Abstract: A method is disclosed for finishing a roughly shaped elliptical cylinder bore to an accurate final shape of predetermined major and minor axis. A circular cutter body with an effective diameter equal to the desired major axis. Then, a tilt angle is determined at which, when the circle of the cutter body is tipped away from the bore axis with the bore axis running through the center of the circle, a projection of the circle into a plane perpendicular to the bore axis will yield the desired minor axis. Then, the cutter body is powered about a secondary axis, at the tilt angle, relative to a bore primary axis and advanced linearly into the bore along the bore axis.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming a base defining a trunnion and a portion of a leg for a roller-cone-type rock bit. A workpiece is rough formed to comprise leg work, having a preliminary end surface, and trunnion work extending angularly from the leg work. An interface plate is mounted on a holder of a lathe with an indexing surface thereof facing generally radially inwardly but angled to correspond to a desired angular orientation of a trunnion in a finished bit. The workpiece is removably mounted on the interface plate, with the preliminary end surface abutting the indexing surface, by at least one pin-type connector projecting from one of the surfaces into the other. The trunnion work is then turned on the lathe. Other parts of the machining of the workpiece may be performed by removing the workpiece from the first interface plate and similarly mounting it on plates adapted for other machines, but otherwise similar to the first plate.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the length of a vehicle brake booster output rod and assembling the same into the brake booster is provided, the output rod being a thermoplastic or thermoset material that is generally cylindrical in shape with a central longitudinal bore with an axial stop means, and the output rod having an insertable button having a head with an attached stem, the booster having a housing with a central opening surrounding the output rod with a surrounding first formed surface for mounting a master cylinder, the method including piloting a cutting tool by inserting an elongated member into the bore of the output rod, orienting the cutting tool by mating a fixture locationally associated with the cutting tool on the first formed surface of the vacuum booster housing, preloading the output rod with the elongated rod by contacting means with the elongated rod to simulate a spring load of a master cylinder, cutting the output rod with the cutting tool to the correct dimension, removing the elongated memb

Abstract: A computerized apparatus and method for drilling holes in elongated workpieces. Predetermined locations for holes are input into a computer by visually aligning hole locations on a template with the drilling axis of the apparatus. The computer controls movement of the drill and of the ring segment relative to the drill. The workpiece is moved relative to the drill and is stopped at each predetermined location for drilling.

Abstract: A mobile power tool operating assembly for performing material treatment operations, such as drilling, has permanent magnet means to mount the power tool on a ferromagnetic workpiece, and release means to permit release of the magnet means for repositioning of the tool. The release means comprises a screw threaded jack which tilts the assembly so as to overcome the magnetic attraction. The tool can then be repositioned and lowered to its normal working attitude.

Abstract: A drill construction to overcome the problem of high speed (>5000 rpm), high feed rate (>200 inches/minute) chip removal in deep hole drilling of nonferrous workpieces, comprising: (a) a shank for receiving rotary power, (b) an elongate bit extending from such shank coaxially aligned therewith and having a continuous single spiral land occupying one quadrant or less of said bit cross-section with a single spiral flute surrounding said land; (c) a cutting end portion extending integrally from said bit, said end portion having a conically-shaped end surface interrupted by diametrically opposed flutes, one of said flutes being a continuation of the bit flute thereby to define cutting edges, said edges further being defined by arcuate indentations resulting in a plurality of cusps to assist in breaking chips as they are formed; and (d) channels for conducting high pressure (>800 psi) fluid for cooling the bit, end portion, and chips during drilling and for hydrodynamically forcing the broken chips along

Abstract: A vacuum dish (10) is rigidly bolted (60) to the support table (12) of a milling machine (14). A bowling ball (74) is set down onto the upwardly directed hard rim (72) of the vacuum dish (10). An elastomeric seal (86) is moved upwardly along the sidewall (66) of the vacuum dish (10), onto an upwardly converging conical surface (70) which borders the rim (72). This puts the elastomeric seal (86) into contact with both the conical surface (70) and an adjacent surface portion of the bowling ball (74). Precision lead screw mechanisms (42, 48, 44, 50) are operated to shift the support table (12) and the vacuum dish supported bowling ball (74) along X and Y axes, to position the bowling ball (74) relative to the vertical axis (Z) of a hole boring bit (30). The hole boring (30) is both rotated and moved vertically downwardly to form a finger or thumb hole in the bowling ball (74).

