Abstract: The control of a tool during a machining operation on a workpiece by means of a numerically controlled device may be interrupted for various reasons. On the occurrence of an interruption the tool is immediately retracted from the workpiece in order to be moved to a retraction position R to avoid marking the workpiece. When the tool is returned to the workpiece, the invention provides a method of moving it so that it converges tangentially towards the workpiece along a curved path, taking up the original tool machining path without marking the workpiece.

Abstract: Positional information about movable components in a machine system relative to the workpiece is wirelessly transmitted by infrared radiation to a remote receiver. The receiver is operative to convert the infrared signals into electrical signals for controlling operational cycles of the machine system.

Abstract: A numerically controlled machine tool for producing tangential entry into a compensated contour and for the tangential leaving from a compensated contour. The numerically controlled machine tool also produces the interior or exterior rounding of intersections between two contours.

Abstract: A method for making a wheel and a wheel so made is disclosed in which the tire bead seats in the rim are deformed inwardly, the wheel is held by the deformed bead seats, and the bolting surfaces of the web are machined in fixed relation to the bead seats. Preferably, the bead seats are deformed sequentially to work welded metal attachment of a web to the rim, and then place it under compression. Preferably, the bolting surface is machined in the form of a flat cone that is approximately three degrees from planar, and the lug holes are chamfered to place surrounding metal in direct compression, and to deform the conically shaped bolting surfaces into flat engagement with planar surfaces on the hubs on which the wheels are to be installed. A method of determined angularity of the web to the rim is utilized to reject poorly aligned webs before machining the bolting surfaces, and thereby prevent undo thinning of the web, and as a means of product control.

Abstract: A door machine for preparing a door for hanging by automatically sizing, drilling the lock and latch holes, and forming the face plate mortise in an edge of the door. The apparatus includes a support frame to which are mounted motor-driven elements, controlled to operate in a predetermined sequence, that size (i.e., cut to a specific transverse dimension) the door and form the lock bore, latch hole, and the face plate mortise in or proximate a free edge of the door. A power-feed mechanism is included for transporting the door from an input station to a drill station. Hydraulic power is used to drive certain elements of the apparatus, including the drills used to form the lock bore and the latch hole.

Abstract: A tool holder having a shank receivable in a machine tool spindle, a tool mounting shell securedly connected to the shank and adjustably movably carrying a cutting tool in a radial direction thereof, and a pair of contact detection members respectively protruded from the outer surface of the mounting shell in opposite directions. The tool holder, when used while received in the machine tool spindle, operates not only to make a bore in a workpiece, but also to be a measuring probe in measuring the diameter of the bore so that a machine tool using the tool holder is able to successively perform boring and measuring operations of the bore. Further, the tool holder incorporates a tool position adjusting mechanism therein.

Abstract: A cutting tool is operatively connected with the piston of a tool positioning cylinder so as to move in response to axial movement of the piston. One end of the cylinder is connected with one end of a stroke limiting cylinder to form a closed fluid circuit therebetween. The piston of the stroke limiting cylinder has a predetermined adjustable stroke. A metering system is provided for injecting or extracting incremental fixed volumes of oil to and from the closed fluid circuit to increase or decrease the stroke of the piston in the tool positioning cylinder and thereby vary the depth of cut of the tool.

Abstract: A workpiece such as a steel profile to be perforated at predetermined distances from a longitudinal reference surface thereof is moved past a plurality of perforating tools, such as punching or drill presses, mounted on a main slide and associated with respective sensors carried on an ancillary slide, the two slides being provided with a rack-and-pinion coupling working into a position detector. Each sensor comprises two sensing heads movable, upon selective activation prior to operation of the corresponding tool, transversely to the workpiece path with a slight relative offset; the ancillary slide is displaced until the reference surface is detected by one--but not both--sensing heads whereupon a corrective motion is imparted to the main slide under the control of the position detector.

Abstract: A machine tool including a tool holder supporting a boring tool and receivable in a tool spindle. A device is provided in the tool holder for adjusting the radial position of the boring tool by utilizing rotation of the tool spindle. A contact detecting head with a known predetermined diameter is secured to the tool holder in co-axial relationship therewith. A contact detecting device detects the contact between a workpiece bore and the contact detecting head. A bore diameter measuring device measures a diameter of the workpiece bore by causing relative movement between the contact detecting head and the workpiece from a first position to a second position wherein at each of the first and second positions the contact detecting head contacts the workpiece, along a path passing through the center of the workpiece bore. The tool spindle is rotated in response to the measuring device to adjust the radial position of the boring tool.

