A selection system, comprising: a sheath defining an internal housing extending in a longitudinal direction; a link rod disposed in said internal housing, and extending in the longitudinal direction; and a selection slide mounted to slide in the internal housing, about the link rod; the link rod being held stationary relative to the sheath against movement in translation in the longitudinal direction by stop means; the system being characterized in that the stop means comprise: a base that is a body of revolution and includes a conical portion; and a shell comprising two shell portions each including a conical portion configured to come to bear in plane manner against the conical portion of the base.

Disclosed is a multiple machining apparatus for, upon receiving a plastic cylindrical work piece therewithin, performing multiple machining operations thereon. The apparatus comprises a rotary fixture capable of rotation; the rotary fixture comprises a proximal means for snugly holding a proximal portion of the work piece, and a distal means for holding substantially the rest of the portion of the work piece. The apparatus further comprises a movable table comprising a blade holder for holding a plurality of blades, each of which corresponding to a machining operation, the movable table and thereby the blade holder capable movement along X, Y and Z axes. The multiple machining operations are executed as the work piece is rotated and with the blades working against the rotating work piece.

A motorized drapery system having an elongated rotating drive element that has a non-circular cross-sectional shape such as square, rectangular, trapezoidal, cross shaped or any other non-circular shape that is twisted. In one arrangement the drive element is twisted in one direction along its entire length. In another arrangement the drive element is twisted in one direction in a first section and twisted in an opposite direction in a second section thereby providing a center opening/center closing drapery. A plurality of rings are positioned around the drive element including at least one driver ring that includes a feature that connects to the drive element and is configured to facilitate movement along the drive element, and a plurality of idler rings that are configured to slide along the drive element. A curtain is connected to the rings and opens and closes as the rings move along the drive element.

A rotation mechanism 9 rotates a spindle 2a to which a workpiece 6 is attached. A feed mechanism 8 feeds a cutting edge 4a positioned obliquely relative to a rotation axis of the workpiece 6 in a direction containing a cutting direction component orthogonal to the rotation axis with the cutting edge 4a cutting into the workpiece 6 to machine a surface of the workpiece 6. The cutting edge 4a of a cutting tool 4 has been formed by scanning a cylindrical irradiation region including a focused spot of laser light over a diamond-coated layer of a chip base material.

A rotation mechanism 9 rotates a spindle 2a to which a workpiece 6 is attached. A feed mechanism 8 feeds a cutting edge 4a positioned obliquely relative to a rotation axis of the workpiece 6 in a direction containing a cutting direction component orthogonal to the rotation axis with the cutting edge 4a cutting into the workpiece 6 to machine a surface of the workpiece 6. The cutting edge 4a of a cutting tool 4 has been formed by scanning a cylindrical irradiation region including a focused spot of laser light over a diamond-coated layer of a chip base material.

Pipe machining apparatuses, tool supports, and methods of operating pipe machining apparatuses are provided. In one aspect, a pipe machining apparatus includes a frame, a tool carrier coupled to and movable relative to the frame, and a tool support coupled to and movable with the tool carrier relative to the frame. The tool support is adapted to support a tool and move the tool in a first direction toward a pipe at a first increment and move the tool in a second direction away from the pipe at a second increment. The second increment is larger than the first increment.

Pipe machining apparatuses, tool supports, and methods of operating pipe machining apparatuses are provided. In one aspect, a pipe machining apparatus includes a frame, a tool carrier coupled to and movable relative to the frame, and a tool support coupled to and movable with the tool carrier relative to the frame. The tool support is adapted to support a tool and move the tool in a first direction toward a pipe at a first increment and move the tool in a second direction away from the pipe at a second increment. The second increment is larger than the first increment.

Disclosed is an orbital cutting apparatus that is capable of freely and selectively controlling forward and backward movement of a plurality of cutting tools, allowing the cutting tools to move forward and backward and to move in an axial direction of a material to be cut so as to enable processing of various shapes as well as cutting and chamfering, and is capable of simultaneously carrying out cutting and chamfering operations for a pipe material or a heavy pipe having a thickness of dozens of mm or more.

Disclosed is an orbital cutting apparatus that is capable of freely and selectively controlling forward and backward movement of a plurality of cutting tools, allowing the cutting tools to move forward and backward and to move in an axial direction of a material to be cut so as to enable processing of various shapes as well as cutting and chamfering, and is capable of simultaneously carrying out cutting and chamfering operations for a pipe material or a heavy pipe having a thickness of dozens of mm or more.

Systems for circumferentially microtoming a pipe having a longitudinal axis. The systems include a frame, a lathe, a carriage, a cutting tool, and an actuator. The lathe is mounted to the frame and configured to support and rotate the pipe about the longitudinal axis of the pipe. The carriage is operatively supported on the frame proximate the pipe. The cutting tool selectively engages the pipe. The actuator is operatively supported on the frame and configured to move the carriage to different radial positions perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. In some examples, the system includes a position sensor, a computer display, and/or a controller.