Alignment tool and method of use
OwnerJoseph R. Navarro, Sr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An alignment tool provides for aligning the spindle of a machine tool to a work holding feature of the machine tool. The alignment tool may include one indicator or may include a first indicator and a second indicator in a spaced-apart relation. The faces of the indicators are rotatable. In use, a machinist may attach the indicators to the spindle of a machine tool, advance the spindle or work holding feature until the indicator tips contact the work holding feature. The machinist can rotate the faces so that the machinist can read the indicator faces without placing the machinist's head within the envelope of tool movement of the machine tool.
Claims20
An alignment tool to align a spindle of a machine tool with a work holding feature of the machine tool, the spindle having a spindle axis of rotation, the alignment tool comprising:
- a. an indicator, said indicator being configured for selectable attachment to the spindle,
- b. said indicator having an indicator tip, said indicator being configured to detect a motion of said indicator tip parallel to the spindle axis of rotation when said indicator is attached to the spindle of the machine tool,
- c. said indicator having an indicator face, said indicator face being configured to display said motion of said indicator tip,
- d. said indicator face being rotatable about an indicator axis of rotation, said indicator axis of rotation being generally parallel to said spindle axis of rotation when said indicator is attached to the spindle of the machine tool, said indicator axis of rotation being a spaced apart relation to said spindle axis of rotation, whereby a machinist may rotate said indicator face so that said machinist may read said indicator face when said indicator is attached to the spindle of the machine tool.
A method of aligning the spindle of a machine tool with a work holding feature of the machine tool, the spindle having a spindle axis of rotation, the method comprising:
- a. providing a first indicator, said first indicator being configured for selectable attachment to the spindle, said first indicator having a first indicator tip, said first indicator being configured to detect a motion of said first indicator tip parallel to the spindle axis of rotation when said first indicator is attached to the spindle of the machine tool, said first indicator having a first indicator face, said first indicator face being configured to display said motion of said first indicator tip, said first indicator face being rotatable about a first indicator axis of rotation, said first indicator axis of rotation being generally parallel and in a spaced apart relation to said spindle axis of rotation when said first indicator is attached to the spindle of the machine tool, whereby a machinist may rotate said first indicator face so that said machinist may read said first indicator face when said first indicator is attached to the spindle of the machine tool;
- b. providing a second indicator, said second indicator being configured for selectable attachment to the spindle, said second indicator having a second indicator tip, said second indicator being configured to detect said motion of said second indicator tip parallel to the spindle axis of rotation when said first indicator and said second indicator are reattached to the spindle of the machine tool, said second indicator having a second indicator face, said second indicator face being configured to display said motion of said second indicator tip, said second indicator face being rotatable about a second indicator axis of rotation, said second indicator axis of rotation being generally parallel and in a spaced apart relation to the spindle axis of rotation when said second indicator is attached to the spindle of the machine tool, whereby said machinist may rotate said second indicator face so that said machinist may read said second indicator face when said second indicators is attached to the spindle of the machine tool;
- c. attaching said first and said second indicators to the spindle;
- d. rotating said first and said second indicator faces until said first and second indicator faces are oriented for observation by said machinist;
- d. advancing the spindle or the work holding feature until said first indicator tip and said second indicator tip contact the work holding feature;
- e. observing said first and said second indicator faces;
- f. comparing said motion of said first indicator tip and said second indicator tip as indicated by said first indicator face and said second indicator face.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.