Abstract: An automated quill drive assembly is adapted to be retrofit on a milling machine having a frame presenting a quill head and a quill supported on the head for rotation and for relative shiftable movement along a linear axis between retracted and extended positions. The quill head includes a centrally disposed lower lug, a quill feed engagement control lever boss located above and spaced to one side of the lug, and a transmission cover opening located above and spaced to a side of the lug opposite the quill feed engagement control lever boss. The automated quill drive assembly includes a housing adapted to be mounted to the lug, the quill feed engagement control lever boss, and the transmission cover opening, a motor supported on the housing, and a transmission supported on the housing for transmitting automated movement from the motor to the quill to move the quill between the retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: An automated quill drive assembly is adapted to be retrofit on a milling machine having a frame presenting a quill head and a quill supported on the head for rotation and for relative shiftable movement along a linear axis between retracted and extended positions. The quill head includes a centrally disposed lower lug, a quill feed engagement control lever boss located above and spaced to one side of the lug, and a transmission cover opening located above and spaced to a side of the lug opposite the quill feed engagement control lever boss. The automated quill drive assembly includes a housing adapted to be mounted to the lug, the quill feed engagement control lever boss, and the transmission cover opening, a motor supported on the housing, and a transmission supported on the housing for transmitting automated movement from the motor to the quill to move the quill between the retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: An automated quill drive assembly is adapted to be retrofit on a milling machine having a frame presenting a quill head and a quill supported on the head for rotation and for relative shiftable movement along a linear axis between retracted and extended positions. The quill head includes a centrally disposed lower lug, a quill feed engagement control lever boss located above and spaced to one side of the lug, and a transmission cover opening located above and spaced to a side of the lug opposite the quill feed engagement control lever boss. The automated quill drive assembly includes a housing adapted to be mounted to the lug, the quill feed engagement control lever boss, and the transmission cover opening, a motor supported on the housing, and a transmission supported on the housing for transmitting automated movement from the motor to the quill to move the quill between the retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: A wood planing machine includes a base, a cutter carriage, a rotary cutter adapted to shave a workpiece, a height adjusting unit, and a shaving thickness indicator including a seat having a bottom opening, a supporting member mounted on the seat and having an aperture aligned with the bottom opening, an actuating member seated on a periphery of the aperture, a pointer, and a cam member connected to the pointer and mounted rotatably on the seat, and having a bottom lobe abutting against the actuating member. The actuating member is lifted by the workpiece during operation to actuate the cam member to rotate.

Abstract: A thickness-indicating device for a wood-planing machine includes a mounting member, a pointer, a vertical pushing rod, a resilient member, and a scale member. The mounting member is adapted to be disposed fixedly on the cutter seat. The pointer has a connecting end that is mounted pivotally on the mounting member, an indicator end that is rotatable about the connecting end, and an abutment portion that is located between the connecting end and the indicator end. The pushing rod is disposed vertically and movably on the mounting member, and has an upper end which abuts against the abutment portion of the pointer, and a lower end which is adapted to abut against a top surface of a workpiece that is held on the machine. The resilient member is adapted to bias a lower end of the pushing rod to abut against the workpiece. The scale member is disposed fixedly on the mounting member near the indicator end of the pointer.

Abstract: A wood planing machine includes a base having posts, a pair of seats mounted on the posts, and a hollow supporting rod interconnecting the seats and formed with a slot. The wood planing machine further includes a cutter carriage mounted on the posts, a rotary cutter mounted on the cutter carriage, a height adjusting unit for adjusting the height of the cutter carriage, and a height indicator including a measuring scale, a slide member mounted in the supporting rod and slidable along the slot, a pointer connected to the slide member and extending to the measuring scale, a flexible string connected to the slide member and the cutter carriage, and an urging member for urging the string so as to permit the pointer to be movable along with the cutter carriage.

Abstract: A wood planing machine includes left and right pairs of posts fixed uprightly at left and right mounting sides of a machine base. A cutter carriage is disposed above the machine base, and has opposite end portions mounted respectively, vertically and movably on the posts. A cutter unit is disposed on the carriage. A carriage locking mechanism locks the cutter carriage at a selected height relative to the machine base. A thickness adjustment device is mounted on the cutter carriage for adjusting thickness to be removed from a workpiece by the cutter unit, and includes a pointer-retaining case that is fixed on the cutter carriage, and that is formed with a vertical row of positioning groove units, a vertical measuring disposed on the pointer-retaining case, and a vertical stop shaft. The shaft extends rotatably and is mounted vertically and movably on the pointer-retaining case, and has a lower contact end abutting against the machine base.

