Laser-based jaw setting device
OwnerRichard L. Lucchettiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser-based jaw setting device for an accurate work holding jaw placement on a lathe, wherein the laser-based jaw setting device has a housing with a laser diode, an internal battery supply, and an operating switch mounted therein; and further having a main mounting plate secured to housing in order to releasably secure the laser-based jaw setting device to the desired lathe, especially a computer numeric controlled lathe.
Claims19
A laser-based jaw setting device comprising:
- (a) a housing for the laser-based jaw setting device supporting elements thereof;
- (b) a laser diode for the laser-based jaw setting device being mounted in the housing;
- (c) a portable power supply for the laser diode for the laser-based jaw setting device being mounted in the housing;
- (d) an operating switch for the laser diode for the laser-based jaw setting device being mounted in the housing;
- and
- (e) the operating switch being interconnected with the laser diode and the portable power supply.
The laser-based jaw setting device of claim 6 further comprising:
- (a) a mounting device securing the housing to the computer numeric controlled lathe;
- and
- (b) the mounting device including a holding rod;
- (c) the holding rod receiving the housing at a first rod end thereof;
- (d) the holding rod receiving a magnet assembly at a second rod end thereof;
- (e) the first rod end being oppositely disposed from the second rod end;
- and
- (f) the magnet assembly cooperating with the rod thereby releasably attaching the housing to the computer numeric controlled lathe in order to permit the laser-based jaw setting device to assist placement of work jaws on the lathe.
In a computer numeric controlled lathe, having a turret and a chuck with a jaw receiver thereon and a chuck aperture therein having a control panel in order to operate the computer numeric controlled lathe, the improvement comprising a laser-based jaw setting device providing assistance in mounting a set of jaws on the chuck, the laser-based jaw setting device:
- (a) a housing for the laser-based jaw setting device supporting elements thereof;
- (b) a laser diode for the laser-based jaw setting device being mounted in the housing;
- (c) a portable power supply for the laser diode for the laser-based jaw setting device being mounted in the housing;
- (d) an operating switch for the laser diode for the laser-based jaw setting device being mounted in the housing;
- and
- (e) the operating switch being interconnected with the laser diode and the portable power supply.
A method for mounting a set of work piece holding jaws on a lathe having a turret and a chuck with a jaw receiver thereon and a chuck aperture, comprising:
- (a) positioning a laser-based jaw setting device with a laser diode therein on the turret;
- (b) shining a beam from the laser diode near a through aperture of the lathe, the through aperture of the lathe being adjacent to the chuck;
- (c) moving the turret so that the laser beam contacts an aperture having a known diameter;
- (d) determining a proper, substantially repeatable position for the set of work piece holding jaws on the lathe;
- and
- (e) placing the set of work piece holding jaws on the lathe in order to permit a work piece to be received within the set of work piece holding jaws.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.