Patent classifications
B23B2270/62
Supporting a contoured sheet of material during machining operations
A machining support configured to reduce spring back of a sheet following a machining operation on the sheet is presented. The machining support comprises a porous material with a plurality of surfaces including a support surface having a contour configured to contact and support the sheet; sealing material covering each of the plurality of surfaces except the support surface; and a vacuum port configured to provide a vacuum to the porous material.
Method and apparatus for drilling a workpiece
A drilling end effector is provided for drilling a workpiece having a workpiece surface. The drilling end effector includes a chuck configured to hold a drilling tool, and a nosepiece configured to at least partially surround the drilling tool when the drilling tool is held by the chuck. The nosepiece includes an end portion, at least one suction cup, and at least one suction feed line. The at least one suction cup is fluidly connected to the at least one suction feed line that is configured to be fluidly connected to a suction system. The at least one suction cup is configured to be engaged in physical contact with the workpiece surface and pulled under suction by the suction system such that the at least one suction cup adheres to the workpiece surface to thereby hold the end portion of the nosepiece on the workpiece surface.
Internal grinding device for pipes and weld joints
A method for treating an interior weld joint located along an inner surface of a pipe includes the steps of: (a) advancing an internal grinder device within the pipe to the interior weld joint, wherein the internal grinder device includes a hollow housing that has a first open end and a first grinding implement that is disposed within the hollow housing and coupled thereto with a first biasing member; and (b) controllably rotating the hollow housing to at least a threshold speed at which time and under centrifugal force, the first grinding implement moves from an at rest retracted position to a deployed position in which the first grinding implement extends radially beyond the first open end for contacting and grinding the interior weld joint as the hollow housing and the first grinding implement are rotated.
Precision Freeform Structuring for the Fabrication of Coded Lenses
A system for fabricating coded lenses includes a cutting tool configured to controllably cut a workpiece at a specified position-dependent depth while traversing a surface of the workpiece along a specified two-dimensional path. A signal generator is operative to generate a signal for controlling fabrication of a coded lens from the workpiece. A vibration tool is operative to ultrasonically vibrate the cutting tool for cutting of gratings on the workpiece.
VACUUM SHROUD FOR HAND-HELD DRILL
An assembly for a hand-held drill is disclosed. The assembly includes a drill guide and a vacuum shroud. The drill guide includes a mount, a telescoping guard, and a guide foot. The mount is configured to couple to a non-rotating portion of the hand-held drill. The telescoping guard extends from the mount. The guide foot is coupled to the telescoping guard opposite the mount such that the drill guide enshrouds a drill bit of the hand-held drill when the telescoping guard is in an extended position. The vacuum shroud is removably fastenable to the drill guide. The vacuum shroud includes an outer wall and a vacuum hose connector. The outer wall forms an elongate vacuum cavity between an inlet proximate to the guide foot and an outlet distal from the guide foot. A vacuum hose connector is positioned at the outlet distal from the guide foot.
Dust collector for power tool
A dust collector operable to collect dust and debris generated during operation of a power tool includes a mounting base configured to couple to the power tool. The mounting base defines a longitudinal axis. The dust collector also includes a shroud extending from the mounting base. The shroud includes a first end adjacent the mounting base, a second end operable to contact a workpiece, a sleeve extending between the first end and the second end, and a spring biasing the second end away from the first end. The second end is movable relative to the first end against the spring.
DRILLING APPARATUS AND METHODS OF USING SAME
A drilling apparatus comprising: at least one bit; a vacuum shroud, including a compressible boot, disposed around a longitudinal axis of the apparatus and configured to be in operative communication with a vacuum attachment port; and at least one magnetic element disposed near a distal end of the apparatus and configured to attract metallic debris resulting from drilling apparatus operation.
Dust collector including filter cleaning mechanism
A dust collector can be used with a hand-held power tool. The dust collector includes a housing, a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing, and a suction fan positioned within the housing and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe. The suction pipe is configured to telescope toward and away from the housing. The suction pipe includes an outer pipe supported by the housing, and an inner pipe slidably received into the outer pipe.
Dust collector with filter cleaning mechanism
A dust collector for use with a power tool comprises a housing, a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing, a suction fan positioned in the housing and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, a dust container coupled to the housing and positioned upstream of the fan, a filter at least partially arranged in the dust container, and a filter cleaning mechanism. The filter cleaning mechanism includes an anvil, a striker moveable between a first striker position, in which the striker is spaced from the anvil, and a second striker position, in which the striker is in contact with the anvil. The filter cleaning mechanism further includes an actuator moveable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position, in which the actuator is moved closer to the anvil than in the first position, and a first spring biasing the striker toward the anvil.
POCKET HOLE JIG
A pocket hole jig that provides a vacuum attachment for waste debris removal is provided. A pocket hole jig that allows for adjustably positioning a clamp assembly is provided. Methods of operating pocket hole jigs are provided as well.