Tool post

Abstract

A selectively adjustable tool post for holding a plurality of tools for rapid and selective positioning of any one of the tools in operative position with respect to a work piece on a machine tool. The tool post is formed with base means preferably formed as a plate adapted for securement at a selective location on a bed portion of the machine tool for any given set-up of the machine tool with respect to the shaping of any particular work piece. A body block is rotatably mounted over the base means, and interlocking means in the form of spline teeth are formed on the surfaces between the body block and base plate. The spline teeth on the body block and the spline teeth on the base plate though biased apart may be selectively forced into engagement by means of selectively actuatable setting means in the form of a handled nut engaging a tube extending from the base plate through the body block, whereby tightening of the nut will force the spline teeth on the block into engagement with the spline teeth on the base plate to fix the block at a selected position. The body block has a plurality of sides formed with undercut channels slideably receiving an undercut projection on a tool holder and a cam is eccentrically positioned and rotatable in the channel to wedge the tool holder in a fixed position, with the tool holder height adjustable in the channel. In use, the tool post body block with one or more tool holders secured in the channels of the block may be quickly and selectively positioned with the tool held by the tool holder arranged to engage the work piece, with release of the setting nut permitting rotation of the body block to bring another tool into a working orientation with respect to the work piece.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.