An impacting apparatus , the apparatus comprising a power source, a control circuit , a motor , a spring anvil assembly, said spring anvil assembly comprising a spring , and an anvil , a striker , an impact target, a return mechanism comprising a guide means for constraining said spring anvil assembly and said striker , a drive mechanism capable of selectively engaging and disengaging said spring anvil assembly wherein said drive mechanism is capable of selectively engaging said spring anvil assembly and thereafter disengaging from said spring anvil assembly to cease applying a force on said spring anvil assembly, wherein when said drive mechanism engages said spring anvil assembly, potential energy is stored in said spring , and when said drive mechanism thereafter disengages said spring anvil assembly, said spring releases its potential energy and accelerates said spring anvil assembly, said spring anvil assembly being in a state of free flight for at least a portion of the drive stroke before impacting the striker , wherein said striker is in contact with said impact target to deliver the impact energy from said spring anvil assembly to said impact target, and wherein said spring anvil assembly is biased to a start position by one of the impact target and the weight of the apparatus. a power source, a control circuit , a motor , a spring anvil assembly, said spring anvil assembly comprising a spring , and an anvil , a striker , an impact target, a return mechanism comprising a guide means for constraining said spring anvil assembly and said striker , a drive mechanism capable of selectively engaging and disengaging said spring anvil assembly wherein said drive mechanism is capable of selectively engaging said spring anvil assembly and thereafter disengaging from said spring anvil assembly to cease applying a force on said spring anvil assembly, wherein when said drive mechanism engages said spring anvil assembly, potential energy is stored in said spring , and when said drive mechanism thereafter disengages said spring anvil assembly, said spring releases its potential energy and accelerates said spring anvil assembly, said spring anvil assembly being in a state of free flight for at least a portion of the drive stroke before impacting the striker , wherein said striker is in contact with said impact target to deliver the impact energy from said spring anvil assembly to said impact target, and wherein said spring anvil assembly is biased to a start position by one of the impact target and the weight of the apparatus. a motor , a spring anvil assembly, said spring anvil assembly comprising a spring , and an anvil , a striker , an impact target, a return mechanism comprising a guide means for constraining said spring anvil assembly and said striker , a drive mechanism capable of selectively engaging and disengaging said spring anvil assembly wherein said drive mechanism is capable of selectively engaging said spring anvil assembly and thereafter disengaging from said spring anvil assembly to cease applying a force on said spring anvil assembly, wherein when said drive mechanism engages said spring anvil assembly, potential energy is stored in said spring , and when said drive mechanism thereafter disengages said spring anvil assembly, said spring releases its potential energy and accelerates said spring anvil assembly, said spring anvil assembly being in a state of free flight for at least a portion of the drive stroke before impacting the striker , wherein said striker is in contact with said impact target to deliver the impact energy from said spring anvil assembly to said impact target, and wherein said spring anvil assembly is biased to a start position by one of the impact target and the weight of the apparatus. <EOS>