Abstract: A machine for truing both the tire bead seats, and the side surfaces of a web of a wheel. The machine has a work supporting station with radially inwardly movable bead seat deforming jaws, and top and bottom machining heads on slides which move toward and away from the respective sides of the web of a wheel supported by the jaws. The axis of rotation of the machining heads are precisely concentric with the deforming jaws. The bottom machining head is used to chamfer the edges of bolting holes, and the top machining head is used to machine the bolting surfaces of the web. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom slide carries a plurality of gauging switches for contact with the web and for locating its welded position relative to the bead seats. The lower machine head also carries an adjustable gauge post which projects up past the jaws for contact by a gauging switch carried by the slide of the upper head.

Abstract: The time for positioning of a machine under numerical control is determined so that the positioning is finished at the moment when the amplitude of vibration of the machine is reduced to zero. In the thus predetermined time at least accelerating control and decelerating control are conducted to achieve control for positioning the machine at a commanded position.

Abstract: An automatic hydraulic stop for use with a numerical control machine and cutting tool. The stop senses the distance to a work piece, limits the depth of penetration of the tool into a work piece and provides protection for inadvertent travel of spindle of the numerical control machine beyond a projected point.

Abstract: The invention relates to work holding and is concerned with the provision of a work holding device which is more efficient than known devices. According to the invention a work holding device comprises a device for gripping a workpiece, the device being provided with internal detection means for determining the value of a force between the device and the workpiece. The value of the force can be displayed for the benefit of a user of the device. It can also be used for control purposes.

Abstract: A hollow drive spindle is rotatably mounted on a base and carries a self-opening threading die; and the spindle is driven by a suitable electric drive motor. An air operated collet chuck is mounted on a carriage, for reciprocating the chuck in longitudinal alignment with the threading die. The apparatus is semi-automatic in operation including an electric control circuit and actuator mechanisms operated in response to movement of the carriage. When the carriage reaches its rear limit position the chuck is opened to release the rod and the threading die is closed. When a rod is inserted in the chuck at the beginning of a cycle, it engages a stop arm so that further forward force on a rod also moves the carriage toward the die. With initial forward movement of the carriage, the chuck is closed on the rod and the stop arm is moved out of interference position.

Abstract: Drilling apparatus for driving a drill bit in one pass through several plies of material having different hardness characteristics, and in which the speed of rotation of the drill bit is selected automatically by the thrust resistance encountered by the drill bit. The automatic selection of drill bit speed is accomplished by a feed back system responsive to drill bit thrust for changing the governor control on the drive motor, whereby the increase in thrust effects drill bit speed reduction and a decrease in thrust effects an increase in drill bit speed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a machine tool which is particularly adapted for drilling and tapping holes in electric motor pole pieces with a center drill, drill and tap which are sequentially applied to the same hole. The spindle for each tool is provided with its own feed motor and drive motor, and each spindle moves vertically independently of the other for the successive machining operations. The drill and tap spindle frames are connected to horizontal lead screws so they can be moved laterally with respect to the center drill for variable hole spacing. Proportionate spacing is provided so that the drill is always intermediate and equally spaced from the center drill and tap to easily accommodate different size pole pieces which have different spacing requirements of the mounting holes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for controlling automatic machines such as a metal cutting tool to perform predetermined operations on a work-piece. Different means are provided for sensing the workpiece as to shape, diameter or length to determine the degree of its adjustment or wear. An inspection device or probe is provided with a transducing means operable to generate signals which are indicative of workpiece dimensions and or location. The signals are analyzed by means of computing circuits which generate control signals for performing such functions such as cycle starting, correction of tool adjustment and varying the control program to permit the performance of predetermined operations on the work by the tool.

Abstract: A drilling head system for use in simultaneous drilling of a plurality of holes in an I-beam web. The system is characterized by its motor driven control features which permit vertical and horizontal adjustment of a drilling platform and thus the individual drilling spindles with respect to an I-beam supported securely beneath the drilling head.