Abstract: An apparatus (10,100) for counterboring a pipe is attached to a pipe end surfacing machine (12) and is comprised of a frame (14) pivotally mounted to a flywheel (16). A cutting tool (50) and guide wheel (72) are attached to said frame (14). Means (91) for positioning the frame so as to locate the guide wheel (72) and cutting tool (50) relative to the pipe for machining is connected between said flywheel and said frame. In operation, the apparatus (10,100) is inserted into said pipe and the cutting tool (50) is positioned to contact the inner surface of the pipe adjacent the end of said pipe. The flywheel is activated and rotates, thereby rotating the cutting tool (50).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and equipment designed to drill countersunk holes on surfaces of unknown positions in which a presser fitted to the tool support is placed against the surface to be drilled, and can move axially in relation to the tool; the presser is used as a limit switch to control tool return.

Abstract: A chamfering tool and method for use in the precision backchamfering of a rotating part. The chamfering tool has a cutting head portion selected to match the size of the surface to be chamfered. Behind the cutting head is a shank portion of reduced diameter which connects the cutting head portion to an enlarged portion which supports the chamfering tool in a fixed tool holder. If the part centerline is not aligned with the rotating collet centerline, the part center traces a circular orbit. The shank portion of reduced diameter enables the tool to flex so that the cutting head can follow the part centerline being guided by the part's inner diameter.

Abstract: A deburring tool is constructed of a pair of wire sections resiliently interconnected with each other so that each biases the other against the internal side walls of a bore formed in a workpiece. Abrasive material is provided on either or both of the sections, and rotation of the tool about its longitudinal axis causes engagement of the abrasive material with the area of the bore wall at which burrs are to be removed. The tool can be formed of a single length of wire having a curved portion on which the abrasive material is located, or the tool can assume various other configurations. The single wire version can be used to remove burrs from the interior of very small bores.

Abstract: A machine for taper threading the end of a bar such as reinforcing bar used in concrete construction utilizes a power operated vice to clamp and feed the bar end axially into a rotary head which contains chaser tooling holders which open uniformly on the bar end as the head rotates. The rotary head is axially stationary but contains an axially movable key or linear cam which engages a readily removable transversely extending control rod assembly in turn moving the chaser holders. Axial movement of the power vice and thus the bar end at a controlled axial speed with respect to the rotary speed of the head moves the key to cause the movement of the chaser holders. The chaser holders in addition to supporting the thread cutting chasers also support ahead of the chaser an indexable triangular insert to pre-cone the bar end.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for drilling multilayer printed circuit boards, and is also directed to a printed circuit board drill for the implementation of this method. When, based on a known measuring procedure, an offset of the interior layers of the printed circuit boards relative to the rated position is identified, the drill spindles must be appropriately adjusted before drilling in order to avoid rejects. This, however, has the disadvantage that respectively only one printed circuit board can be drilled at one time. Contrasting therewith, the invention provides that the seating plate for the printed circuit board of the drill can be designed variable with respect to the drill spindle, so that a plurality of seating plates can now be adjusted independently of one another. As a consequence, the employment of multi-spindle drills becomes possible.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling glass drilling in which the starting position for the drill bit is calibrated prior to drilling. The drill bit is initially spaced close to the surface to be drilled and the rotating bit is slowly advanced toward the surface while a cooling fluid is discharged through an axial passage through the bit. Contact between the bit and the surface is determined by sensing either an increase in the fluid back pressure or a decrease in the fluid flow rate. The determined bit position is stored and used as a starting position when subsequently drilling holes. The starting position may be modified for subsequent workpieces to compensate for bit wear.

Abstract: A portable system for reworking the inside diameter of oil field pipe and casing, and especially plastic coated pipe that is to be re-coated. The system includes a grinderhead that removes irregularities from the inner surface of the pipe to render the pipe suitable for use in deep wells. A cutterhead assembly is rotated as it is forced into the interior of a joint of pipe. The cutterhead assembly includes a mandrel which turns a special cutting device having a plurality of grinders for engaging and cutting the inner wall of the pipe as the entire grinderhead is forced to travel through the pipe. Alignment and grinding members attached to the mandrel maintain the longitudinal axis of the grinders in proper alignment to produce the desired new pipe inside diameter. Included in the system is a special cutterhead for removing old plastic coating material in advance of the grinderhead whereby the cutterhead mostly removes plastic while the grinderhead mostly removes metal from the inner pipe surface.

