System for automatic alignment of a workpiece

A device for automatically aligning a centerline of a workpiece with a centerline of a rotating machine tool, said device comprising;

• an attachment member adapted for rigid attachment to a machine tool spindle carried by a first end of said device;
• jaws carried by a second end of said device;
• a fixture for fixedly receiving a workpiece, wherein said fixture is adapted for releasable engagement by said jaws, wherein said jaws are actuated by said fixture;
• tilting means for tilting said fixture positioned between said first and said second ends of said device;
• means for providing translational movement to said fixture positioned between said first and said second ends of said device;
• detecting means for detecting a relative position and angle of a centerline of the workpiece in relation to a centerline of the machine tool;
• and
• a processing unit in electronic communication with said detecting means, said tilting means and said means for providing translational movement, wherein said processing unit receives data from said detecting means and controls movement of said tilting means and said means for providing translational movement based upon said data, whereby the centerline of the workpiece is positioned so as to be coincident with the centerline of the machine tool.

A device for automatically aligning a centerline of a workpiece with a centerline of a rotating machine tool, said device comprising;

• an attachment member adapted for rigid attachment to a machine tool spindle carried by a first end of said device;
• jaws carried by a second end of said device;
• a fixture for fixedly receiving a workpiece, wherein said fixture is adapted for releasable engagement by said jaws, wherein said jaws are actuated by said fixture;
• a tilting plate member for tilting said fixture positioned between said first and said second ends of said device, said tilting plate member including three servo-driven threaded axis that are parallel to the centerline of the machine tool;
• a cross-slide member for providing translational movement to said fixture positioned between said first and said second ends of said device, said cross-slide member including a servo-driven horizontal slide member and an orthogonally displaced servo-driven vertical slide member;
• at least one transducer positioned on the workpiece for detecting a relative position and angle of a centerline of the workpiece in relation to a centerline of the machine tool;
• and
• a processing unit in electronic communication with said transducer, said tilting plate member and said cross-slide member, wherein said processing unit receives data from said transducer and controls movement of said tilting plate member and said cross-slide member based upon said data, whereby the centerline of the workpiece is positioned so as to be coincident with the centerline of the machine tool.