A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a stepped member are provided. An intermediate portion of a shaft workpiece is radially enlarged while being compressed in an axial direction by applying alternating load to the intermediate portion in a direction intersecting the axial direction in a state in which pressure that compresses the shaft workpiece in the axial direction is applied to both ends of the shaft workpiece. The enlarged intermediate portion of the shaft workpiece is cat in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction so that the shaft workpiece is divided into two stepped members. Each of the stepped members has a shaft portion and a head portion provided at an axial end of the shaft portion, and the head portion has a larger diameter than the shaft portion.

A rip fence adjustment structure includes a guide rail, a first slide slidably coupled to the guide rail and fixedly connected with a rip fence, a micro-adjustment device mounted in the first slide, a second slide slidably coupled to the guide rail and connected to the first slide by the micro-adjustment device for movement with the first slide. Thus, after moved the first slide to achieve coarse adjustment of the position of the rip fence, a second locking member is fastened up to lock the second slide, and then the micro-adjustment device is operated to drive the first slide in moving the rip fence, and then a first locking member is fastened up to lock the first slide, achieving fine adjustment of the position of the rip fence.

A rip fence adjustment structure includes a guide rail, a first slide slidably coupled to the guide rail and fixedly connected with a rip fence, a micro-adjustment device mounted in the first slide, a second slide slidably coupled to the guide rail and connected to the first slide by the micro-adjustment device for movement with the first slide. Thus, after moved the first slide to achieve coarse adjustment of the position of the rip fence, a second locking member is fastened up to lock the second slide, and then the micro-adjustment device is operated to drive the first slide in moving the rip fence, and then a first locking member is fastened up to lock the first slide, achieving fine adjustment of the position of the rip fence.

A horizontal band saw machine includes a pair of jaws, a pair of saw blade wheels, a band saw blade looped over the saw blade wheels, a pair of saw blade guides, a contact guide attached to the other of the pair of jaws, a coupling bracket connected to the other of the pair of saw blade guides to locate a distal end thereof below the other of the pair of saw blade wheels, and a follower member provided at the distal end of the coupling bracket. The contact guide and the coupling bracket are configured to move one of the pair of saw blade guides until the follower member contacts with the contact guide when the band saw blade is fed circularly in a state where the band saw blade is clamped by the one of the pair of saw blade guides.

A horizontal band saw machine includes a pair of jaws, a pair of saw blade wheels, a band saw blade looped over the saw blade wheels, a pair of saw blade guides, a contact guide attached to the other of the pair of jaws, a coupling bracket connected to the other of the pair of saw blade guides to locate a distal end thereof below the other of the pair of saw blade wheels, and a follower member provided at the distal end of the coupling bracket. The contact guide and the coupling bracket are configured to move one of the pair of saw blade guides until the follower member contacts with the contact guide when the band saw blade is fed circularly in a state where the band saw blade is clamped by the one of the pair of saw blade guides.

A workpiece clamping device for a machine tool is provided, which has a base, first and second clamping jaws between which a workpiece is clampable, a drive, and an actuating element which is displaceable relative to the base and which is coupled to the first clamping jaw. A movement of the actuating element is brought about by the drive and the actuating element brings about a displacement of the first clamping jaw. A transmitter is arranged on the actuating element and is displaceable together with the actuating element and is displaceable relative to the actuating element. A first stop and a spaced-apart second stop are provided, between which stops the transmitter is displaceable together with the actuating element. When the transmitter abuts against the first or second stop, the transmitter is displaceable relative to the actuating element. A sensor is provided for detecting one or more positions of the transmitter.

A workpiece clamping device for a machine tool is provided, which has a base, first and second clamping jaws between which a workpiece is clampable, a drive, and an actuating element which is displaceable relative to the base and which is coupled to the first clamping jaw. A movement of the actuating element is brought about by the drive and the actuating element brings about a displacement of the first clamping jaw. A transmitter is arranged on the actuating element and is displaceable together with the actuating element and is displaceable relative to the actuating element. A first stop and a spaced-apart second stop are provided, between which stops the transmitter is displaceable together with the actuating element. When the transmitter abuts against the first or second stop, the transmitter is displaceable relative to the actuating element. A sensor is provided for detecting one or more positions of the transmitter.

There is provided in a preferred embodiment an apparatus for feeding an elongated material in a direction substantially generally along a length thereof to a cutting device having a cutting surface. The apparatus includes a lifting base assembly and a material shuttling assembly secured on the pivoting base assembly, the latter defining a feeding path. The lifting base assembly has a lower base portion and an upper base portion hingedly coupled to the lower base portion along a base pivoting axis generally parallel to and laterally offset from the feeding path. The upper base portion is selectively rotatable about the pivoting axis relative to the lower base portion between a level position and a lifted position, wherein in the lifted position, the material is raised above the cutting surface in an angled orientation where the material is further raised along a first lateral end portion relative to a second lateral end portion opposed to the first lateral end portion, the second lateral end portion being proximal to the pivoting axis.

There is provided in a preferred embodiment an apparatus for feeding an elongated material in a direction substantially generally along a length thereof to a cutting device having a cutting surface. The apparatus includes a lifting base assembly and a material shuttling assembly secured on the pivoting base assembly, the latter defining a feeding path. The lifting base assembly has a lower base portion and an upper base portion hingedly coupled to the lower base portion along a base pivoting axis generally parallel to and laterally offset from the feeding path. The upper base portion is selectively rotatable about the pivoting axis relative to the lower base portion between a level position and a lifted position, wherein in the lifted position, the material is raised above the cutting surface in an angled orientation where the material is further raised along a first lateral end portion relative to a second lateral end portion opposed to the first lateral end portion, the second lateral end portion being proximal to the pivoting axis.

A machine including: a table having a surface adapted to have a workpiece lay and move thereon, and a vise for gripping the workpiece. The machine also includes a drive system for moving the vise and workpiece a distance along the table surface, and a sensor assembly connected to the vise for measuring an amount of slip distance occurring between the vise and the workpiece. The machine also includes a control unit connected to the sensor assembly and the drive system for storing the measured slip distance and for operating the drive system and for operating to do at least one of, when a predetermined amount of slip distance is detected: sounding an alarm and stopping further movement of the workpiece, and, when a slip distance is measured, for causing the drive system to move the vise and workpiece an added distance equal to the measured slip distance.