4400results about "Thread cutting machines" patented technology

A bone plate system for internal fixation of bone fractures includes a bone plate having a plurality of bone plate holes. The holes are constructed to receive either a non-locking, locking, or variable-angle locking bone screw. The holes have discrete columns of teeth or thread segments arranged around the inner surface of the hole for engaging threads on the heads of locking and variable-angle locking bone screws. Conventional locking bone screws engage the bone plate coaxially with the central axis of the bone plate hole. Variable-angle locking bone screws can engage the bone plate at a selectable angle within a range of selectable angles relative to the central axis of the bone plate hole. The head of the variable-angle locking screw is at least partially spherical, and the thread thereon has a profile that follows the arc-shaped radius of curvature of the spherical portion of the screwhead.

An adjustable drilling guide, removably mountable to a patient's teeth, having a guide block with at least one stent for guiding a dental drill is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the guide block has a plurality of guide holes disposed at differing angles which may receive a stent for precise drilling at the selected angle. If minor variations need be made, the stent may be moved to a second or third of the guide holes to adjust the angle. In a second embodiment, three distinct stents are formed directly in the guide block allowing for drilling at up to three different angles. A third embodiment has a stent which is pivotable about a pivot point within the guide block, allowing drilling at any angle within the arc of the pivot. The guide block may be fitted to a model of the patient's teeth prior to installation into the mouth to ensure proper fit.

An apparatus and method for forming a hole in material for non-medical and medical purposes such as a cranial burr hole for ventriculostomy and brain biopsy procedures. The apparatus includes a main unit upon which a drill unit is located. The drill unit includes a drill bit and an on / off switching means. The main unit includes a handle which is suitable for grasping, and an advancing mechanism including a release / engage mechanism, and an advancing lever and an optional on / off switch. The drill unit is advanced a predetermined distance relative to the main unit each time an advancing lever is pulled. In use, the apparatus is placed in a desired position upon the material to be drilled such a patient's skull and is stabilized by a stabilization platform, the apparatus is then turned on, and the advancing lever is pulled to advance the drill unit a predetermined distance relative to a longitudinal axis of the main unit with each pull of the advancing lever. The procedure is ended when the desired depth of penetration has been reached, or the material such as in the case of skull bone, has been completely penetrated.

A tool has a housing; a display unit attached to the housing; and a motion detection unit operably coupled to the housing and to the display unit, wherein the motion detection unit is configured to detect linear and rotational motion of the housing, to generate a first display signal indicative of the linear motion of the housing and to provide the first display signal to the display unit, and to generate a second display signal indicative of the rotational motion of the housing and to provide the second display signal to the display unit.

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing operations using non-contact position sensing are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a track assembly adapted to be attached to a workpiece, a carriage assembly moveably coupled to the track assembly and moveable relative to the workpiece, and a position sensor. The position sensor includes a sensor element adapted to detect at least one edge of an index feature on the workpiece from a distance away from the index feature. In an alternate embodiment, the position sensor may include a sensing circuit that receives an analog signal from the sensing element and provides both analog and digital output signals. In another embodiment, a controller that controls manufacturing operations may be mounted directly on the carriage assembly.

A laser-guided coordination hole tool for precisely drilling holes in large parts includes a positioning table, a bushing cavity for receiving drill bushings, a clamping device, and a laser target. A laser-guided coordination hole tool may include a software interlock to prevent drilling in an improper location on the part. A method of drilling coordination holes includes probing a part to determine its reference frame, rigidly affixing a laser-guided coordination hole tool to the part, probing a target on the laser-guided coordination hole tool to determine the reference frame for the laser-guided coordination hole tool, accurately positioning a drill bushing over the hole location, and drilling a hole. A system for drilling coordination holes includes a laser-guided coordination hole tool, a bushing, a tooling, a drill motor, a laser tracker, and a computer running a coordination-hole drilling program.

A surgical instrument holder has a shank having a coupling end, a handle attached to an opposite end of the shank, a coupling device, and a locking mechanism. The coupling end has an interface thereon for receiving an instrument. The locking mechanism has an annular locking component, a spring, a ring which slides on the shank, and a locking device. The annular locking component is mounted so as to slide along the shank. The locking device cooperates with the locking component so as to lock the instrument onto the interface. The spring biases the locking component in a locking direction and bears on the ring. The ring is disengageably lockable to the shank via a connection device so as to enable quick disassembly for cleaning and component sterilization.

