In one aspect, cutting tools are provided comprising radiation ablation regions defining at least one of refractory surface microstructures and/or nanostructures. For example, a cutting tool described herein comprises at least one cutting edge formed by intersection of a flank face and a rake face, the flank face formed of a refractory material comprising radiation ablation regions defining at least one of surface microstructures and surface nanostructures, wherein surface pore structure of the refractory material is not occluded by the surface microstructures and surface nanostructures.

A device and system for a rotary boring tool that enables a user to visually align the tool with respect to a target worksurface is disclosed. The alignment system includes a worksurface alignment device that is mounted onto the non-rotating portion of a rotary boring tool that includes one or more focused light sources, such as a laser, that projects a linear or nonlinear shaped beam and produces a visible pattern on the worksurface that indicates alignment or misalignment of the rotary boring tool with respect to the worksurface. Systems optionally includes a user display that works independently or in combination with one or more sensors to provide additional information about the rotary boring operation, and a wireless communication device that is enables wireless communication with other computing devices directly or through a network of computing devices.

A laser assisted micromachining system, includes a working sliding, a tool module, a laser module, and a temperature control module for the processing of a workpiece. The laser module is disposed in the working slide and moves with the working slide in three-dimensional space. The temperature control module includes a temperature sensor, a cooler, a controller and a coolant, which detects the real-time temperature value of the cooler. The cooler is located in the working slide and supports the tool module. The controller controls the working state of the cooler according to the temperature feedback. Control signal induced by the temperature indicator, and the working state of the cooler are controlled by the controller. The coolant is used to control the temperature distribution of the cooler in the setting range. At the same time, the invention also provides a temperature control method for the laser assisted micro machining system.

A cutting insert for a cutting tool includes a cutting edge of PCBN or PCD formed in a corner region in a transition between a side surface and a chamfer formed in an upper side of the cutting insert. A chip breaker is formed in the chamfer inside of the cutting edge, extending between a lower chamfer portion and an upper chamfer portion. The chip breaker includes a chip breaker bottom connected to the lower chamfer portion and a chip breaker wall extending from the upper chamfer portion to the chip breaker bottom. An upper transition is formed between the upper chamfer portion and the chip breaker wall. As seen in a top view, the upper transition follows a smoothly curved path including a convex middle portion. As seen in cross-section, perpendicular to the cutting edge, the chip breaker wall and the chip breaker bottom form a smooth concave profile.

A cutting element (1) for a tool with an electrically conductive track (6) formed at a surface region. The cutting element (1) comprises a HPHT produced polycrystalline diamond body. The conductive track (6) comprises graphite such that the electrically conductive track (6) has an electrical resistance substantially lower than that of the surface region.

In one aspect, cutting tools are provided comprising radiation ablation regions defining at least one of refractory surface microstructures and/or nanostructures. For example, a cutting tool described herein comprises at least one cutting edge formed by intersection of a flank face and a rake face, the flank face formed of a refractory material comprising radiation ablation regions defining at least one of surface microstructures and surface nanostructures, wherein surface pore structure of the refractory material is not occluded by the surface microstructures and surface nanostructures.

Disclosed is a system for working on a workpiece. The system may include a driver and selected tool. The tool may form a portion of a system that augments the tool in operating or performing hole making on a selected workpiece. The tool may include a plurality of portions and/or characteristics to work on the workpiece.

A positioning device for positioning a drilling tool of a drilling apparatus relative to a workpiece includes a cage mounted to the drilling apparatus such that the cage at least partially surrounds the drilling tool. The cage includes an end portion that includes an alignment surface that is configured to be engaged in physical contact with a workpiece surface of the workpiece. The alignment surface of the cage is oriented relative to a centerline axis of the drilling tool such that the centerline axis extends approximately normal to the workpiece surface when the alignment surface of the cage is in contact with the workpiece surface. The positioning device also includes a laser projector mounted to the cage such that the laser projector is configured to project an illuminated dot onto the workpiece surface that indicates where the centerline axis of the drilling tool intersects the workpiece surface.

A cutting insert for a cutting tool includes a cutting edge of PCBN or PCD formed in a corner region in a transition between a side surface and a chamfer formed in an upper side of the cutting insert. A chip breaker is formed in the chamfer inside of the cutting edge, extending between a lower chamfer portion and an upper chamfer portion. The chip breaker includes a chip breaker bottom connected to the lower chamfer portion and a chip breaker wall extending from the upper chamfer portion to the chip breaker bottom. An upper transition is formed between the upper chamfer portion and the chip breaker wall. As seen in a top view, the upper transition follows a smoothly curved path including a convex middle portion. As seen in cross-section, perpendicular to the cutting edge, the chip breaker wall and the chip breaker bottom form a smooth concave profile.

A hand-held tool system comprises a hand-held tool and a positioning device matching the hand-held tool. The hand-held tool comprises an output shaft and a working head coupled to the output shaft. The positioning device comprises a detecting module configured to detect a positional feature and/or a movement feature of the positioning device and output a parameter indicative of the positional feature and/or the movement feature, the detecting module and the working head having a preset distance therebetween; a storage module configured at least to record reference position information about the working head; a control module configured to acquire real-time position information about the working head based on the parameter, the preset distance and the reference position information; and an output module configured to output the real-time position information in a way that can be perceived.