Abstract: An optical unit for projecting an image including first and second locating lines for substantially eliminating the introduction of visual parallax error. In one preferred form, the optical unit is incorporated into a machine for performing a forming operation on a workpiece and is operative to project an image of a portion of a scale to a position easily read by the user during machine operation. The optical unit includes a prism portion having a first side disposed adjacent the scale, a second side at an angle to the first side for reflecting the image and a third side through which the projected image may be viewed. The first locating line is disposed on the first side and the second locating line is disposed on the third side such that visual alignment eliminates the introduction of visual parallax error associated with reading a scale.

Abstract: A stop device that can be readily interconnected with a variety of commercially available vertical milling machines to precisely control the vertical travel of the quill mechanism of the milling machine. The bolt-on stop device of the invention includes three vertically adjustable stop mechanisms, each of which includes adjustable slide elements that can be horizontally extended or retracted relative to the quill mehanism of the milling machine. When extended the slide element moves directly into the path of vertical travel of a follower member, or depth indicator, provided on the quill mechanism of the machine. When retracted, the slide will clear the follower member of the quill mechanism so as to enable its engagement with the next adjacent stop or slide element of the device.

Abstract: An automated quill drive assembly is adapted to be retrofit on a milling machine having a frame presenting a quill head and a quill supported on the head for rotation and for relative shiftable movement along a linear axis between retracted and extended positions. The quill head includes a centrally disposed lower lug, a quill feed engagement control lever boss located above and spaced to one side of the lug, and a transmission cover opening located above and spaced to a side of the lug opposite the quill feed engagement control lever boss. The automated quill drive assembly includes a housing adapted to be mounted to the lug, the quill feed engagement control lever boss, and the transmission cover opening, a motor supported on the housing, and a transmission supported on the housing for transmitting automated movement from the motor to the quill to move the quill between the retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: An improved portable wood planing machine for the surface planing of wooden planks or boards is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the planing machine includes a carriage assembly locking mechanism for locking the carriage assembly relative to a plurality of vertical support columns to thereby vertically fix the carriage assembly. In one form, the carriage assembly locking mechanism includes a plurality of levers which cooperate to engage the support columns of the carriage assembly. The exemplary embodiment further includes a depth stop adjustment mechanism which allows the operator to accurately select a minimum workpiece depth from one or more predetermined depths and a material removal indicator assembly operable for enabling the user of the planing machine to accurately determine the amount of material to be removed during each pass of the workpiece.

Abstract: An optical unit for projecting an image including first and second locating lines for substantially eliminating the introduction of visual parallax error. In one preferred form, the optical unit is incorporated into a machine for performing a forming operation on a workpiece and is operative to project an image of a portion of a scale to a position easily read by the user during machine operation. The optical unit includes a prism portion having a first side disposed adjacent the scale, a second side at an angle to the first side for reflecting the image and a third side through which the projected image may be viewed. The first locating line is disposed on the first side and the second locating line is disposed on the third side such that visual alignment eliminates the introduction of visual parallax error associated with reading a scale.

Abstract: A quill stop for a milling machine, drill press, or other like machine. The quill stop includes means for automatic control of coolant flow. The quill stop includes a passage through which high pressure air flows. A valve in the passage controls the air flow. The valve is activated by contact of the quill stop with a dog stop on the machine. The quill stop may also include a self contained mist unit activated by the valve.

Abstract: A small scale milling machine including a machine base having an upright rotary wheel, a rotary column sleeve fixedly secured to the rotary wheel, a retractable support fixedly secured to the inside of the rotary column sleeve to hold a vertical mounting frame outside the rotary column sleeve, a machine head suspended from the bottom end of the vertical mounting frame and connected to the rotary column sleeve by a dovetail joint and moved vertically along a longitudinal rack on the rotary column sleeve, the rotary column sleeve having a longitudinal track at one lateral side, two stop blocks adjustably fixed to the longitudinal track at different elevations to limit the vertical moving distance of the machine head, and a scale at the front side along the longitudinal track for measuring the vertical moving distance of the machine head.

Abstract: In a method for positioning a machine element having a first reference point the first reference point is provided at the machine element which has an operative portion. A second reference point is provided at an abutment. The machine element is moved relative to the second reference point. The machine element is coupled to a display device with first and a second display unit wherein on the first display unit a first display value for the distance between the operative portion and the second reference point is displayed and wherein on the second display unit a second display value for the distance between the first reference point and the operative portion is displayed. The first display value is a predetermined finishing distance when the second display value equals the actual distance between the first reference point and the operative portion.

