted relative to the base for transferring tools from the magazine for insertion into the spindle. A tool locator is mounted in line with the spindle. The tool changer is operable to initially transfer a tool from the magazine to the tool locator to align the tool with the spindle and thereafter transfer the tool to the spindle for insertion into the spindle. The spindle is mounted to a nested outrigger guide. A positioning system can move two or more spindles simultaneously. A bit detector in a pressure foot button uses fiber optics to detect broken bits.

Abstract: A boring tool head has a movable element which can be moved by means of an adjuster relative to a centerline. Attached to the movable element is a cutting tool which moves with the movable element. A hole which is slightly smaller in size than the desired hole is first bored with the boring tool head and its size precisely measured. The fitting of the invention is then clamped onto the boring tool head by means of a clamping lever. The fitting has a position sensor which abuts against the movable element of the boring tool head, an indicator being attached to the sensor which provides an indication of the sensor's lateral position. The indicator is set to zero and the boring tool head adjuster set to bring the movable element of the boring tool head, as indicated on the indicator, to the desired position for increasing the size of the initially bored hole to the desired precise dimension.

Abstract: A method for connecting an attachment to a drill press includes: providing an alignment member including a first portion and a second portion, and having a central axis; securing the first portion of the alignment member within the chuck; connecting the attachment to the drill press so that at least a region of the second portion of the alignment member is disposed within the void; and removing the alignment member from the chuck and the void. A mortising apparatus for a drill press is also disclosed, the drill press including a rotatable chuck. The mortising apparatus includes a mortising chisel holder and a mortising chisel holder alignment member.

Abstract: In a tool changer system comprising one or more tool grippers together with a pressure foot insert change pod supported on a U-V slide which is independent of the machine work table. The slide services a tool magazine mounted on the machine tool in close proximity to the work table. Because the tool changer is independent of the machine table, the selection and retrieval of the next tool to be used is performed while the machine tool is working. Similarly, the replacement of the tool back into its storage location is done while the machine tool is working. The exchanging of the pressure foot insert is done as part of the tool change process. Time is saved because the work table does not have to be moved to position the tool changer under the spindle. In fact, the work table may be moved to the next work location while the tool changer changes the tool in the spindle.

Abstract: A corner locator for aligning machine tools comprises a metal sphere with a section removed. The section has the shape of either a right angled corner, which is bounded by three mutually perpendicular planes, or a wedge bounded by two intersecting planes. The three-plane version in use fits onto a corner of a rectangular workpiece, and the two-plane version in use fits onto an edge. In either case all planes bounding the removed sections pass through the exact center of the sphere. With the locator in place, the spindle of the machine tool may be set at any angle whatsoever relative to the faces of the workpiece, and the machine tool spindle axis aligned to pass through the center of the sphere as follows: insert a dial indicator gauge into the spindle; bring the gauge arm into contact with the sphere; rotate the spindle while moving the spindle along the machine axes to locate the point of minimum runout. At this point the spindle axis points directly toward the center.

Abstract: Machine for automatically regulating and measuring the length of extension and the diameter of a tool. The present invention relates to a machine for automatically regulating and measuring the length of extension and the diameter of a tool 2 mounted in a conical mandrel 3 cooperating with receiving cone 7 of machine, the mandrel 3 comprising means 9 for tightening and means 17 for adjusting said tool.

Abstract: A centering apparatus aligns a template guide bushing on a router such that the bushing is centered with respect to the shaft of a cutting tool. The centering apparatus has a shaft and a conical member slidingly located on the shaft. The shaft is substituted for the cutting tool shaft in the router, wherein the conical member is moved along the shaft into contact with the template guide bushing for centering.

Abstract: The location of the point of a cutting tool with respect to a known reference on a rotatable tool turret is determined preferably with the tool extended in a direction 90.degree. displaced from the cutting position. A reference grid plate is secured in a calibrated position to the carriage on which the turret is mounted. The measuring position of the tool overhangs the grid plate, and an indicator detects the position of the tool point over the measuring grid.

Abstract: A tool measuring apparatus for a machine tool is provided with a plunger (16) mounted to move along an axis (22) to vary the spacing between the end of the plunger and an inductive element (26) of an inductive displacement measuring device (24). Device (24) generates a signal V.sub.y which varies as a function of the spacing between the plunger (16) and device (24). Spindle (14), engaging a tool (12), is moved to a position M located a known distance from inductive element (26). As the spindle is moved to position M, tool (12) engages plunger 16 and moves the plunger to decrease the spacing between the plunger and the element (26) to a value S.sub.3, corresponding to an unknown length d of tool (12). Levels of V.sub.y corresponding to spacing S.sub.3 and to S.sub.2, representing a known nominal value N of tool length, are coupled to a processor 32 and a control 30 to determine tool offset e, i.e., the difference between actual length d and nominal length N.