Abstract: To manufacture inner and outer parts for a rotary piston machine in which said parts have parallel axes and have interengaging helical engaging surfaces having convolutions in numbers differing by one and are operable to perform relative to each other rotating and eccentric revolving movements, the helical engaging surface of at least one of said parts is machined by a cutting tool, which is rotated about an axis which is parallel to and spaced from the axis of the part that is to be machined.

Abstract: A boring tool for refinishing the bearing seat of a limited slip differential case having a side opening and having upper and lower bores which are concentric with the bearing seat. Generally frustoconical centering bushings are wedged into the upper and lower bores of the case, and the boring head is inserted into the case through the side opening. Thereafter, a boring bar is slid downwardly through the upper bushing and the boring head and is slid into the lower bushing, the boring head then being secured to the boring bar. When the boring bar is rotated, the bushings hold the boring head in concentric relation with the bearing seat.

Abstract: An annular hole cutter wherein each tooth is formed with a radially outer cutting edge and at least alternate teeth are formed with radially extending, circumferentially staggered inner and outer cutting edges. The bottom face of each tooth is formed with oppositely radially inclined inner and outer back-off faces which intersect in a downwardly extending crest which in turn intersects the radially outer cutting edge. The outer back-off faces of alternate teeth are vertically relieved relative to the outer back-off faces of the intermediate teeth and the inner back-off faces of the intermediate teeth are vertically relieved relative to the inner back-off faces of the alternate teeth a distance greater than the chip load at which the cutter is operated. In the preferred form, the radially inner portion only of the unrelieved inner back-off face is relieved to a greater extent than the relieved inner back-off faces.

Abstract: During assembly, individual segments (10, 12, 14) comprising a housing (18) designed to encase and support a rotating assembly are positioned on a fixture (16) and releasably joined. The fixture (16) is adapted to engage the annular volumes (20, 22, 24, 26) that locate the radial support means chosen to support the rotating assembly.

Abstract: In drilling a bore in a structural component (3) using a hollow cylindrical core drill bit (4) initially a guide such as a disk (1) or a template (12) is secured to the surface of a structural component (3) for guiding one of the inner or outer circumferential periphery of the core drill bit. At the commencement of the drilling operation, the core drill bit (4) is guided by the disk or template and maintains the bit in a centered position. The guide can be fixed to the surface of the structural component (3) in a known manner, such as by an adhesive or by fastening elements (2, 6) driven directly into the structural component. Generally core drill bits of smaller diameter can be guided by the outer circumferential periphery of the guide (2) or by the inside circumferential periphery of the template (12).

Abstract: A device and method are provided for side-drilling of catheters. The method comprises storing side-drilling hole patterns, selecting a side-drilling hole pattern, positioning the catheter at successive locations defined by the pattern, and drilling holes at the locations. The device carries out the method to side-drill catheters.

Abstract: A drilling machine and method of operation for drilling through holes in a workpiece while minimizing penetration of the drill tool into a back-up material which supports the workpiece. Before placing the workpiece on the machine, the vertical position of the back-up material is mapped. After selection of the drill site, the mapped position of the backup material proximate the drill site is retrieved. Using this information, a computer controller determines an absolute vertical position for a lower limit of the drill stroke. This lower limit is independent of the top of the workpiece or the thickness of the workpiece, thus eliminating the need to determine either of those values. The drill stroke is terminated once the drill tool reaches the lower limit, which is a nominal depth below the mapped position of the back-up material, insuring that a hole is completely drilled through the workpiece, while minimizing penetration of the back-up material.

Abstract: A cutting tool for finishing a back surface of a workpiece having a hole is proposed. A blade having an equilateral triangular shape is attached to a shaft of the cutting tool. One of cutting edges formed along the sides of the blade projects transversely of the shaft. The tip of the projecting cutting edge comes to contact the workpiece's back surface. When the workpiece is rotated and the shaft is moved in the diametrical direction relative to the hole, the cutting edge tip grinds the back surface. At this time, if the shaft moves in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece, the blade creates a notch in communication with the hole on the workpiece's back surface, resulting in a stepped borehole.

