Abstract: A machine tool 1 comprises a bed 11, a column 12, a spindle head 15, a spindle 16, a saddle 17, a table 18, a feed mechanism for moving the spindle head 15, the saddle 17 and the table 18 in Z-axis, Y-axis and X-axis directions respectively, a position detector for detecting the positions of the spindle head 15, saddle 17 and table 18, a controller for feedback controlling the feed mechanism, a position detector 51 for detecting the position of the spindle head 15, a position detector 54 for detecting the position of the spindle head 15, a position detector 57 for detecting the position of the table 18, and a measurement frame 50 which is configured with a different member from the bed 11 and the column 12 and on which readers 53, 56, 59 of the position detectors 51, 54, 57 are disposed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shaving the inside of barrels. The invention relates to reconditioning used wine barrels by shaving the inside surface to a predetermined depth, ready for re-crozering, toasting, and re-use. Conventional shaving methods typically involve routing the internal surface by hand, but this technique is problematic in that it is a very slow process, the quality of the wood is often adversely affected, and there is no way of ensuring that the surface will be shaved to the same depth across the entire surface. The resultant internal dimensions of the barrel are not reflective, relatively, of the original barrel surface. The invention includes a scanning device to scan the internal dimensions of the barrel, and a cutting device to shave the internal surface to a predetermined depth relative to the scanned internal dimensions and where the scanning device and the cutting device may be supported by different robotic arms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for shaving the inside of barrels. In particular, the present invention relates to reconditioning used wine barrels by shaving the inside surface to a predetermined depth, ready for re-crozering, toasting, and re-use. Conventional shaving methods typically involve routing the internal surface by hand, but this technique is problematic in that it is a very slow process, the quality of the wood is often adversely affected, and there is no way of ensuring that the surface will be shaved to the same depth across the entire surface. Therefore, the resultant internal dimensions of the barrel are not reflective, relatively, of the original barrel surface. The apparatus of the present invention includes a scanning device adapted to scan the internal dimensions of the barrel, and a cutting device adapted to shave the internal surface to a predetermined depth relative to the scanned internal dimensions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dental machining apparatus (1) for blanks (3) comprising a tool spindle (2) having an axis of rotation (2.8) and mounted in a bearing housing (1.2) disposed on the machine housing side. A force sensor (5) is also provided, which is disposed between the tool spindle (2) and the bearing housing (1.2) for the purpose of detecting the machining force acting on the tool spindle (2), wherein the tool spindle (2) can be supported against the bearing housing (1.2) directly or indirectly via the force sensor (5).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a hole depth in a composite-material workpiece machined by a orbital cutting tool, including the steps of applying a low-level electric potential to an electrically insulated cutting tool having a cutting head with radial and axial cutting edges and with a predetermined axial length; determining a first zero reference position as the cutting tool initially contacts a first surface of the workpiece and closes an electric circuit through the grounded workpiece; and detecting a second reference position when the cutting head penetrates an opposite, second surface of the workpiece. The finished hole depth is determined by deducting the predetermined axial length of the cutting head from the total length of axial advancement from the first zero reference position to the second reference position. The orbital machining apparatus includes ceramic bearings electrically insulating the spindle and the cutting tool from surrounding components of the apparatus.

Abstract: A pulse generation means that generates a pulse each time an XY movable member moves linearly by a certain amount relative to a base is provided. A workpiece and a light and dark pattern member are provided on the base. A tool, a light and dark pattern scanning sensor that scans the light and dark pattern and outputs a scanning signal, and a cutting means that moves the tool with respect to the workpiece in a cutting depth direction, orthogonal to the linear motion direction, are provided on the XY movable member. While the XY movable member moves relative to the base, the tool is moved by the cutting means in accordance with a logical AND operation performed on the scanning signal from the light and dark pattern scanning sensor and the pulse from the pulse generation means to perform machining.

