A fixture and a method of operating the fixture are disclosed for repositioning a workpiece disposed on the fixture to correct an offset between the centerline of the workpiece and an indexing position on the fixture. The fixture includes one or more linear actuators that linearly move vacuum grippers on their outboard ends into contact with surfaces of the workpiece. Vacuum is applied to the vacuum grippers, which enables the vacuum grippers to grip the surfaces of the workpiece. The linear actuators are driven to reposition the workpiece on the fixture to reduce the offset between the two below a threshold value. When in position, the fixture secures the workpiece in place for subsequent machining operations that may be performed on the workpiece.

Centering apparatuses and methods for precision placement of a product or component, such as a ceramic honeycomb body, prior to a post-production processing steps are provided. In particular, after extrusion of a component or ware, the component or ware oftentimes requires one or more post-production processing steps in order to obtain a final product. The centering apparatuses and methods described herein provide for the precise and accurate centering of the product (or component) prior to performing these post-production processing steps, thereby obtaining repeatable, consistent, high-quality final products.

A pallet clamp includes a clamp receiver 110 and a clamp 130. The clamp receiver 110 has an abutted surface 111 with serrations, whereas the clamp 130 has an abutting surface 132 with serrations. The clamp receiver 110 has both of a pressed surface 180 and a counter pressed surface 181 which face in directions perpendicular to the direction along the extension of the serrations. A biasing means 150 press-fits the clamp receiver 110 and the clamp 130 to each other so that the abutting surface 132 and the abutted surface 111 come into tight contact with each other, which causes the pressed surface 180 and the counter pressed surface 181 to be pressed in opposite directions.

A centering cone for positioning a fastening element in a receptacle of a clamping device. The centering cone has an internally located cone section with a cone-shaped inner surface to which a one-piece spring section is connected in a radial direction. The spring section is configured to deform slightly under a radially applied force to provide a certain tolerance for receiving the fastening element.

A method and rivet apparatus comprise a rivet block, the rivet block comprising a rivet block, a pin bore, and a rivet feed bore. The rivet block is comprised of a top end and a bottom end. The pin bore includes a top end and a bottom end and is disposed within the rivet block. The pin bore extends from the top end to the bottom end of the rivet block and guides a rivet pin that slides downward within the pin bore to push a head of a rivet into a workpiece. The rivet feed bore includes a top end and a bottom end and is disposed within the rivet block. The rivet feed bore extends from the top end to the bottom end of the rivet block, accepts the rivet at the top end of the rivet feed bore, and guides the rivet to the bottom end of the rivet feed bore. The rivet feed bore intersecting the pin bore between the top end and the bottom end of the pin bore at an oblique angle.

A pallet clamp includes a clamp receiver 110 and a clamp 130. The clamp receiver 110 has an abutted surface 111 with serrations, whereas the clamp 130 has an abutting surface 132 with serrations. The clamp receiver 110 has both of a pressed surface 180 and a counter pressed surface 181 which face in directions perpendicular to the direction along the extension of the serrations. A biasing means 150 press-fits the clamp receiver 110 and the clamp 130 to each other so that the abutting surface 132 and the abutted surface 111 come into tight contact with each other, which causes the pressed surface 180 and the counter pressed surface 181 to be pressed in opposite directions.

A method and rivet apparatus comprise a rivet block, the rivet block comprising a rivet block, a pin bore, and a rivet feed bore. The rivet block is comprised of a top end and a bottom end. The pin bore includes a top end and a bottom end and is disposed within the rivet block. The pin bore extends from the top end to the bottom end of the rivet block and guides a rivet pin that slides downward within the pin bore to push a head of a rivet into a workpiece. The rivet feed bore includes a top end and a bottom end and is disposed within the rivet block. The rivet feed bore extends from the top end to the bottom end of the rivet block, accepts the rivet at the top end of the rivet feed bore, and guides the rivet to the bottom end of the rivet feed bore. The rivet feed bore intersecting the pin bore between the top end and the bottom end of the pin bore at an oblique angle.

A zero-positioning mechanism of a metalworking machine contains: a base, a locking jig, and a pneumatic cylinder. The base includes at least one installation area. The locking jig includes a body, a slider assembly, and a fixing plate. The pneumatic cylinder includes the piston and a push unit. The body includes a through orifice, the slider assembly includes two pushers and four sliders. A respective pusher has a lower fringe, two beveled fringes, and multiple receiving orifices. A respective receiving orifice is configured to accommodate a respective one of multiple resilient elements. A respective slider is arranged on the respective beveled fringe of the respective pusher and has a conical positioning portion. The fixing plate includes a first face and a second face. The first face has multiple coupling apertures and four locking apertures, and the second face has a groove with multiple chutes.

An upper drill tool including a central chuck, an upper component, a lower component and a coupling assembly. The central chuck has a chuck base and a chuck structurally configured to retain a drill bit. The upper component is attached to the central chuck and has a lower stop surface. The lower component has a central body and an outer ring that threadedly engages the central body, with the outer ring having an upper stop. The coupling assembly is configured to facilitate the slidable movement of the lower component from a first orientation wherein the upper stop is spaced apart from the lower stop surface and a second orientation wherein the upper stop is in abutting engagement with the lower stop surface, with the first orientation and the second orientation defining a stroke.

A workpiece carrier consisting of a table adapter and a workpiece carrier base. The table adapter of the workpiece carrier is detachably mounted on a table of a measuring device or a machine tool. At least three different support points are arranged between the table adapter and the workpiece carrier base. A first support point comprises one rotary body and three balls. A second support point comprises a rotary body and two balls. A third support point comprises two contact elements. The table adapter and the workpiece carrier base can be clamped against each other after mutual positioning by means of a clamping system.