Abstract: A machine for duplicating musical reeds comprises a force sensor supporting a drill bit, which acts both as a measuring contact, when stationary, or as a tool for removing material from the surface of a reed, when rotated. A flexural resistance map of a master reed, having desirable musical characteristics, is made initially, by moving the drill bit toward the reed surface a predetermined distance after initial contact is made, and storing the resultant reaction force in a computer. The master reed is then replaced with a new reed, at least as stiff as the master, and the process is repeated, comparing the readings with corresponding readings for the master. Where the reed is too stiff, material is removed from its surface by the drill bit; this is repeated over the entire reed surface, until the flexural resistance map of the new reed matches that of the master.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for effecting a machining operation, e.g. drilling, on a multi-layered printed circuit board utilizing a machining apparatus having a spindle for driving a tool. The spindle is movable in the axial direction of the tool and a pressure foot for pressing the printed circuit board during the machining is mounted on the spindle for relative movement with respect thereto. The method includes the steps of determining the position of the end of a tool with respect to the end of a pressure foot in the state before the pressure foot contacts the printed circuit board, setting the amount of relative movement between the pressure foot and the tool necessary for effecting the desired machining, on the basis of the position of the end of the tool and a predetermined set value of the machining depth; and effecting the machining on the printed circuit board by controlling the feed of the tool in conformity with the amount of relative movement.

Abstract: In drilling control method and apparatus for making holes through a composite workpiece made of a plurality of materials having different machining properties, the workpiece is first drilled at a feed speed and a rotational speed of a drill which are selected. When the drilling of the workpiece is initiated, the amounts of the feeding speed and the rotational speed are detected by a feed speed sensor and a rotational speed sensor, respectively, and thrust force applied to the drill during the drilling is also detected by a thrust sensor. The detected feed speed and the rotational speed of the drill are compared in a comparison unit with optimum values which are adapted to the detected thrust force.

Abstract: The formation of intermittent chips or chip breakage are assured while machining a rotating workpiece by causing the undeformed chip thickness to vary periodically and be reduced to zero in each period of its variation. To obtain the periodic reduction of the undeformed chip thickness to zero, a cutting tool is made to oscillate along its feed advance path. Tool oscillation is controlled so that the tool's position depends on the angular displacement of the rotating workpiece. The number of cycles of tool oscillation per revolution of the workpiece may be freely chosen depending on the required length of chip segments. The oscillation amplitude needed to form intermittent chips depends on this number, feed advance per revolution, and number of simultaneously applied cutting edges of the tool. The oscillatory movement of the tool may be enforced in many ways.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drilling apparatus that can position a drill at the precise center between two overlapping flanges and clamp at that position while a self feeding drill drills a hole.

Abstract: A system for cutting lateral holes in plastic pipe liners at the locations of lateral taps in a surrounding pipe comprises a cylindrical body which is inserted into the pipe liner, and remote devices for observing and controlling operation of the body. A rotary cutter, having axial and radial cutting teeth, can be remotely translated in three dimensions with respect to the body, making it possible to cut non-circular holes; the body can be rotated about its axis within the liner as well. A video camera on the sled permits observation of the cutter. Lateral taps are precisely located by monitoring return signals from a microwave transmitter/receiver on the sled, and identifying points of maximum deviation in microwave reflection.

Abstract: A spot facing method and apparatus for processing a printed circuit board incorporates a sensing device having a sensor probe capable of sensing the level of the surface of a printed circuit board, another sensing device for sensing the position of the end of a tool, measuring circuits for measuring the distance between the sensing probe and the end of the tool and the distance between the surface of the printed circuit board and the end of the tool in accordance with the signals from the sensing devices, and a controller connected to the measuring circuits so as to control the feed of the tool thereby attaining a high dimensional precision in the depthwise direction in the spot facing.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of forming a large number of holes in a given area. A plurality of tools spaced along X and Y axes are used to form holes simultaneously, and the tools are successively moved in steps to drill more holes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling holes into the mantle of a cylinder in a paper machine while the cylinder is in its place of operation in a paper machine is disclosed. After each cycle of drilling, a multi-spindle drilling machine is transferred along guide rails supported against a cylinder adjacent to the cylinder to be machined. Prior to drilling, the drill equipment is tensioned between the mantle face of the cylinder to be machined and the mantle face of the adjacent cylinder.

Abstract: A steel sheet (10) having a stress-relief annealed, structure with a plurality of magnetic domains (12) is made by drilling a plurality of closely spaced, small holes (15) through the entire thickness of the steel sheet, where the drilling is effective to form additional domain walls (17) and subdivide the magnetic domains.

Abstract: A printed circuit board boring machine bores printed circuit boards stacked on a table, by a drill while pressing the printed circuit boards with a pressure foot. A piece having a hole through which the drill may pass is detachably mounted on a tip end portion of the pressure foot with a center of the hole being aligned with an axis of the drill. The piece may be attached to the pressure foot before the boring work so that the boards and the piece may be simultaneously bored by the drill while the hole in the piece may be used as a guide for the boring work of the boards.

