Abstract: A machine tool includes a first machine element movable in a travel direction and having first and second side faces. The first and second side faces of the first machine element run parallel to the travel direction and are oriented at a right angle to each other. The first machine element is moved in the travel direction in a guideway of a second machine element by a drive unit in a positionally controlled manner. The machine tool further includes first and second vibration dampers which are oriented at a right angle to the travel direction and configured to dampen vibrations of the first machine element in respective vibration directions. At least one of the first and second vibration dampers is oriented to solely dampen a vibration in a vibration direction that is neither parallel to the first side face nor parallel to the second side face.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing contact with an outside object is disclosed. A sensor stackup has top surface, having an outer skin adapted for contact with the outside object. The stackup also including, a deformable layer below top surface in the stackup, the deformable layer including patches made from conductive or high dielectric material. The stackup further including a capacitive sensor layer below the deformable layer, the capacitive sensor layer comprising conductors that are insulated from the patches. Each of the patches is displaceable with respect to the capacitive sensor layer in response contact with the outside object. The stackup also includes a backing layer below the capacitive sensor layer in the stackup.

Abstract: A method for aligning a sensor with a conductive material includes inducing a first magnetic flux in the conductive material to generate a first magnetic field state, and receiving a first signal at a first signal output level from a first detector and a second signal at a second signal output level from a second detector at the first magnetic field state. The method also includes inducing a second magnetic flux in the conductive material to generate a second magnetic field state, and receiving a third signal at a third signal output level from the first detector and a fourth signal at a fourth signal output level from the second detector at the second magnetic field state. Moreover, the method includes, based on changes in the signal output levels, adjusting a position of the sensor relative to the conductive target material to adjust the signal output levels to desired levels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microtome (10) for cutting thin sections, including a sample holder (12), a cutting unit (16), and a drive unit (16) for producing a feed movement between the sample holder (12) and the cutting unit (16) for setting the thickness of the sample sections. The drive unit (22) includes a piezoelectric linear actuator (50) for producing the feed movement.

Abstract: A force/moment sensor for measurement of three orthogonal forces and three orthogonal moments, comprises an inner holding element which is surrounded by an outer holding element. The two holding elements are connected to each other by deformation elements. For each deformation element, at least one deformation transducer is provided. The force/moment sensor is preferably monolithic, and the deformation transducers, formed as strain gauges, are preferably arranged in one plane or in two preferably parallel planes.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring forces acting on a downhole tool is provided. The apparatus can include an annular body having an axial bore formed therethrough. A first fluid can be disposed within the bore. An annular sleeve can be disposed proximate an inner surface of the body. An annular chamber can be formed between the body and the sleeve, and a second fluid can be disposed within the chamber. A sensor can be coupled to the sleeve to measure a strain placed on the sleeve by a pressure differential between the first and second fluids. A pressure of the first fluid in the bore can be determined from the strain.

Abstract: A pressure compensated sensor assembly for determining loads near a drill bit may include a body member having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, a sleeve member having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the sleeve member being coupled to the body member, a first gap having a thickness and a length dimension formed between the body member and the sleeve member, and one or more sensors coupled to the sleeve member. The one or more sensors may measure axial and torsional loads on the sleeve member without measuring parasitic strain induced on the body member.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring cutting forces in a peripheral end milling process are disclosed. The systems and methods comprise a sensor module that integrates a thin-film Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric strain sensor and an in situ data logging platform for monitoring such cutting forces. The module, which may be mounted on the tool shank, measures the dynamic strain(s) produced in the tool and logs the data into an on-board card for later retrieval. The close proximity between the signal source and the PVDF sensor(s) minimizes the attenuation and distortion of the signal along the transmitting path and provides high-fidelity signals. Further, the module facilitates the employment of a first-principles model based on Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and the constitutive equations of the piezoelectric sensor material to relate the in situ-measured PVDF sensor signals to the feed and transverse forces acting on the tool.

Abstract: A pressure compensated sensor assembly for determining loads near a drill bit may include a body member having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, a sleeve member having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the sleeve member being coupled to the body member, a first gap having a thickness and a length dimension formed between the body member and the sleeve member, and one or more sensors coupled to the sleeve member. The one or more sensors may measure axial and torsional loads on the sleeve member without measuring parasitic strain induced on the body member.