A depth stop for use with a drill bit comprises a tubular body having an opening therethrough. Used with a drill bit whose bit portion includes a cutting end, and a shank portion, the depth stop is frictionally positionable on the bit portion at a specified point from the cutting end, thereby indicating a specified depth. Depth stops are manufactured in different colors, each color corresponding to a specified range of drill bits that the depth stops will fit. The depth stops, manufactured from a sterilizable material, are intended for single use. The depth stop can be used with a drill bit and drill extender, where one or more depth stops provide multiple visual points of reference for the operator. The depth stops can be quickly mounted onto most any manufacturer's drill bits.

A “snap-in” bit chuck assembly for a rotary hand or powered tool, includes an elongated body having a hex shank at its rearward end, an elongated retraction collar slidably disposed on the body, and an outer retaining collar fixed to the forward end of the body. The body has a coaxial hex socket formed therein to allow a reversible tool to be inserted thereinto. A slot is formed in the body, between the outer surface of the body and the internal hex socket. A coil spring surrounds the body, inside the retraction collar, and normally biases the retraction collar forwardly and biases a retaining clip toward the bottom of the angular slot. The retaining clip slides outwardly in the angular slot, against the bias of the coil spring, as the reversible tool is inserted, where a recess on the reversible tool is engaged and retained by the clip. The tool is removed by sliding the retraction collar rearwardly, to compress the coil spring and allow the retaining clip to retract back up the slot. The clip is directly engaged by the coil spring and has two legs extending about the body so that the clip is self-retaining. The clip legs extend around the body such that the retraction force on the coil spring is directed through the center of the coil spring to keep it coaxially aligned with the body.

A hole-saw assembly including a hole-saw having at one end a plurality of cutting teeth and at the other end two shafts. The assembly includes a mandrel coaxially aligned with said hole-saw and including a body having two bores therethrough coaxially aligned with said shafts. An annulus located on top of the body is coaxially aligned with said mandrel and hole saw and includes two holes, the annulus rotatable around its longitudinal axis from a first to a second position. In the first position the annulus holes are aligned with the bores and shafts allowing the shafts to be freely insertable and removable and in the second position the holes are misaligned to lock the shafts to the annulus. Such an arrangement allows the hole-saw and the mandrel to be easily and quickly mountable and demountable.

Carrying systems, connecting systems and methods. The system connects a power tool and a component. In some constructions and in some aspects, the power tool includes a housing and a U-shaped receptacle defined by the housing. In some constructions and in some aspects, the component includes a stud selectively engageable with the receptacle to connect the power tool and the component. A locking mechanism is positioned within the receptacle and includes a cam. The locking mechanism is engageable with the stud to restrict movement of the stud with respect to the receptacle. The stud includes a recess at an end of the stud. The cam is selectively engageable with the recess to retain the stud within the receptacle. The cam is movable between a lock position and a released position. In the locked position, the cam extends into the recess and engages the stud. In the released position, the cam is retracted from the recess and is disengaged with the stud.

A milling head for thread whirling, the milling head includes a plurality of cutting elements evenly disposed around a center hole, each cutting element in the plurality of cutting elements includes at least two cutting surfaces formed thereon. Any one of the at least two cutting surfaces is selectable to extend within the center hole for contacting a work-piece. Each cutting element in the plurality of cutting elements is disposed in a recess formed in a face of the milling head, with each recess defining at least two walls. Each of the at least two walls contacts a side of the cutting element to align the cutting element in a predetermined relationship with respect to the milling head. In one embodiment, the plurality of cutting elements include first and second sets of cutting elements. The first set of cutting elements is evenly disposed around the center hole and contact the work-piece to produce a thread form on the work-piece. The second set of cutting elements is evenly disposed around the center hole and contacts the work-piece to remove material proximate the outside diameter of the work-piece.