Abstract: A circuit board router (10) and method thereof. De-paneling of printed circuit boards (62) off a panel 860) is efficiently increased by a router (40) which is positioned at a location above the panel (60). A fixture positions the panel 860) below the router (40) on a base (16). A controller (64) activates a first drive mechanism (20), a second drive mechanism (26), and a third drive mechanism (32) to guide an X-arm (18), a Y-arm (24) and a Z-arm (10), respectively. The router (40), located on the Z-arm (30), moves downward to engage a router bit (42) to the panel (60) to depanel the printed circuit board (62) from the panel. A fixture chip (72), which has a preprogrammed pattern of the panel (60), is embedded inside the fixture (58). A radio frequency transmitter (80) transmits the pattern to a radio frequency receiver (82) that relays the pattern to the controller (64).

Abstract: A machine tool comprises: a workpiece spindle (12) having an electromagnetic chuck (18) provided on an upper end thereof for clamping a workpiece (W), and extending along the Z-axis; a tool magazine which accommodates a tool (T) and a centering jig (20); an automatic tool changer (17) for exchanging the tool (T) between the tool magazine and a tool spindle; and a run-out measuring device (19) for measuring a run-out of the workpiece (W) placed on the electromagnetic chuck (18); wherein a workpiece correction distance is calculated on the basis of the run-out of the workpiece (W) measured by the run-out measuring device (19) before the workpiece (W) is clamped by the electromagnetic chuck (18), and a workpiece centering operation is automatically performed by the centering jig (20) attached to the tool spindle until the run-out of the workpiece (W) falls within an allowable range.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a machine whereby a workpiece is held on a worktable of the machine with a suction force. When the work piece has a surface area insufficient to receive a full cut from a tool mounted in a tool head of the machine, the machine automatically adjusts the depth and the cutting speed of the tool to lesson the cut so the workpiece is not moved or ejected from the worktable. The depth and speed of the tool may be adjusted in a single cut pass of the tool or they may be adjusted in successive cut passes.

Abstract: A process for edge-machining an optical (spectacle) lens including preliminary machining of an edge of the lens rotatable in controlled manner about a rotational axis of a workpiece by a first edge-machining tool adjustable radially relative to the rotational axis of the workpiece, whereby the lens is given a circumferential contour which corresponds to the circumferential contour of a lens holder apart from a slight degree of oversizing, contactless measurement of the preliminarily machined lens edge, and finish-machining of the lens edge, taking account of the detected edge data of the preliminarily machined lens, by means of a second edge-machining tool adjustable radially relative to the rotational axis of the workpiece, whereby the lens is provided with a circumferential contour substantially complementary to the circumferential contour of the lens holder.

Abstract: A machine is provided for stripping the ground wall insulation from a stator bar quickly and in such a manner that the copper strands will not be damaged. The apparatus of the invention includes a power driven cutting tool for milling or routing the insulation from a portion of the insulated bar, a sensing device for detecting the location of the copper strands and a height adjustment assembly for determining a disposition of the bar with respect to the cutting tool. In an exemplary embodiment, the height adjustment assembly is adjusted in accordance with the location of the copper strands as detected by the sensing device to substantially prevent the cutting tool from making damaging contact with the copper strands.

Abstract: An adaptive control system for adaptively controlling a turning operation performed at a work piece by a turning tool adjusts a controlled input operation parameter F to maintain an output operation parameter &Dgr;M substantially at a predetermined value &Dgr;Mo to compensate variation of the output operation paramemeter &Dgr;M caused by the variation of at least one operation condition B=B (t). The system comprises a sensor (8) of the output operation parameter &Dgr;M for providing a signal Uc proportional to a current value &Dgr;Mc and an adaptive controller (10) for determining a value Fc to which the input operation parameter F should be adjusted, as a function of kUc, where k is a signal transmission coefficient which comprises an invariant signal transmission coefficient component ko inversely proportional to &Dgr;Mo.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing large, semi-flexible metal components includes a fixture that holds the component blank in a desired position for manufacturing operations by accurate numerically controlled machine tools using original numerical part definition records, utilizing spatial relationships between key features of detail parts or subassemblies as represented by coordination features machined into the parts and subassemblies, thereby making the parts and subassemblies intrinsically determinant of the dimensions and contour of the part.

