Claims
- 1. A machine tool comprising:
a work table defining a work surface; a cutting tool attached to and movable with respect to said work table; and a switched reluctance motor driving the cutting tool.
- 2. The machine tool of claim 1, further comprising:
a mechanism for positioning said cutting tool relative to said working surface of said work table, said mechanism comprising:
a support plate pivotably secured to said work table, said cutting tool being mounted to said support plate to move between a first position where said cutting tool extends through an aperture in said work table and a second position where said cutting tool is positioned below said working surface; a cutting tool angulating mechanism mounted to said support plate, said angulating mechanism being operable to pivot said support plate with respect to said work table such that said cutting tool angulates with respect to said working surface; and a cutting tool elevating mechanism mounted to said support plate, said elevating mechanism being operable to move said cutting tool between said first and said second positions.
- 3. The machine tool according to claim 2 wherein said support plate pivots about an axis which is located on said working surface.
- 4. The machine tool according to claim 2 further comprising at least one pivot quadrant for pivotably securing said support plate to said work table.
- 5. The machine tool according to claim 4 wherein said pivot quadrant comprises:
a support bracket attached to said work table; a pivot bracket pivotably attached to said support bracket and fixably attached to said support plate; and a retaining strap attached to said support bracket, said retaining strap engaging said pivot bracket to maintain attachment of said pivot bracket to said support bracket.
- 6. The machine tool according to claim 2 wherein said angulating mechanism comprises:
a locking rod extending between a front side and a rear side of said support plate; a bracket attached to said work table and positioned adjacent to said rear side of said support plate, said locking rod extending through said bracket; a locking arm attached to said locking rod and movable between a first position and a second position, said support plate being free to pivot relative to said work table when said locking arm is in said first position, said support plate being compressed between said bracket and said work table to prohibit pivoting of said support plate when said locking arm is in said second position.
- 7. The machine tool according to claim 6 further comprising a bearing block cam attached to said support plate and a locking arm cam attached to said locking arm, said locking arm cam cooperating with said bearing block cam when said locking arm is moved from said first position to said second position to compress said support plate.
- 8. The machine tool according to claim 7 further comprising a biasing member disposed between said support plate and said locking arm, said biasing member urging said locking arm in a direction which urges said locking arm into contact with said support plate to create a clearance between said bearing block cam and said locking arm cam and to create a clearance between said bracket and said support plate.
- 9. The machine tool according to claim 6 wherein, said work table includes at least one adjustable stop, said adjustable stop including a cam rotatably secured to said work table, said cam being selectively locked to said work table in a plurality of positions to adjustably limit thee pivoting of said support plate.
- 10. The machine tool according to claim 2 wherein said elevating mechanism comprises:
an adjustment screw rotatably secured to said support plate; an adjustment nut threadably engaging said adjustment screw such that rotation of said adjustment screw operates to move said adjustment nut longitudinally along said adjustment screw; and a pivot link pivotably secured to said support plate, said pivot link extending between said adjustment nut and said cutting tool such that rotation of said adjustment screw operates to pivot said pivot link to move said cutting tool between said first and said second positions.
- 11. The machine tool according to claim 10 further comprising a biasing member for urging said cutting tool into one of said first and second positions.
- 12. The machine tool according to claim 10 further comprising means for resisting rotation of said adjustment screw.
- 13. The machine tool according to claim 12 wherein, said means for resisting comprises a washer attached to said adjustment screw and a biasing member for urging said washer against said support plate to provide frictional resistance to rotation of said adjustment screw.
- 14. The machine tool according to claim 2 wherein, said cutting tool comprises:
a gear case mounted to said support plate; a motor attached to one end of said gear case; an arbor shaft rotatably secured to a second end of said gear case; and a cutting device attached to said arbor shaft.
- 15. The machine tool according to claim 14 wherein, said gear case is biased against a face of said support plate.
- 16. The machine tool according to claim 14 further comprising:
a lever pivotably attached to said gear case and movable between a first position and a second position; a wrench pivotably attached to said lever, said wrench adapted to engage said arbor shaft to prevent its rotation with respect to said gear case when said lever is in said first position, said arbor shaft being free to rotate when said lever is in said second position.
- 17. The machine tool according to claim 16 wherein, said work table includes a throat plate disposed within a cavity defined by said work table and extending through said work surface, said throat plate defining said aperture in said work table, said throat plate being prevented from being properly disposed within said cavity when said lever is in said first position.
- 18. The machine tool according to claim 2 wherein, said cutting tool is biased against a face of said support plate.
- 19. The machine tool according to claim 2 wherein, said work table includes at least one adjustable stop, said adjustable stop including a cam rotatably secured to said work table, said cam being selectively locked to said work table in a plurality of positions to adjustably limit the pivoting of said support plate.
- 20. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the motor drives a arbor shaft, the cutting tool being drivingly connected to the arbor shaft, and the arbor shaft having multiple threads.
- 21. The machine tools according to claim 20, wherein the arbor shaft has a double thread.
- 22. A machine tool comprising:
a work table defining a work surface; an arbor shaft having multiple threads; a cutting tool rotatingly driven by the arbor shaft and movable with respect to said work table; and a motor driving the arbor shaft.
- 23. The machine tools of claim 22, wherein the arbor shaft has a double thread.
- 24. The machine tool of claim 23, further comprising:
a mechanism for positioning said cutting tool relative to said working surface of said work table, said mechanism comprising:
a support plate pivotably secured to said work table, said cutting tool being mounted to said support plate to move between a first position where said cutting tool extends through an aperture in said work table and a second position where said cutting tool is positioned below said working surface; a cutting tool angulating mechanism mounted to said support plate, said angulating mechanism being operable to pivot said support plate with respect to said work table such that said cutting tool angulates with respect to said working surface; and a cutting tool elevating mechanism mounted to said support plate, said elevating mechanism being operable to move said cutting tool between said first and said second positions.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is based upon and claims priority under 35 USC § 119 and 37 CFR § 1.78 of copending U.S. provisional applications Ser. No. 60/044,459, filed on Apr. 29, 1997, and Ser. No. 60/058,521, filed on Sep. 11, 1997. The present application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/663,538, filed on Jun. 17, 1996.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60044459 |
Apr 1997 |
US |
|
60058521 |
Sep 1997 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08663538 |
Jun 1996 |
US |
Child |
09034746 |
Mar 1998 |
US |