Abstract: A plunge type router including a mechanism for setting the depth of cut of the router. The mechanism is a compact and self-contained assembly which provides for fine adjustment, locking and quick release, all at a single location on the tool.

Abstract: A cutting depth adjustment mechanism for a router having a nut engaged on a guide bolt for adjusting the depth of cut. Cutting depth can be coursely adjusted without rotation of the guide bolt relative to the adjusting nut. This can be accomplished by either disengaging the adjusting nut from the guide bolt or by releasing the adjusting nut from the main body member and sliding the nut along a longitudinally formed slot in the main body member.

Abstract: The invention has as an object to provide a reliable, failure-free tool holding apparatus which allows digitization of a tool holding apparatus having a tool moving function, is free from various problems encountered upon digitization, and does not cause an erroneous operation upon scattering and attachment of chips or cutting oil. In order to achieve this object, a scale member and a moving amount detecting means are arranged to oppose each other. The scale member is arranged at the side of a slide movable in a predetermined direction, and is moved following the movement of the slide. The moving amount detecting means is arranged at the side of the main body and supplies a predetermined number of oscillation pulses to a display in accordance with the moving amount of the scale member. The scale member is enclosed with stretchable members such as bellows members, and is moved in the enclosed, sealed space.

Abstract: A gauge is mountable upon the tailstock of a horizontal milling machine with one end of a pivotal angle arm engageable with a cutting tool and the other end thereof cooperating with calibrations on the base of the gauge to indicate alignment or misalignment of a cutter plane and a work plane so that proper alignment thereof may be effected by use of the device.

Abstract: An insertable multiple stop indicator gauge for selective height, depth and workpiece platform control as between the tool and the workpiece is disclosed. The multiple stop apparatus is detachably attachable to a milling machine tool carriage and to a screw shaft operably secured to the travel of the carriage, the carriage including upper and lower casting lips, the screw shaft including an adjustable knob threaded on and about the shaft and further including a carriage stop threaded on and about the shaft, but above the adjustable knob. The present inventive improvement comprises an insertable lower stop platform for controlling depth of tool cut in the platform in which the stop platform possesses one fork-like end detachably attachable to the lower casting lip and securable thereonto by the adjustable knob, the lower support platform having a circular opening in its opposite end.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in determining the location of a surface of a solid object such as that being machined by a machine tool includes a stylus having an electrically conductive end that is supported by two support members, which are disposed in pressure contact with each other by means of a spring or other bias, one of the two support members being formed to have a spherical contact surface that is a portion of an imaginary sphere concentric with the contact electrode, the other of the two support members being formed so that upon contacting the spherical surface the area of contact is substantially line contact.

Abstract: A tool or machine in which the relative position of two components is adjustable has setting means operable in a first mode to set the two components approximately to a desired setting and in a second mode to adjust the approximate setting accurately to a required setting. A tool for routing has a base plate and a depth stop comprising a post extending upwardly from the base plate, a first collar movable along the post, a screw thread on the outer surface of the first collar, and a second collar whose bore is screw-threaded screwed over the first collar. The post includes a surface in the form of a toothed rack, the first collar has a bore one portion of whose surface is formed to engage one or more teeth on the rack to lock the first collar in a selected one of a number of predetermined positions along the post and a spring resiliently biases the first collar into engagement with the toothed rack. A scale operating with a fiducial mark is provided.

Abstract: A tool setting device for a machine tool (10) having a numerical control (22) includes a gage unit (24) with a frame (26) adapted to be secured upon a slide (20) of the machine tool. A photodetector, which includes a source (96) and a receiver (98), is mounted upon the frame for generating a first signal indicating the arrival of the tip of a tool (18). A slide (64) mounted upon the frame carries an engagement head (38) adapted to be contacted and displaced by the tool tip. An LVDT (60) is mounted upon the frame in proximity to the engagement head for sensing its axial displacements. A control meter relay (86,88) is operatively connected to the LVDT and generates a second signal after initial displacement of the engagement head and a third signal after displacement of the engagement head to a reference position.

Abstract: A surface of a wedge acts as a stop to limit travel of a spindle on an automatic riveting machine. A drive mechanism moves the wedge back and forth to vary the heighth of the wedge, and the same mechanism simultaneously moves a rod back and forth to act on a transducer, and transmit an electrical signal to give a digital readout of the change in heighth of the wedge.