Abstract: A device for testing roller burnishing tools for a roller burnishing machine including at least one burnishing roller. The device includes a mechanism to hold and to drive in the roller burnishing machine, which causes the test device to rotate; a roller bearing raceway pressing against the roller, the roller bearing raceway exhibiting symmetry of revolution about the axis of rotation of the device, with a profile including a rounded portion; and a cylindrical rolling bearing raceway bearing against support wheels of the roller burnishing machine.

Abstract: A device (1) for measuring a force acting between a machining tool (4) and a work piece in a processing machine is disclosed. It comprises an arrangement of at least two hydrostatic pads (7), wherein the at least two hydrostatic pads are designed to receive and support a mounting part (10) of the machining tool (4), and each hydrostatic pad of the at least two hydrostatic pads (7) presenting a pressure sensor (13), a calculation unit (16) for—reading hydrostatic pad pressure related to the pressure sensors (13) and a constant based on characteristics of each one of the at least two hydrostatic pads (7),—calculating the force by calculating a difference between the products of, for each hydrostatic pad of the at least two hydrostatic pads (7), the hydrostatic pad pressure and the constant, and—indicating the force. Also, a device for monitoring a machining tool and a device for compensating for a deflection of a machining tool when machining a work piece comprising the device are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for testing roller burnishing tools for a roller burnishing machine comprising at least one burnishing roller, characterized in that it comprises at least: means (51, 52, 53, 54, 5) for holding and for driving in the roller burnishing machine, which causes the test device (1) to rotate; a roller bearing raceway (22) pressing against said roller, the roller bearing raceway (22) exhibiting symmetry of revolution about the axis of rotation of the device (1), with a profile including a rounded portion; a cylindrical rolling bearing raceway (42) bearing against support wheels of the roller burnishing machine.

Abstract: A bearing rotor thrust sensor assembly is provided for being secured to a bearing housing having a plurality of fingers extending between a pair of opposite portions of the housing. The assembly includes a first anchor member including a first cleat and configured to couple to a first housing portion of the pair of opposite housing portions, a second anchor member including a second cleat and configured to couple to a second of the pair of opposite housing portions, and a head sensor bracket positioned at least partially between the first and second anchor members. The head sensor bracket includes a load cell including a bridge circuit for producing a signal representative of forces on said cell.

Abstract: A bearing rotor thrust sensor assembly is provided for being secured to a bearing housing having a plurality of fingers extending between a pair of opposite portions of the housing. The assembly includes a first anchor member including a first cleat and configured to couple to a first housing portion of the pair of opposite housing portions, a second anchor member including a second cleat and configured to couple to a second of the pair of opposite housing portions, and a head sensor bracket positioned at least partially between the first and second anchor members. The head sensor bracket includes a load cell including a bridge circuit for producing a signal representative of forces on said cell.

Abstract: An occupant weight sensor (1) for placement between a frame (7) fixed to the chassis of a vehicle and a second frame (8) supporting a vehicle seat has a sense element having a first body (12, 22, 28, 34, 50, 62, 64, 68) formed with a planar sense surface on which are mounted piezoresistors electrically connected in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. A post (12a, 22c, 28c, 34e, 50b, 62a, 64a, 68b) extends outwardly from the first body for attachment to the first frame. A second body is formed with a force transfer portion (14a, 24g, 30d, 36b, 52a, 70a) permanently attached to the first body along an outer periphery circumscribing the sense surface. The piezoresistors are electrically connected to conditioning electronics received in a chamber formed between the two bodies. The effects of parasitic loads on the sense element are minimized by selected placement of the piezoresistors on the sense surface.

Abstract: An occupant weight sensor (1) for placement between a frame (7) fixed to the chassis of a vehicle and a second frame (8) supporting a vehicle seat has a sense element having a first body (12, 22, 28, 34, 50, 62, 64, 68, 84) formed with a planar sense surface on which are mounted piezoresistors electrically connected in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. A post (12a, 22c, 28c, 34e, 50b, 62a, 64a, 68b, 84g) extends outwardly from the first body for attachment to the first frame. A second body is formed with a force transfer portion (14a, 24g, 30d, 36b, 52a, 70a, 94a) permanently attached to the first body along an outer periphery circumscribing the sense surface. The piezoresistors are electrically connected to conditioning electronics received in a chamber formed between the two bodies. The effects of parasitic loads on the sense element are minimized by selected placement of the piezoresistors on the sense surface.

Abstract: A hand-held power tool includes a torque cut-off device (2) for presetting a torque of the driving shaft (3) of the hand-held power tool and formed as a control device (4) having a rotatable control sleeve (5) including a control cam (6) having at least two cam sections (6a, 6b), and a control element (7) secured in the housing (1) of the power tool without a possibility of rotation but with a possibility of an axial displacement relative to a rotational axis (D) of the control sleeve (5) and having at least two probing sections (8a, 8b) cooperating with respective cam sections (6a, 6b) for presetting the torque.

Abstract: A high-resolution pressure-sensing device is disclosed. The device includes an insulating flexible matrix having a plurality of filler particles. Application of a force to the matrix causes compression of the matrix. This results in the filler particles occupying a greater amount of space within the matrix relative to when no force is applied. A detector attached to the matrix detects or measures the volume of the filler particles relative to the volume of the matrix, and therefore determines the force applied to the matrix. Preferably, the resistivity of the matrix is inversely proportional to the volume percent of the filler particles, in which case the detector is a resistance-measuring circuit.

Abstract: A high-resolution pressure-sensing device is disclosed. The device includes an insulating flexible matrix having a plurality of filler particles. Application of a force to the matrix causes compression of the matrix. This results in the filler particles occupying a greater amount of space within the matrix relative to when no force is applied. A detector attached to the matrix detects or measures the volume of the filler particles relative to the volume of the matrix, and therefore determines the force applied to the matrix. Preferably, the resistivity of the matrix is inversely proportional to the volume percent of the filler particles, in which case the detector is a resistance-measuring circuit.

Abstract: A high-resolution pressure-sensing device is disclosed. The device includes an insulating flexible matrix having a plurality of filler particles. Application of a force to the matrix causes compression of the matrix. This results in the filler particles occupying a greater amount of space within the matrix relative to when no force is applied. A detector attached to the matrix detects or measures the volume of the filler particles relative to the volume of the matrix, and therefore determines the force applied to the matrix. Preferably, the resistivity of the matrix is inversely proportional to the volume percent of the filler particles, in which case the detector is a resistance measuring circuit.

Abstract: A high-resolution pressure-sensing device is disclosed. The device includes an insulating flexible matrix having a plurality of filler particles. Application of a force to the matrix causes compression of the matrix. This results in the filler particles occupying a greater amount of space within the matrix relative to when no force is applied. A detector attached to the matrix detects or measures the volume of the filler particles relative to the volume of the matrix, and therefore determines the force applied to the matrix. Preferably, the resistivity of the matrix is inversely proportional to the volume percent of the filler particles, in which case the detector is a resistance-measuring circuit.

Abstract: A screwer test bench comprises a coupling (12) designed for connection with the head of a screwer and connected to a controlled braking unit (14) and a sensor unit (15) for detection of mechanical magnitudes transmitted between the coupling and the braking unit. The braking unit (14) comprises a thin cap (17,117) constrained to said coupling (12) at least in the direction of rotation and arranged between a first pressure surface (22) thrust axially against the cap by an actuator (19) and a second fixed opposition surface (11).

Abstract: A high-resolution pressure-sensing device is disclosed. The device includes an insulating flexible matrix having a plurality of filler particles. Application of a force to the matrix causes compression of the matrix. This results in the filler particles occupying a greater amount of space within the matrix relative to when no force is applied. A detector attached to the matrix detects or measures the volume of the filler particles relative to the volume of the matrix, and therefore determines the force applied to the matrix. Preferably, the resistivity of the matrix is inversely proportional to the volume percent of the filler particles, in which case the detector is a resistance-measuring circuit.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the operation of a press machine employs a sensor to measure the peak acceleration levels of a slide assembly. The sensor measurement data represents peak load levels being developed within the press machine. A data means provides load level capacity data representing the maximum allowable compressive and tensile load levels for the press machine. The capacity data is provided in the form of plural press machine operating zones each representing a corresponding range of load values and having a respective rating factor which indicates the relationship of the particular operating zone to a respective one of the maximum allowable compressive/tensile load levels. A processor evaluates the peak load levels in relation to the operating zone data to determine which respective ones of the plural press machine operating zones encompass each respective one of the peak load levels.

Abstract: A press monitoring and control system includes a press machine, a press configuration module and a press controller. The press machine has a lower die coupled to an upper die, wherein the lower die includes a top surface supporting a strip of material to be formed into a part after a stripper plate coupled to the upper die contacts the strip of material. The press configuration module includes an input module that processes a set of input data corresponding to a particular job and generates a data signal corresponding to the set of input data. The press controller is coupled to the press machine and the press configuration module. The controller processes the data signal, compares the data signal to a set of parameters corresponding to the particular job, and generates at least one servo signal to adjust at least one servo in response to the data signal.