Single plane articulated axis workslide

An articulated axis workslide assembly comprising:

• a bridge plate having an upper surface and first and second bridge keyways, said bridge keyways oriented on said bridge plate parallel to one another and to a first longitudinal axis;
• first and second bridge keys slidably mounted in said first and second bridge keyways, respectively, for reciprocation parallel to said first axis;
• a combination swivel/slide member having a lower surface, a slide keyway oriented in a non-parallel manner with respect to said bridge keyways in use, and a pivot hole;
• a slide key slidably mounted in said slide keyway;
• means for slidably and pivotally connecting and supporting said bridge and swivel/slide member such that said upper surface is
• adjacent and facing said lower surface along a single interface plane, said connecting means comprising a rotatable attachment of said swivel/slide member adjacent said pivot hole, and said slide key being rotatably connected to said first bridge key;
• and
• means for selectively reciprocating said first and second keys along their respective keyways, whereby the position of said swivel/slide relative to said bridge can be precisely adjusted in linear and pivotal directions along said plane.

An articulated axis workslide assembly for machine tools, comprising:

• a bridge plate having an upper surface and first and second bridge keyways, said bridge keyways oriented on said bridge plate parallel to one another and to a first longitudinal axis;
• first and second bridge keys slidably mounted in said first and second bridge keyways, respectively, for reciprocation parallel to said first axis;
• a combination swivel/slide member having a lower surface, a slide keyway oriented in a non-parallel manner with respect to said bridge keyways in use, and a pivot hole;
• a slide key slidably mounted in said slide keyway;
• means for slidably and pivotally connecting said swivel/slide member to said bridge such that said upper surface is adjacent and facing said lower surface along a single interface plane, said connecting means comprising a rotatable attachment of said swivel/slide member adjacent said pivot hole and to said second key, and one or more anti-friction supports between said upper and lower surfaces, said slide key being rotatably connected to said first bridge key;
• means for selectively locking said slide in a desired position relative to said bridge plate;
• and
• means for selectively simultaneously reciprocating said first and second keys along their respective keyways, and for independently reciprocating only said first key relative to said second key, whereby the position of said swivel/slide relative to said bridge can be precisely adjusted both linearly and pivotally along said plane.