Abstract: A machine tool and method for simultaneously boring, facing and back boring three bores in a differential carrier with three tools that rotate coaxially with their spindle axes. Each tool has a first slide at its free end that carries a first cutting insert for back boring a first diameter and then generating a radial face that serves as a bearing seat on the differential carrier. Each tool also has a second slide carrying a second insert for boring a second diameter. The construction, arrangement and movement of the two slides are correlated with each other to maintain the tool in balance during extension and retraction of both slides. In the preferred embodiment the first insert must be retracted when it is advanced into the carrier, extended to back bore and then retracted to generate a radial face. The second insert is at the same location circumferentially of the tool. One insert is retracted while the other insert is extended, and vice versa, to maintain the tool in balance.

Abstract: A method of forming a disposable suction swab from an elongated stem having an enlarged, resilient tip at one end. The stem is installed in a longitudinal central channel in the tip, and the assembly is then compressed between a pair of displaceable clamp plates, the plates having drill apertures in registration with one another and with the tip being in alignment with the apertures. A hole is then bored through the compressed tip and stem by drilling through the apertures in the clamp plates. The plates are released to eject the formed swab.

Abstract: A method of drilling a through-hole in a printed circuit board panel, which comprises placing a water-soluble lubricant sheet on one surface or each of two surfaces of a printed circuit board panel and drilling a through-hole through the printed circuit board panel, the water-soluble lubricant sheet being composed of a mixture of 20 to 90% by weight of a polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight of not less than 10,000 with 10 to 80% by weight of a water-soluble lubricant and having a thickness of 0.05 to 3 mm.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for forming a through bore or recess in a turbine blade, for a lacing wire hole for example, includes a machine capable of approaching the area to be machined in a first direction during which an initial machining operation may take place and them moving in a second direction completing the machining operation. Support means are provided to ensure the blade is held firmly. The method and apparatus permit of accurate machining of blades when they are in an array of blades still secured to the rotor.

Abstract: A guide/drill stop in the form of a hollow one-piece cylindrical sleeve for frictional engagement with a cutting tool, e.g., a drill bit, to regulate the desired depth of a hole to be drilled. The guide/drill stop sleeve extends optionally over the portion of the shank of the drill bit inserted into the collet or chuck of the machine or drill to enable the collet or chuck to secure the positioning of the drill stop during drilling. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the guide/drill stop sleeve may cover only a portion of the drill bit such that the sleeve does not encompass the section of the shank of the drill bit received into the collet or chuck of the particular machine or drill. In general a drill stop, constructed of various materials in various lengths and diameters, to enable precise regulation of drilled holes of varying depth is provided.

Abstract: Composite articles, cutting tools and wear parts are prepared by densification of a mixture comprising whiskers, fibers, or particles of hard refractory transition metal carbides, nitrides or carbonitrides uniformly distributed in a titanium diboride matrix. Optionally, other dispersoids may also be incorporated. The preferred composite article or cutting tool has a fracture toughness equal to or greater than about 2.5 MN.multidot.m.sup.1/2. Methods of preparation and use are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing metal from a workpiece so as to form an incomplete hole therein is disclosed. The tool includes a shank having a plurality of cutting inserts adjustably attached to one end thereof. The cutting inserts are axially spaced apart from one another along the tool shank by a predetermined distance which is greater than the thickness of the workpiece. The first cutting insert functions as a drill or end mill to form a rough incomplete hole through the workpiece, while the second cutting insert functions as a boring tool to finish the incomplete hole. An opposite end of the tool shank is retained within a bore formed in a tool holder. The tool holder is supported within a conventional rotational means, such as a lathe. Both the opposite end of the tool shank and the bore formed in the tool holder are formed eccentrically to provide maximum flexibility in adjusting the rotational axis of the cutting inserts and, therefore, the diameter of the incomplete hole being formed.

Abstract: A method for drilling very small diameter holes (0.005 inches or smaller) in a printed circuit board is described, employing an entry overlay sheet. The entry overlay sheet is a thin layer of a homogenous polymer material, having a thickness of 0.005 to 0.010 inches, but at least 1.5 times the drill diameter. To provide improved drilling characteristics the polymer may be filled with mineral filler particles such as talcum powder. The method of drilling the printed circuit board includes (i) placing a sheet of this entry material on top of the printed circuit board, and (ii) drilling through the entry material and printed circuit board in succession.

