A foreign-substance discharge mechanism includes: a lubricating-liquid groove provided on a sliding surface of a wedge member and configured to receive a lubricating liquid; and a foreign-substance collector provided to the lubricating-liquid groove and configured to collect foreign substances existing in the lubricating-liquid groove. A first end and a second end of the lubricating-liquid groove are spaced apart from each other in a relative movement direction of the wedge member and the table bed. Disadvantages caused by the presence of the foreign substances between the sliding surfaces can be easily avoided by reliably collecting the foreign substances existing between the sliding surfaces using the lubricating-liquid groove and the foreign-substance collector.

A foreign-substance discharge mechanism includes: a lubricating-liquid groove provided on a sliding surface of a wedge member and configured to receive a lubricating liquid; and a foreign-substance collector provided to the lubricating-liquid groove and configured to collect foreign substances existing in the lubricating-liquid groove. A first end and a second end of the lubricating-liquid groove are spaced apart from each other in a relative movement direction of the wedge member and the table bed. Disadvantages caused by the presence of the foreign substances between the sliding surfaces can be easily avoided by reliably collecting the foreign substances existing between the sliding surfaces using the lubricating-liquid groove and the foreign-substance collector.

An improved design and method is disclosed that uses a novel nesting linear slide which incorporates machine tool slides or ways into a structural member. The design simplifies the fabrication and assembly of components requiring accurate sliding alignment, such as milling machine bases, saddles, tables and columns. Due to the use of the single piece, which replaces multiple pieces in the prior art, fabrication and assembly costs are also significantly lower. The invention also enables a method of construction utilizing the novel single shape component which simplifies the assembly of machines requiring sliding surfaces with accurate alignment. The invention essentially comprises a single structural element that includes both male and female sliding members. By nesting two of the single structural elements it is possible to create sliding joints for machine tool bases, saddles, tables, and columns, as well as a wide variety of other sliding joints, in an extremely cost-effective manner. The simplicity and low cost of the method will be especially advantageous in the manufacture of small machine tools and other machines intended for higher volume production.

A method and apparatus for processing workpieces to form parts. Tools associated with a multi-spindle machine may be positioned with respect to a plurality of workpieces on a fixture comprising a plurality of platforms and an adjustment system. Each platform may be individually moveable with respect to others in the plurality of platforms about a number of axes. The plurality of platforms may be configured to hold the plurality of workpieces in which each platform may be configured to hold a workpiece in the plurality of workpieces during operations performed by the multi-spindle machine. The adjustment system may be configured to move each of the plurality of platforms about the number of axes independently from the others in the plurality of platforms. The operations may be performed on the plurality of workpieces using the multi-spindle machine and the fixture to form a plurality of parts.

A method and apparatus for processing workpieces to form parts. Tools associated with a multi-spindle machine may be positioned with respect to a plurality of workpieces on a fixture comprising a plurality of platforms and an adjustment system. Each platform may be individually moveable with respect to others in the plurality of platforms about a number of axes. The plurality of platforms may be configured to hold the plurality of workpieces in which each platform may be configured to hold a workpiece in the plurality of workpieces during operations performed by the multi-spindle machine. The adjustment system may be configured to move each of the plurality of platforms about the number of axes independently from the others in the plurality of platforms. The operations may be performed on the plurality of workpieces using the multi-spindle machine and the fixture to form a plurality of parts.

An improved design and method is disclosed that uses a novel nesting linear slide which incorporates machine tool slides or ways into a structural member. The design simplifies the fabrication and assembly of components requiring accurate sliding alignment, such as milling machine bases, saddles, tables and columns. Due to the use of the single piece, which replaces multiple pieces in the prior art, fabrication and assembly costs are also significantly lower. The invention also enables a method of construction utilizing the novel single shape component which simplifies the assembly of machines requiring sliding surfaces with accurate alignment. The invention essentially comprises a single structural element that includes both male and female sliding members. By nesting two of the single structural elements it is possible to create sliding joints for machine tool bases, saddles, tables, and columns, as well as a wide variety of other sliding joints, in an extremely cost-effective manner. The simplicity and low cost of the method will be especially advantageous in the manufacture of small machine tools and other machines intended for higher volume production.

A T-Nut for use in a machine tool having a tooling plate with an inverted T-shaped channel. The T-Nut comprises a central body having oppositely inclined faces each including an opening forming a cavity extending through the central body, and first and second wedges in slideable communication with the central body inclined faces. Each of the wedges have wings extending laterally beyond the central body to engage upper surfaces of the channel lower wide portion and include a clearance hole extending through a length of the wedge. A rotatable actuation member abuts the first wedge at an end opposite the first wedge mating surface and is internally threaded for a distance from one end thereof. An externally threaded cylindrical shaft is engaged with the internal threads of the actuation member and extends through the first and second wedge clearance holes, the shaft being secured to and non-rotatable with the second wedge. In operation, when tooling is secured to the top surface of the central body and the actuation member is rotated, the first and second wedges are slideably moved symmetrically along the central body inclined faces until the first and second wedge wings engage upper surfaces of the channel lower wide portion while the tooling is simultaneously urged in the direction of the tooling plate until the tooling mounting surface bears against the tooling plate top surface, thereby removably securing the tooling to the tooling plate.

A T-Nut for use in a machine tool having a tooling plate with an inverted T-shaped channel. The T-Nut comprises a central body having oppositely inclined faces each including an opening forming a cavity extending through the central body, and first and second wedges in slideable communication with the central body inclined faces. Each of the wedges have wings extending laterally beyond the central body to engage upper surfaces of the channel lower wide portion and include a clearance hole extending through a length of the wedge. A rotatable actuation member abuts the first wedge at an end opposite the first wedge mating surface and is internally threaded for a distance from one end thereof. An externally threaded cylindrical shaft is engaged with the internal threads of the actuation member and extends through the first and second wedge clearance holes, the shaft being secured to and non-rotatable with the second wedge. In operation, when tooling is secured to the top surface of the central body and the actuation member is rotated, the first and second wedges are slideably moved symmetrically along the central body inclined faces until the first and second wedge wings engage upper surfaces of the channel lower wide portion while the tooling is simultaneously urged in the direction of the tooling plate until the tooling mounting surface bears against the tooling plate top surface, thereby removably securing the tooling to the tooling plate.