Patent ID: 7273335

Claim:
A machine tool comprising a table supported by a bed for forward and rearward movement along a linear path of movement, left and right upright columns respectively provided on opposite sides of the linear path of movement of the table and having inwardly facing opposed surfaces, a cross rail comprising a rigid unitary structure extending transversely over and fixedly maintained in perpendicular orientation relative to the linear path of movement and in transverse alignment with and in facing contact with the inwardly facing opposed surfaces of the upright columns and supported by the upright columns solely for upward and downward movement, cross rail drive means supported in each upright column for driving the cross rail upward and downward, cross rail guide means provided in the inwardly facing surfaces of the upright columns for engaging and guiding the cross rail vertically upwardly and downwardly, and a spindle head supported by spindle head guide means mounted on the cross rail for transverse movement leftwardly and rightwardly along the cross rail by spindle head drive means, the machine tool being characterized in that the cross rail drive means in the left and right upright columns are transversely aligned with each other and the cross rail guide means in the left and right upright columns are transversely aligned with each other.