A pocket-hole drilling apparatus for drilling pocket-holes in a workpiece is disclosed. In one embodiment, an initiation switch actuates clamping the workpiece and the movement of a drilling module to cut a pocket-hole. The drilling module has a motor and a step-drill mounted thereon, which is slidably mounted on a guide module. The axis of the drilling module movement intersects work surface. In another embodiment, a movable fence provides the adjustability of pocket-hole depth. In yet another embodiment, two actuator tips are disposed in a fence to prevent the drilling of a pocket-hole through the sidewall of a workpiece. In still another embodiment, a short stroke clamping actuator is used to prevent human finger injury. In still another embodiment, a blower or an ejector pump is used to remove wood chips, wherein the blower is either attached to a drilling motor or to a separate blower motor; the ejector pump is mounted near the drill guide. In still another embodiment, two pocket-drills are slidably mounted on a block so as to drill two pocket-holes and to adjust pocket-hole spacing. In still another embodiment, a mounting structure is disposed either underneath or above the work surface to mount drilling module(s) so as to drill multiple pocket-holes into a wide workpiece at one setup. In still another embodiment, a drill guide forms a clearance for the cutting edges of the step-drill to minimize wear on the edges. In a further embodiment, an actuator provides both clamping and drilling movements, wherein the actuator is an electric motor or a hand lever.

An electrically powered hand tool is disclosed. The tool includes a motor, a power source, a work element and a controller. Various alternative features, embodiments and operative configurations are disclosed.

An auxiliary handle with a laser alignment device for drills comprises a grip portion for grasping, an opened collar which can be engaged with shoulder of the drill, and a clamp means for locking or loosing the opened collar. The auxiliary handle also comprises a first laser generator which can project a fanned planar laser beam, a battery pack which can be used to power the first laser generator, and a switch for turning on or turning off the first laser generator, the fanned laser beam which is projected by the first laser generator is in alignment with the central axis of the opened collar. Such that the fanned laser beam is in alignment with the central axis of the chuck when the auxiliary handle is mounted on the drill.

<heading lvl="0">Abstract of the Disclosure< / heading> The invention is an improvement to a chuck assembly of the type having a chuck hub with a longitudinally extending bore therein the longitudinally extending bore having a closed end, an open end, and a radially extending bit bore in communication with the longitudinally extending bore, and a bit ball movable in the ball bore between a first retracted position out of the longitudinally extending bore and a second engaged position partially in the longitudinally extending bore. The inventive improvement includes a shuttle slidably disposed in the longitudinally extending bore. The shuttle has a first longitudinally extending portion having a first lateral dimension and a second longitudinally extending portion having a second, smaller lateral dimension. The shuttle is movable longitudinally between a first release position and a second lock position. The inventive improvement also includes a compression spring urging the shuttle away from the closed end of the longitudinally extending bore, and a shuttle ball disposed in a radially extending shuttle ball bore in the chuck hub which is in communication with the longitudinally extending bore of the chuck hub. The shuttle ball is movable in the shuttle ball bore between a first retracted position where the shuttle ball contacts the first longitudinally extending portion of the shuttle and a second extended position where the shuttle ball contacts the second longitudinally extending portion of the shuttle.

A method and apparatus for performing operations on a workpiece. A first frame in a frame system may be held on the workpiece by applying a vacuum to the first frame. A second frame in the frame system may be detached from the workpiece by applying a pressure to the second frame. The second frame may be moved to a location on the workpiece. The second frame may be attached to the workpiece by applying the vacuum to the second frame. An operation may be performed on the workpiece.

A tool operates with a guide system to identify the orientation of a tool on a work piece. In one implementation, the tool identifies its orientation with respect to a guide signal supplied by the guide system. In an alternate embodiment, the tool determines its absolute orientation, such as a (x, y) coordinate. The tool includes an action component adapted to alter the work piece, such as a cutting head in a router. A guide detector in the tool detects a position of a guide signal from the guide system. A location detector in the tool receives the position data and employs it to determine the tool's orientation. Based on the detected orientation, the tool decides whether any tool adjustments are necessary. Examples of tool adjustments include the following: adjusting the position of the action component, enabling or disabling the action component, and providing operating indicators to direct a tool operator's use of the tool.

A 3 sided bracket shaped template for accurately drilling door knob and lock holes in doors comprising a template plate a at right angle to a lock plate again at a right angle to a reverse plate. The template plate and reverse plate each contain rectangular apertures for drill passage, and the template plate further has zee bracket sleeves on the bottom and both sides of the rectangular aperture for slidably mounting removable plate guides each with different perpendicular cylindrical extension guide for drills of varying sizes. The lock plate also has a centered circular hole with a tubular drill guide perpendicular to the lock plate.