Apparatus, methods and systems for nano/micro machining. A lathe head has a microscopic pivot aperture for seating a conical tip. The conical tip is carried on a turnable part at one end thereof and is polished down to a microscopic apex. The microscopic pivot aperture is dimensioned for seating the concentric tip in the pivot aperture such that an apex of the conical tip protrudes through and beyond the aperture to a position in close proximity with the aperture. A driver system can comprise a rotator for axially rotating the turnable part, including the conical tip seated in the pivot aperture, and a forward pressure applicator for concurrently applying forward pressure to the conical tip in the direction of the pivot aperture. A light/particle beam system can be utilized to machine the rotating conical tip and the rotating turnable part, including the tip, can be easily removed after machining.

Apparatus, methods and systems for nano/micro machining. A lathe head has a microscopic pivot aperture for seating a conical tip. The conical tip is carried on a turnable part at one end thereof and is polished down to a microscopic apex. The microscopic pivot aperture is dimensioned for seating the concentric tip in the pivot aperture such that an apex of the conical tip protrudes through and beyond the aperture to a position in close proximity with the aperture. A driver system can comprise a rotator for axially rotating the turnable part, including the conical tip seated in the pivot aperture, and a forward pressure applicator for concurrently applying forward pressure to the conical tip in the direction of the pivot aperture. A light/particle beam system can be utilized to machine the rotating conical tip and the rotating turnable part, including the tip, can be easily removed after machining.

A pipe machining apparatus includes a frame, a tool support mounted on a tool carrier which is mounted on the frame, and a gearing arrangement for rotating the frame, and a motor for rotating the gearing arrangement. The gearing arrangement includes a toothed pinion gear, a toothed backlash adjustment gear which is moveable relative to the pinion gear and being capable of being fixed in position relative to the pinion gear by a locking assembly, and a toothed bull gear affixed to the tool carrier. The teeth of the bull gear are capable of being engaged with the teeth of the pinion gear and with the teeth of the backlash adjustment gear, the bull gear to minimize backlash.

A powder production method includes providing an elongated workpiece and repeatedly contacting an outer surface of the elongated workpiece with a reciprocating cutter according to a predetermined at least one frequency to produce a powder. The powder includes a plurality of particles, wherein at least 95% of the produced particles have a diameter or maximum dimension ranging from about 10 ?m to about 200 ?m. A system for producing powders having a plurality of particles including a cutter and at least one controller is also provided herein.

A powder production method includes providing an elongated workpiece and repeatedly contacting an outer surface of the elongated workpiece with a reciprocating cutter according to a predetermined at least one frequency to produce a powder. The powder includes a plurality of particles, wherein at least 95% of the produced particles have a diameter or maximum dimension ranging from about 10 ?m to about 200 ?m. A system for producing powders having a plurality of particles including a cutter and at least one controller is also provided herein.

A tonneau system for use with a pickup truck. The tonneau system includes a tonneau cover, a frame, and a latch. The tonneau cover has a plurality of tonneau sections, including at least a first tonneau section and a second tonneau section. A first hinge system couples the first tonneau section to the second tonneau section, enabling stacking and expanding of the first tonneau section relative to the second tonneau section. The frame has a first side rail securable to a first side of a cargo box of a pickup truck and a second side rail securable to a second side of the cargo box. The latch releaseably secures the tonneau cover to the first and second side rails. When the latch is released, the stacked tonneau sections are permitted to depend into the cargo box.

The current invention proposes sharpening thin hardened metal blades with the hard turning process using a holder designed to hold the blades in a firm and stiff manner and a ceramic cutting tool held in a fixture. Generally, the cutting tool is held stationary in its fixture while the workpiece, in its holder, is rotated such that it repeatedly comes into controlled contact with the cutting tool. In sharpening operations such as proposed here, it is critical to (i) hold the workpiece firmly and rigidly, and (ii) position the cutting tool in a precise, predictable and reliable manner.

The current invention proposes sharpening thin hardened metal blades with the hard turning process using a holder designed to hold the blades in a firm and stiff manner and a ceramic cutting tool held in a fixture. Generally, the cutting tool is held stationary in its fixture while the workpiece, in its holder, is rotated such that it repeatedly comes into controlled contact with the cutting tool. In sharpening operations such as proposed here, it is critical to (i) hold the workpiece firmly and rigidly, and (ii) position the cutting tool in a precise, predictable and reliable manner.

Methods of determining movement data representing the movement of a machining tool of an optical lens lathing device for machining one or more optical surfaces or parts thereof of a set of optical surfaces are described. The methods comprise a greatest radial slope amplitude determining step during which the greatest radial slope amplitude of the optical surfaces of the set of optical surfaces is determined. The methods also comprise a machining tool selecting step during which a machining tool having a window angle greater than or equal to the greatest radial slope amplitude of the optical surfaces of the set of surfaces to be manufactured is selected. The methods further comprise a movement data determining step during which movement data representing the movement of the selected machining tool are determined and synchronized with the angular position of the optical surface driven in rotation.

Methods of determining movement data representing the movement of a machining tool of an optical lens lathing device for machining one or more optical surfaces or parts thereof of a set of optical surfaces are described. The methods comprise a greatest radial slope amplitude determining step during which the greatest radial slope amplitude of the optical surfaces of the set of optical surfaces is determined. The methods also comprise a machining tool selecting step during which a machining tool having a window angle greater than or equal to the greatest radial slope amplitude of the optical surfaces of the set of surfaces to be manufactured is selected. The methods further comprise a movement data determining step during which movement data representing the movement of the selected machining tool are determined and synchronized with the angular position of the optical surface driven in rotation.