Abstract: In a vertical machine tool has a main spindle head (13); a main spindle (15) rotatably supported by the main spindle head vertically; and a worktable (7, 9) movable horizontally, a frontmost stroke end position of the worktable (7, 9) relative to the main spindle head (13) is determined in such a way that a rearmost edge portion (7a) of the worktable (7, 9) is dislocated a predetermined set-up stoke Sa away from a central position (C) of the main spindle (15). Therefore, when work is mounted by use of a crane or hoist, it is possible to prevent the hook of the crane from interfering with the main spindle head, thus improving the set-up workability. Further, it is preferable to form a plurality of grooves (25) extending in front and rear direction of the machine tool on an upper surface of the worktable also to improve the set-up workability, without forming a plurality of grooves in the right and left direction of the machine tool.

Abstract: Wheels of rail vehicles are trued while the wheels are kept rotating about a wheel center of rotation that is continuously corrected to keep the center of rotation in a fixed position in response to eccentricities a wheel may have, especially in its outer circumference. For this purpose, a sensor for each wheel of two wheels forming a set senses a respective excursion of a center of rotation of each wheel being trued in a set to provide respective excursion signals which are supplied to a central processing unit that provides control signals to a power drive for wheel guide rollers which support the wheel set to be trued. The power drive applies wheel position adjusting force components, preferably directed radially relative to the respective wheel rotational axis in response to the control signals from the central processing unit whereby the excursions are compensated and the wheel rotation center is kept in a fixed position.

Abstract: A flycutting apparatus and a method of manufacturing printed circuit boards are disclosed. The flycutting apparatus may include a sensor for detecting changes in the relative positioning of an associated rotatable flywheel and the surface of an object, such as a web of flexible printed circuit board, to be machined. The sensor is adapted to send signals to an adjustment device of the flycutting apparatus during machining operations whereby the adjustment device responds to the signals by adjusting the relative position of the rotatable flywheel with respect to the surface of the object. The flycutting apparatus may include a horizontally arranged slide assembly in conjunction with a vertically arranged slide assembly and a translation device for translating movement of the horizontally arranged slide assembly to vertical movement of an associated rotatable flywheel along the vertical slide assembly.

Abstract: Machining apparatus comprises a boom displaceable along spaced rails and a carriage displaceable along the boom perpendicularly to the displacement direction of the boom. A machining station is adjustably supported on the carriage by three adjustment means to adjust a machine head, such as a milling cutter, towards and away from a workpiece disposed between the rails beneath the machining station. Adjustment of the machine head results from inaccuracies in the level of the rails and/or the displacement of the carriage. Variations in the level of the rails and/or carriage are determined by a respective sensor associated with each adjustment means which monitors a reference defined by a planar laser beam. Alternatively one of the three adjustment means between the machining station and the carriage may be replaced by a pivot with the third adjustment means being arranged to adjust the machine head relative to the remainder of the machining station.

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: An improved machine for undercutting the commutator of a DC motor. Designed specifically to undercut the mica insulation slots of a commutator, the device includes drive means to allow slippage of an undercutting assembly so that saw and spindle assembly damage are avoided. The invention also incorporates an automatic skewing attachment which indirectly senses misallignment of mica slots to be undercut and acts to reposition the commutator as needed so that the mica slot undercutting process may continue.

Abstract: A cutting device and method for the precision trimming of a selected portion of the peripheral edge of a cast lens secured on the external surface of a male mold independent of any eccentricity that may exist between the opening defined in the mold and the outer diameter of the mold.

Abstract: The present relates to machine tools, such as hond drills and more particularly to control devices utilized for controlling the speed of the machine tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing temporary side post terminals of at least one multi-celled battery case for lead acid automobile batteries is disclosed. The subject apparatus comprises a horizontal transversely reciprocating work station containing a plurality of milling heads. The work station is also designed to first sense that batteries being operated upon are in a proper position for post removal and then to clamp them in that position until the temporary side posts are machined off by said milling heads. The apparatus further comprises conveyor means adapted to bring the battery cases into the apparatus and then to remove them from the apparatus after the side terminal removal operation is completed. Another feature of the conveyor is a horizontal guide to intercept skewed and misaligned battery cases and to correctly position them against the outer sidewall of the conveyor for proper side post removal.