A jig for maintaining a work piece in a predetermined position relative to a cutting tool is comprised of first and second relatively flat members having respective first and second major surfaces for being positioned in facing relationship. Each body member has a pair of parallel elongated racks of substantially equal lengths, with a plurality of teeth spaced at predetermined intervals along respective major axes of each rack. The racks on the first body member are positioned substantially in registration with the corresponding racks on the second body member so that the teeth of the facing racks are meshed together to inhibit the first and second body members from being moved relative to one another along the major axis of the jig. The position of the first body member relative to the second body member is adjustable along the major axis of the jig in predetermined increments corresponding to the width of the interval between successive teeth so that the effective length of the jig is adjusted accordingly. The flat end surface of each body member is adapted for attachment to a "fence" or other alignment tool used in woodworking operations.
An improved positioning jig which includes two principal relatively flat members adapted for locking and unlocking engagement/disengagement with each other and which are normally urged apart in the unlocked condition by a pair of elongated spring-like members which separate the two principal relatively flat members. Each of the two members includes a mating set of teeth which are adapted for engagement with corresponding teeth on the other member and which permit adjustments in small discrete steps over an extended range. When it is desired to lock the two members together, a bi-directional cam clamp is rotated through about 90 degrees so as to impart a vertical camming force to the upper relatively flat member thereby forcing it downwardly in opposition to the spring bias until teeth of the upper member and those of the lower member are engaged thereby locking the members together in the desired relationship. Also included are improved scalar measuring devices which are adapted for coordination with the aforementioned principal flat members so that in combination they together provide enhanced operational characteristics.
A precision adjustable measuring gauge is provided for increasing the accuracy of workpiece layout, power tool setup and workpiece marking jobs. The measuring gauge has mutually engagable positioning racks to positively lock both a reference surface and a measuring surface rigidly and accurately into place. The gauge includes first and second half section body members which are mounted in facing relationship, and first and second racks formed on their facing surfaces. Each of the first and second racks include index teeth which are equally spaced at predetermined intervals. The displacement of one body member relative to the other body member is adjustable in predetermined increments corresponding to the spaced intervals between successive teeth. The first flat end surface of each body member may be used to engage a reference surface of a workpiece or the work positioning surface of a power tool. The second flat end surface of each body member may be used for indexing the position of a marking tool on the location of a blade or bit relative to the first flat end surface of the opposing body member. The tool can be used for fence alignment, depth of cut, workpiece marking and as a center finder.
A centering apparatus intended for use with a woodworking device having a cutting tool and fence for positioning the center of a work-piece in exact alignment with the center of the cutting tool. The centering apparatus comprising an elongate member having a first end, a second end, parallel longitudinal sides and a center hole located at the center of the elongate member. A swiveling right angle bracket for engaging one of two opposing parallel surfaces of a work-piece is connected to the first end. Connected to the second end is a contact member for contacting a guiding fence. A cylindrical dowel pin for pivoting the centering apparatus about the center hole of the elongate member is aligned with the geometric center of the cutting tool with one end of the cylindrical dowel pin extending through the center hole of the elongate member and the other end positioned within the chuck of the cutting tool.
A workpiece guiding fence for a woodworking machine having a rotating vertical axis cutting tool comprises a fence support of hollow rectangular configuration defining a chamber which is connectable to a vacuum source for removal of dust and chips. A three part fence structure comprises a forward fence portion, a rearward fence portion, and an insert portion are adjustably positionable on the fence support. The insert portion is fabricated from a cuttable material and is moved into full engagement with the rotating cutting tool to provide a recess conforming to the configuration of the cutting tool. When a workpiece is guided along the aforedescribed three part fence, dust and chips produced by the cutting operation are withdrawn into the fence support by the vacuum source. Subsequent operations utilizing the same cutting tool permit the insert, which has been cut to conform to the configuration of such cutting tool, to be mounted on the fence and to effect the rapid, yet highly accurate, alignment of the three part fence with the specific cutting tool.
Method and apparatus for the fixturing and positioning of objects such as workpieces or lenses in a repeatably presettable position relative to, for example, a cutting tool or other optical components includes a fixed base (40), a carriage (20) and a lead screw (30) rotatable with respect to the fixed base. The carriage (20) translates relative to the base and moves objects attached to it. The exact position of the carriage is indexed by first pressing a button (80A) to release an inside threaded concave cylindrical clamping piece (64) between the carriage and the lead screw and manually moving the carriage (20) to a desired location dictated by a scale (42A, 42B) on the fixed base (40) to relocate to a course number of thread pitch spacings. Once relocated the button (80A) is released, the carriage (20) is again clamped to the lead screw and the carriage finally incremented into a more accurate fine position with respect to the scale (42A, 42B) by an indexed rotation of a lead screw thumb screw (32) with respect to the scale.
