318results about "Gauging means" patented technology

One embodiment of an alignment apparatus for aligning an object, such as a tool or other implement, perpendicular with respect to a horizontal or a vertical target surface, comprises a three-axis accelerometer and at least two forward-facing distance sensors and a projection display comprising four addressable laser projectors. The accelerometer and distance sensor outputs are mapped to a predefined graphic symbol representing the orientation of the tool relative to the target surface, in particular when the tool is perpendicular to the target surface. The projection display projects the predefined symbol onto the target surface where it may be easily viewed by the tool operator allowing the operator to make any necessary corrections to the tool position.

The present invention is a jig system for precisely positioning the placement of multiple cuts such as in the placement of dovetail or box joints cut in a wood panel. A row of multi-use adjustable spacers controls the indexing of a workpiece and can be used with a stationary and/or a portable cutting tool. The movability of the spacers permits a workpiece to be cut on both sides of a guide bar fence thereby assuring that the first cut will always be made on the same side of a drawer and will be esthetically pleasing regardless of the width of the workpiece. Additionally, the adjustability of the spacers accommodates any desired cutting tool height, angle and/or size. The jig system comprises: a stationary fixture; a spacer bar; a plurality of spacers engaged with the spacer bar, the spacers are adapted for lateral and rotational movement along the spacer bar thereby providing an engaged and non-engaged working mode; a sliding member adapted for lateral movement on the stationary fixture and for engaging at least one of the spacers in the engaged working mode; and means for holding the spacer bar and connecting the spacer bar to the stationary fixture while engaging with at least one of the spacers during the engaged working mode.

A workpiece grasper and a workpiece transfer apparatus shorten the time that a processing facility must be stopped. A workpiece is transferred along a production line and processed in three or more processing facilities. A workpiece grasper grasps and places the workpiece to be transferred between the processing facilities. The workpiece grasper includes a rotation mechanism and two hands capable of grasping and placing the workpiece. The rotation mechanism rotates the two hands above a line along a transfer direction of the workpiece. The rotation mechanism changes the hands for grasping the workpiece from a processing facility and changes the hands for placing the grasped workpiece on a processing facility.

The invention concerns a device for examining the precision of motion of a working spindle of an NC-controlled machine tool along a circular path for producing circular cylindrical surfaces on workpieces, comprising a first device part which can be coaxially mounted to the working spindle, a second device part which can be positioned on a machine table, which receives a workpiece to be processed, coaxially to the axis of a circular cylindrical surface to be produced on the workpiece, an electronic measuring value sensor which extends radially with respect to the axes of working spindle and circular cylindrical surface and is hinged to both device parts, and a shaft encoder which is rotatably disposed in the second device part coaxial relative to the axis of the circular cylindrical surface to be produced to determine the angular position of the measuring value sensor, wherein the measuring value sensor is held on one of the two device parts such that it can be adjusted and fixed transversely to the axes of the working spindle and the circular cylindrical surface.

A hand-held electronic celestial object-locating device assists in identifying a celestial object or directing a user to a desired celestial object. The device is useful for locating or identifying any celestial object including stars, constellations, planets, comets, asteroids, artificial satellites, and deep sky objects to name a few. The device utilizes sensors for 3-axis magnetic field and 3-axis gravitational field detection. The device utilizes a processor and an electronic database to perform the required calculations. The device's database may be updated through access to the Internet through which the updates may be purchased.

A digital measurement system is provided for an apparatus including first and second parts that are positionally adjustable relative to one another, the first part having a base surface and the second part being selectively adjustable toward and away from the base surface. The measurement system includes an elongate reference element mounted for longitudinal movement on the first part such that a first end of the reference element is positionable to be substantially even with the base surface of the first part. A digital reader head is attachable to the second part. The reader head is operable is operably engaged with and moveable along the reference element for measuring relative movement of the reader head along the reference element. The readout further includes a digital display for indicating a measurement corresponding to the relative movement of the reader head along the reference element.

A punch press alignment instrument has upper and lower cylindrical components that are associated for vertical displacement relative to one another. Both components have outer tool holder engaging surfaces which are to be aligned with one another so as to in turn align the tool holders of the punch press when the upper and lower components themselves are in alignment. Alignment elements, e.g., ridges and grooves provided on mating surfaces of the components confronting each other are brought into contact with one another to move the components of the instrument into mutual alignment. An alignment control member, e.g., a screw is preferably provided for progressively bringing the upper and lower components toward one another and an indicator such as a lamp, a dial indicator or an audible indicator is provided for denoting the spacing between the upper and lower components to thereby confirm the alignment of the tool holders. A releasable element is used to temporarily hold the upper and lower components apart when they are spaced laterally from one another or for any reason are not capable of being placed in alignment.

The saw table guide bar has magnets thereon so that when it is inserted into the slot in an iron saw table it is urged to slide along the side of the slot. The magnetic saw table guide bar is used to support various measuring devices and overcomes measuring difficulties resulting from table slots of varying width.

A technique for optical measurement of a thickness of a layer on a surface uses diffuse reflections at opposite boundaries of the layer, operates on transparent, or translucent layers. The thickness is determined by computing a separation between the centers of the two diffuse reflections, and using the index of refraction of the layer, and geometric properties of a beam and detector with respect to the surface. The technique is useful for quantifying thickness of a layer of rime ice, glaze ice, frosted ice, or water, for example.

A system, apparatus, and method for spacing and aligning flutes to be routed in a workpiece is disclosed. The system includes a flute-spacing jig with spaced alignment holes, a workpiece aligner, and a fence guide. Additionally, the system can include a T-square with adjustable stop-blocks.

The invention is directed to a hand tool for cutting shavings from the surface of a workpiece of wood (or other workable material) to shape and make smooth any three-dimensional surface having concave, flat, and/or convex contours. The thickness of the shavings is modulated by the angular relationship and distance between a blade and a regulating post. An embodiment comprises a combination body and handle holding a protruding cutting blade at an angle of about 30° to the surface of the workpiece, and an adjustable protruding post in front of the cutting edge to limit the effective exposure of the cutting edge as the tool is moved into contact with the workpiece. The embodiments provide a full view of the cutting zone and unrestricted one-hand use on surfaces of any contour.

An optical aligning apparatus includes: a pendulum disk having a laser illuminator mounted in a lower portion of the pendulum disk, a multiple-pole magnet annularly formed on a collar concentrically secured on a shaft of a rotary machine, an electromagnetic coil device secured in the pendulum disk and rotatably disposed around the multiple-pole magnet formed on the collar; whereby upon rotation of the rotary machine to simultaneously rotate the magnet on the collar secured on the shaft relative to the electromagnetic coil device on the pendulum disk which is gravitationally pendent and stationary, the electromagnetic coil will be electromagnetically induced to produce electricity to power the laser illuminator for projecting a laser optical line to an object for alignment or marking in order to be processed by the rotary machine.

An angle gauge and method of use. The angle gauge has a housing with a housing probe wall and a housing foot defining a gauge angle. A pair of probes extends from the housing probe wall. A light and a battery are electrically connected in series between the probes. A pre-determined angle between an object and a flat surface can be gauged by placing the angle gauge with its housing foot flat on the flat surface, and then sliding the angle gauge across the flat surface until at least one probe is in electrical contact with the object, and then adjusting the angle of the object relative to the flat surface until both probes are in contact with the object, thereby illuminating the light. A conductor may be attached to non-conducting objects. A method of calibration is disclosed using a calibrated angle.

A guide for attachment to a circular saw includes an attaching member, an extension member for slidable movement in a slot defined longitudinally along the attaching member, and an angle guide attached to the extension member. The attaching member is attachable to a circular saw rip guide and includes primary and rear portions for abutting a workpiece. The angle guide may be set to a desired angle and locked into place. With the angle guide pressed against the workpiece, the circular saw may be activated. As the saw and attached guide move forward along a cut path, the extension member and angle gauge remain abutted against the workpiece through relative slidable movement between the attaching and extension members. A ball catch mechanism may be included to selectively prevent the attaching and extension members from completely separating. A laser light may also be included to illuminate the line to be cut.

A laser alignment system for a drill press includes first and second adjustable laser assemblies mountable on the drill press. Each adjustable laser assembly includes a base firmly affixed to the drill press, a rotatable element mounted on the base and being adapted to selectively rotate relative to the base, a pivotable element mounted on the rotatable element and being adapted to selectively pivot relative to the rotatable element, and a laser mounted on the pivotable element and being adapted to move simultaneously with the pivotable element. The laser alignment system includes a pivot adjusting mechanism coupled with the pivotable element for selectively pivoting the pivotable element relative to the rotatable element, and a rotation adjusting mechanism coupled with the rotatable element for selectively rotating the rotatable element relative to the base.

A cutting angle display device for use in a miter saw for displaying an optimum cutting angle of a construction member and a miter saw having the cutting angle display device. A first construction member having a first cut end will be installed on a first wall, and a second construction member having a second cut end will be installed on a first wall in such a manner that the first and second cut ends are spliced with each other at a corner portion between the first and second wall. To provide the first and second cut ends with the optimum cutting angle, an angle between the first and second wall is input, and a microcomputer selects the optimum cutting angle based on the input angle, and the selected optimum cutting angle is displayed. A user can cut the construction member by means of the miter saw with the displayed optimum cutting angle.

A hand tool grinding jig is described for use in co-operation with a grinding wheel. The jig has a tool clamp for clamping a hand tool and a leg is pivotally connected to the clamp to allow the angle between the leg and the clamp to be adjusted. An end of the leg remote from the clamp provides a pivot point for engagement in a pivot receiver of a pivot support member that is located adjacent to the grinding wheel. The pivot receiver is disposed so that, when a tool is in the tool clamp and the pivot point is provided in the pivot receiver, the pivotal axis between the leg and the clamp is further from the grinding wheel than the pivot receiver.

Electronic device for reading and setting angles. An electronic angle or position sensing mechanism is mounted together with appropriate circuitry, controls and a digital readout in a small housing having a base and at least one side, and preferably two sides, oriented at right angles to the base. A relatively powerful permanent magnet, such as a rare earth magnet, is fixed in each housing side so that the entire device can be temporarily attached to a ferromagnetic metal surface with one of the magnet-containing housing walls in firm contact with that metal surface, such as the side of a circular saw blade or a machine fence.