Machine tool edge finder apparatus and method
OwnerJoseph R. Navarro, Sr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An edge finder to locate a work piece, work-holding feature or cutting tool with respect to the spindle of a machine tool includes a shank, a body and an indicator. When the shank is attached to the machine tool spindle, the longitudinal axis is coextensive with the spindle axis of rotation. The indicator measures the location of a work piece, work-holding feature or cutting tool with respect to the shank longitudinal axis. The indicator is rotatable so that a machinist may read the indicator from any direction.
Claims18
An edge finder apparatus for aligning a work piece, a cutting tool or a work-holding feature to a spindle axis of rotation of a spindle of a machine tool, the edge finder apparatus comprising:
- a) a shank having a shank longitudinal axis, the shank being configured to be retained by the spindle so that the shank longitudinal axis is coextensive with the spindle axis of rotation;
- b) a body attached to the spindle;
- c) an indicator attached to and supported by the body, the indicator having a plunger, the plunger having an axis of travel, the axis of travel being generally parallel to the spindle longitudinal axis, the indicator being configured to indicate a movement of the plunger along its axis of travel;
- d) a lever, the lever having an end, the end of the lever defining a locator probe, the lever being configured to rotate about a hinge attached to the body, the lever being configured to move the plunger along the plunger axis of travel when the locator probe engages the work piece, cutting tool or work-holding feature.
A method of aligning a work piece, a cutting tool or a work-holding feature to a spindle axis of rotation of a spindle of a machine tool, the method comprising:
- a) providing an edge finder, the edge finder having a shank with a shank longitudinal axis, the edge finder having a body, the shank being retained by the body, the edge finder including an indicator attached to and supported by the body, the indicator having a plunger, the plunger having an axis of travel, the axis of travel being generally parallel to the spindle longitudinal axis, the indicator being configured to indicate a movement of the plunger along its axis of travel, the edge finder including a lever, the lever being supported by a hinge attached to the body, the lever having an end, the end of the lever defining a locator probe, the lever being configured to rock the lever about the hinge and to move the plunger along the plunger axis of travel when the locator probe touches the work piece, cutting tool or work-holding feature;
- b) releasably securing the shank to the spindle of the machine tool so that the shank longitudinal axis and the spindle axis of rotation are coextensive;
- c) moving the work piece, cutting tool or work-holding feature with respect to the spindle axis of rotation so that the work piece, cutting tool or work-holding feature contacts the locator probe and the indicator indicates a pre-determined value corresponding to alignment with the spindle axis of rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.