Patent ID: 6817111
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: B23B,B23Q

Abstract:
An alignment tool for positioning a cutting tool at a predetermined cutting location on a workpiece, the workpiece being affixed to a spindle of a shaping machine and being coaxially aligned therewith, the shaping machine being provided with at least orthogonal longitudinal and transverse cutting tool axes and orthogonal longitudinal and transverse shaping machine axes, said cutting tool axes and said shaping machine axes having independent orientation, each with respect to the other, the alignment tool comprising:an arbor clamp for positioning a longitudinal center line of the alignment tool on an axis of rotation of the spindle; an alignment tool body including: an indicator surface longitudinally parallel to said longitudinal center line of the alignment tool; and a plurality of cutting plane indicators coupled to said alignment tool body along said longitudinal center line of the alignment tool, each of said cutting plane indicators indicating a point on a corresponding one of a plurality of cutting planes, said point being located at a predetermined transverse distance from said longitudinal center line of the alignment tool, wherein said point on one of said cutting planes coincides with the predetermined cutting location on the workpiece; and cutting axis locator means coupled to said alignment tool body for aligning said longitudinal center line of the alignment tool to the longitudinal cutting tool axis, said cutting axis locator means including adjustment means for aligning said longitudinal center line of the alignment tool to the longitudinal cutting tool axis of the shaping machine independent of the orientation thereof to the longitudinal shaping machine axis, whereby the cutting tool located at the predetermined location on the workpiece may be translated parallel to the longitudinal cutting tool axis in said one of said cutting planes.