Abstract: The countersink tool assembly of the present invention is rotatably driven by a conventional drill apparatus and includes an insert having a central aperture and two diametrically opposed ears which extend into the central aperture. A multi-fluted countersink tool is concentrically mounted within the aperture such that the diametrically opposed ears extend into the flutes of the countersink tool at a desired axial location. The ears are adapted to engage and follow the contour of the curved outer wall surface which concentrically surrounds the hole. As such, the countersink tool assembly translates rectilinearly with respect to corresponding changes in the curved contour of the outer wall surface.

Abstract: In a method of and an apparatus for drilling a hole in a workpiece, a pressure foot associated with a drill is moved into contact with the workpiece, and a drill bit associated with the drill is moved from a drill-starting position into the workpiece, toward the drill-starting position and again into the workpiece while maintaining the pressure foot in constant contact with the workpiece. The drill is reciprocally fed by a plurality of times under the pressure of the pressure foot acting upon the printed circuit board. In either of the method and the apparatus, a hole with a high aspect ratio can be formed in a workpiece made from a thin, flexible material.

Abstract: A portable system for reworking the inside diameter of heavy oil field casing, and especially casing that has irregularities on the inner surface thereof that render the casing unsuitable for use in deep wells. A cutting head assembly is rotated as it is forced into the interior of a joint of casing. The cutting head assembly includes a mandrel which turns a special cutting device having a plurality of cutters for engaging and cutting the inner wall of the pipe as the entire cutterhead is forced to travel through the pipe. Alignment members attached to the mandrel on either side of the cutting device maintain the longitudinal axis of the cutters in proper alignment to produce the desired new pipe inside diameter. After the first half of the pipe is sized or trued, the joint of casing is reversed and the other half is cut to the same new desired inside diameter. Included in the system is a special grinder for reworking pipe having only marginal imperfections.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a hole in webbing constructed of thermoplastic material utilizes a clamping assembly for holding the webbing in a stationary condition for working thereon, a rotatable drilling tool having an elongated shank with a leading end and a flute spiraling along the shank from the leading end, and a burner for heating a portion of the drilling tool shank adjacent the leading end. The drilling tool is supported adjacent the clamping assembly for rotation of the tool about a rotation axis which corresponds with the longitudinal axis of the shank and for movement of the leading end of the tool along a linear path corresponding with the rotation axis into and out of the webbing held by the clamping assembly.

Abstract: The invention is a method for continually adjusting fastener drilling and installation in response to part growth during assembly of certain aircraft components. A series of normal installation locations are initially selected where fasteners are to be sequentially installed one at a time. Part growth is monitored at a certain reference point ahead of the advancement of fastener installation, and is sensed immediately after each installation. The position of the next-in-line installation is adjusted proportionately to the part growth which resulted from the previous installation, and so on, until the series is installed.

Abstract: A multiple piercing apparatus for piercing a workpiece having a plurality of reference marks defining the piercing locations. A plurality of adjustably movable piercing unit cases are opposedly arranged on opposite sides of a machine bed. A piercing element, such as a twist drill or punching assembly, is mounted for movement with respect to the unit case to be aligned with a respective reference mark in response to data received from a sensor, such as a camera or photo-sensor.

Abstract: In CNC machining, the radius of the circle described by a tool tip has been set manually using a separate setting machine. The present invention allows such a radius to be set automatically. A rotary datuming touch trigger probe has internal and external cylindrical datum surfaces 40 and 41. Threee piezo-electric crystals 47a, 47b, and 47c are mounted between a mounting member 43 for the cylindrical surfaces and a collar 44 fixed to a machining table 46. The tip of a tool forming part of a boring head is brought into engagement with the surfaces by driving the tool along the U-axis and when engagement occurs it is sensed by the piezo-electric crystals which send a signal to a computer. The procedure is repeated with the tool tip 180.degree. and 270.degree. around the cylindrical surfaces from its original position allowing the computer to determine the radius of the tool tip relative to the axis of the datum surfaces. Other forms of rotary datuming probes are also described.

Abstract: A tool for use in adjusting the camber and/or caster of a vehicle wheel attached to a suspension system of a vehicle having a strut member which is secured at an upper end of the vehicle at a first position includes a mechanism for selecting a second position to secure the strut member to the vehicle and includes a mechanism for selecting the second position including a guide for assisting in making an aperture at the second position.