Abstract: An automatic thread cutting machine for nuts and similar mass-produced parts where the nuts or the like are taken from a magazine and moved through a feed trough into a guide where they are held secured against rotation and are then pushed by means of a pusher over a rotating thread cutter from where they are subsequently removed while the pusher is returned to its starting position. The machine is provided with an actuating cylinder which is capable of being charged with a pressure medium and which has a piston rod that is provided at its free end with a plunger serving as the pusher. A clock pulse controlled switch valve arrangement is disposed in the pressure medium line leading to the actuating cylinder, and the machine is electrically protected by a safety device which is influenced by the position of the piston rod, the safety device being rendered operative in dependence on the position of the piston rod.

Abstract: Electrically operated apparatus for adjusting the working position of a machine tool to compensate for such conditions as tool wear by automatically maintaining a predetermined position of the tool within desired tolerance limits. In response to a signal from automatic gaging equipment indicating the necessity of moving the cutting tool either toward or away from the workpiece, a synchronous electrical motor drives tool compensating apparatus to provide for adjusted movement of the tool through a predetermined incremental distance. Limit switches determine the working and retracted positions of the tool and a movable slip ring which carries the limit switch actuator enables movement of the tool to adjusted working positions to compensate for tool wear.

Abstract: A mechanical apparatus and tool for clearing small areas of the plastic film insulation in flat flexible circuits and cables to permit making electrical connections to the metal foil conductors. An end-mill-like rotating cutter is fed into the laminated workpiece. Novel cutter geometry provides differential requirements of feed force and torque, cutting two to three times more easily into plastic than into copper. Means are provided to limit the feed force to prevent penetration into the copper foil. Means responsive to torque may be employed to retract the cutting tool automatically. A novel spring-loaded telescoping chuck is applicable to limit the feed force in single-spindle or multiple-spindle machines. The sides of the tool are slightly hollow-ground to reduce the feed-force required. The lips may be ground slightly convex to compensate for the elastic indentation of the workpiece.

Abstract: A tool spindle is rotatably driven by a drive motor with the spindle being mounted axially movable in a feed and retraction stroke. The drive motor also rotates a lead screw through a drive train with the lead screw moving the spindle in the feed stroke upon engagement of nuts therewith and permitting spring retraction of the spindle in the retraction stroke when the nuts are disengaged therefrom. A clutch in the drive train transmits a normal rotational force therethrough to the lead screw during a normal tool feed stroke, but disengages and interrupts normal rotational forces therethrough upon an abnormal resistance to the normal tool feed stroke reacting reversely through the lead screw to the clutch. Such abnormal resistance to the tool feed stroke could result from a selectively preset stop or an unforeseen obstruction or a tool dulled beyond proper use.

Abstract: A compound curvature workpiece is secured in a fixture and scanned to detect position variations by an optical camera carried by a manipulator head. The manipulator head is driven in the X, and Y direction and includes an annular piston for movement in the Z direction. The manipulator head has a spherical bearing adjacent the workpiece which cooperates with .alpha., and .beta. angle drives to position the camera or tools perpendicular to the workpiece. Position variations detected by the scan camera are utilized to provide accurate coordinates for a tool, such as a drill, which is substitute for the camera after scanning is complete.The present invention relates to the field of machine tool assemblies, and more particularly, to the manipulation of tools for operating on workpieces having compound curvature surfaces, such as aircraft structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic device for controlling the termination of an operation on a workpiece by means of the spindle of a machine. Said device comprises, around the front or tool end of the spindle, a sleeve provided with a front seal adapted, at the end of the operation, to engage the workpiece or a jig clamping same, so as to form with said workpiece or jig a closed, sealed space supplied with compressed air, an air exhaust port opening into said space and being adapted to be connected to a pneumatic receiver for controlling the end of the operation.

Abstract: This automatic machine is intended for machining workpieces in order to reduce their want-of-balance, notably in the case of small or medium series of rotary parts. This machine, adapted to balance dynamically these parts, comprises a measuring station and a plurality of machining stations disposed on a common circle, and a central rotary device having a vertical axis and disposed centrally of said stations for transferring simultaneously all the parts from one station to the next station in the same direction of rotation.

Abstract: In the weight correction of workpieces prior to finish-machining, such as connecting rods, the dimensions of the pre-machined surfaces are measured and employed as a factor in the adjustment of the machine tool for weight correction of the workpieces, for example, by machining material off or adding material onto the workpiece, so that the workpiece will have the desired weight characteristics after final machining.