Workpiece center and edge finder having visual light indicator
First Claim
1. A center and edge finder utilized in conjunction with a work tool to locate a center or an edge of a workpiece with respect to a centerline of said work tool, said center and edge finder comprising:
- a support structure having a first end secured by said work tool and a second end generally disposed in spaced apart relation generally above said workpiece;
a light source supported by said support structure, said light source configured to emit a beam of light from said support structure towards said workpiece, said beam of light aligned with said centerline of said work tool; and
a source of electrical power electrically connected to said light source, whereby said beam of light is directed from said support structure to said center or said edge of said workpiece to align the location of said center or said edge of said workpiece with said centerline of said work tool so that one or more work operations may be performed on said workpiece.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A precise center and edge finder in which the position of the center or edge of a workpiece is directly located with respect to a work tool, such as a milling machine having a spindle driven chuck. The finder has a housing with a shank at one end for attachment to the chuck and a discharge aperture at the other end for discharging a beam of light toward the center or edge of the workpiece. Disposed within the housing is a source of light, preferably a laser diode module, and batteries to power the light source. The beam of light from the finder projects downward in alignment with the centerline of the spindle to the previously marked center or along the edge of the workpiece. The finder eliminates the need for calculations to find the true edge and the risk of contact damage to the workpiece or precision tool.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A center and edge finder utilized in conjunction with a work tool to locate a center or an edge of a workpiece with respect to a centerline of said work tool, said center and edge finder comprising:
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a support structure having a first end secured by said work tool and a second end generally disposed in spaced apart relation generally above said workpiece;
a light source supported by said support structure, said light source configured to emit a beam of light from said support structure towards said workpiece, said beam of light aligned with said centerline of said work tool; and
a source of electrical power electrically connected to said light source, whereby said beam of light is directed from said support structure to said center or said edge of said workpiece to align the location of said center or said edge of said workpiece with said centerline of said work tool so that one or more work operations may be performed on said workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A center and edge finder utilized in conjunction with a work tool to locate a center or an edge of a workpiece with respect to a centerline of said work tool, said center and edge finder comprising:
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a housing having a first end adapted to be secured by said work tool and a second end with a discharge aperture, said housing secured by said work tool so said discharge aperture is directed generally towards said workpiece;
a light source in said housing, said light source configured to emit a beam of light from said discharge aperture towards said workpiece;
one or more batteries disposed in said housing, said one or more batteries electrically connected to said light source; and
a switch electrically interconnecting said light source and said one or more batteries, said switch configured to selectively electrically connect said one or more batteries to said light source, whereby said beam of light is directed from said housing through said discharge aperture to said center or said edge of said workpiece to align the location of said center or said edge of said workpiece with said centerline of said work tool so that one or more work operations may be performed on said workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A center and edge finder utilized in conjunction with a work tool having a rotating spindle and a chuck to locate a center or an edge of a workpiece with respect to a centerline of said spindle, said center and edge finder comprising:
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a housing having a first end and a second end, said first end having a shank adapted to be received by said chuck, said second end having a discharge aperture, said housing secured by said chuck so said discharge aperture is directed generally towards said workpiece;
a light source in said housing, said light source configured to emit a beam of light from said discharge aperture towards said workpiece;
one or more batteries disposed in said housing, said one or more batteries electrically connected to said light source;
a switch electrically interconnecting said light source and said one or more batteries, said switch configured to selectively electrically connect said one or more batteries to said light source, and one or more adjusting members, each of said one or more adjusting members configured to align said beam of light with said centerline of said spindle. whereby said beam of light is directed from said housing through said discharge aperture to said center or said edge of said workpiece to align the location of said center or said edge of said workpiece with said centerline of said spindle so that one or more work operations may be performed on said workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification