1. A clamping assembly for clamping one or more knife elements onto a woodworking machine, said clamping assembly comprising:
a clamping component comprising a body, said body being sized and shaped to have three discrete contact positions distributed on said body, said three discrete contact positions comprising a fulcrum located generally at one end, a knife abutting portion located generally at the other end for abutting said one or more knife elements, and a bearing surface located elsewhere; and
an actuator for applying a clamping force to said body along a clamping axis located intermediate of said knife abutting portion and said fulcrum;
said fulcrum being formed as a substantially planar surface wherein a line normal to said fulcrum is at an angle to said clamping axis;
said bearing surface being formed as a substantially planar surface positioned on said body wherein a line normal to said bearing surface intersects said line normal to said fulcrum at a position outside of said clamping component at a location farther askew of said clamping axis than said fulcrum.
2. The clamping assembly of claim 1, wherein said angle is at least 20 degrees.
3. The clamping assembly of claim 1, wherein said angle is at least 30 degrees.
4. The clamping assembly of any one of claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein said knife abutting portion is positioned askew of said clamping axis.
5. The clamping assembly of claim 4, wherein said bearing surface is positioned away from said fulcrum, and on the same side of a dividing plane as said knife abutting portion, the dividing plane being perpendicular to said clamping axis, and passing through said fulcrum.
6. The clamping assembly of claim 5 wherein said line normal to said bearing surface and said line normal to said fulcrum form an angle of 70 degrees or less.
7. The clamping assembly of claim 6 wherein said bearing surface is positioned askew of said clamping axis in a direction towards said knife abutting portion.
8. The clamping assembly of claim 6 wherein said line normal to said bearing surface is substantially perpendicular to said clamping axis.
9. The clamping assembly of claim 6 wherein said clamping assembly further comprises a second clamping component.
10. The clamping assembly of claim 9 wherein said bearing surface abuts said second clamping component.
11. The clamping assembly of claim 10 wherein said fulcrum abuts said second clamping component.
12. The clamping assembly of claim 6 wherein said actuator comprises at least one threaded fastener.
13. The clamping assembly of claim 12 wherein said at least one threaded fastener engages said clamping component to develop said clamping force.
14. A clamping component for use in securing one or more knife elements onto a base member of a wood working machine, said clamping component comprising:
a body sized and shaped to have at least three discrete contact positions distributed on said body, said three discrete contact positions comprising, (1) a fulcrum located generally at one end, (2) a knife abutting portion, located generally at the other end, for abutting said one or more knife elements, and (3) a bearing surface located elsewhere on said body;
said body further including an opening through said body, said opening having an axis located intermediate of said knife abutting portion and said fulcrum;
said fulcrum being formed as a substantially planar surface wherein a line normal to said substantially planar surface is positioned at an angle to said axis of said opening.
15. A clamping component for use in securing one or more knife elements onto a base member of a wood working machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein said angle is at least twenty degrees.
16. A clamping component for use in securing one or more knife elements onto a base member of a wood working machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein said angle is at least thirty degrees.
17. A clamping component for use in securing one or more knife elements onto a base member of a wood working machine as claimed in any one of claims 14, 15, or 16, wherein said knife abutting portion is positioned askew of said axis of said opening.
18. A clamping component for use in securing one or more knife elements onto a base member of a wood working machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein said bearing surface is positioned away from said fulcrum and on the same side of a dividing plane as said knife abutting portion, the dividing plane being perpendicular to said axis of said opening and passing through said fulcrum.
19. A clamping component for use in securing one or more knife elements onto a base member of a wood working machine as claimed in claim 18, wherein said bearing surface is positioned askew of said axis of said opening in a direction towards said other end.
20. A clamping component for use in securing one or more knife elements onto a base member of a wood working machine as claimed in claim 18, wherein said bearing surface is formed as a substantially planar surface, and wherein a line normal to said bearing surface intersects said line normal to said fulcrum at a position outside of said clamping component at a location farther askew of said axis of said opening than said fulcrum.
21. A clamping component for use in securing one or more knife elements onto a base member of a wood working machine as claimed in claim 20, wherein said line normal to said bearing surface and said line normal to said fulcrum form an angle that is 70 degrees or less.
22. A clamping component for use in securing one or more knife elements onto a base member of a wood working machine as claimed in claim 21, wherein said line normal to said bearing surface is substantially perpendicular to said axis of said opening.
23. A clamping assembly for clamping one or more knife elements onto a woodworking machine, said clamping assembly comprising:
a clamping component sized and shaped to have at least three discrete contact positions, said discrete contact positions comprising a fulcrum located generally at one end, a knife abutting portion located generally at the other end for abutting said one or more knife elements, and a bearing surface located elsewhere; and
an actuator for applying a clamping force along a clamping axis located intermediate of said knife abutting portion and said fulcrum;
said fulcrum being formed wherein the application of said clamping force results in a reaction force developed at said fulcrum having a line of action that is at an angle to said clamping axis;
said bearing surface being sized, shaped, oriented, and positioned wherein the application of said clamping force results in a reaction force developed at said bearing surface having a line of action that intersects with said line of action of said reaction force developed at said fulcrum at a position outside of said clamping component at a location farther askew of said clamping axis than said fulcrum.
24. A clamping assembly for clamping one or more knife elements onto a woodworking machine as claimed in claim 23, wherein said angle is at least 20 degrees.
25. A clamping assembly for clamping one or more knife elements onto a woodworking machine as claimed in claim 23, wherein said angle is at least 30 degrees.
26. A clamping assembly for clamping one or more knife elements onto a woodworking machine as claimed in any one of claims 23, 24, or 25, wherein said knife abutting portion is positioned askew of said clamping axis.
27. A clamping assembly for clamping one or more knife elements onto a woodworking machine as claimed in claim 26, wherein said bearing surface is positioned away from said fulcrum, and on the same side of a dividing plane as said knife abutting portion, the dividing plane being perpendicular to said clamping axis, and passing through said fulcrum.
28. A clamping assembly for clamping one or more knife elements onto a woodworking machine as claimed in claim 27, further including a second clamping component.
29. A clamping assembly for clamping one or more knife elements onto a woodworking machine as claimed in claim 28, wherein said bearing surface abuts said second clamping component.
30. A clamping assembly for clamping one or more knife elements onto a woodworking machine as claimed in claim 29, wherein said fulcrum abuts said second clamping component.
31. A clamping assembly for clamping one or more knife elements onto a woodworking machine as claimed in claim 27, further including a base member wherein said bearing surface abuts said base member.
32. A clamping assembly for clamping one or more knife elements onto a base member of a woodworking machine, said clamping assembly comprising:
first and second clamping components for securing said one or more knife elements therebetween, said first clamping component abutting said second clamping component at least at one location;
said first clamping component being sized and shaped to have three distinct contact positions, said distinct contact positions comprising, (1) a fulcrum located generally at one end, (2) a knife abutting portion, located generally at the other end, for abutting said one or more knife elements, and (3) a bearing surface located elsewhere; and
an actuator for applying a clamping force to said first clamping component along a clamping axis located intermediate of said knife abutting portion and said fulcrum;
said fulcrum being formed as a substantially planar surface wherein a line normal to said substantially planar surface is at an angle to said clamping axis;
said bearing surface being sized, shaped, oriented, and positioned wherein a line normal to said bearing surface intersects said line normal to said fulcrum at a position outside of said first clamping component at a location farther askew of said clamping axis than said fulcrum.
33. The clamping assembly of claim 32, wherein said angle is at least 20 degrees.
34. The clamping assembly of claim 32, wherein said angle is at least 30 degrees.
35. The clamping assembly of any one of claims 32, 33 or 34, wherein said knife abutting portion is positioned askew of said clamping axis.
36. The clamping assembly of claim 35, wherein said bearing surface is positioned away from said fulcrum, and on the same side of a dividing plane as said knife abutting portion, the dividing plane being perpendicular to said clamping axis, and passing through said fulcrum.
37. The clamping assembly of claim 36, wherein said bearing surface is formed as a substantially planar surface.
38. The clamping assembly of claim 37, wherein said line normal to said bearing surface and said line normal to said fulcrum form an angle of 70 degrees or less.
39. The clamping assembly of claim 38, wherein said line normal to said bearing surface is substantially perpendicular to said clamping axis.
40. The clamping assembly of claim 38, wherein said first clamping component abuts said second clamping component at said fulcrum and said first clamping component pivots about said fulcrum under the action of said clamping force applied by said actuator.
41. The clamping assembly of claim 38, wherein said second clamping component is affixed to said base member and said first clamping component is moveable between an open position and a closed position for securing said one or more knife elements therebetween.
42. The clamping assembly of claim 38, wherein said first clamping component comprises a rear clamping component and said second clamping component comprises a front clamping component.
43. The clamping assembly of claim 38, wherein said first clamping component comprises a front clamping component and said second clamping component comprises a rear clamping component.
44. The clamping assembly of claim 38, wherein said base member further includes a pocket for affixing said second clamping component, said pocket comprising at least one contact surface for abutting said second clamping components.
45. The clamping assembly of claim 38, wherein said bearing surface abuts said second clamping component.
46. The clamping assembly of claim 38, wherein said bearing surface abuts said base member.
47. The clamping assembly of claim 38, wherein said base member is a rotatable body of cylindrical, conical, or disc form.
48. The clamping assembly of claim 38, wherein said actuator is in the form of at least one threaded fastener.
49. The clamping assembly of claim 48, wherein said at least one threaded fastener engages said first clamping component to develop said clamping force.
50. The clamping assembly of claim 49, wherein said at least one threaded fastener passes through a corresponding opening in at least one of said clamping components.
51. The clamping assembly of claim 50, wherein said at least one threaded fastener fits into a corresponding recess at least on one of said clamping components.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for collecting data for geometric modeling of a physical object which comprises:
providing a first housing;
providing an aperture in the first housing;
providing a source of light within the housing that is strong enough to be perceptible in the ambient conditions at the aperture;
providing a video recorder in a second housing;
providing a rigid follower dimensioned and configured for following the surface of the physical object;
rigidly fixing the rigid follower to one of said housings; and
translating the follower along the surface of the physical object and simultaneously using the video recorder to video record the path of the aperture.
2. The method as described in claim 1 the step of rigidly fixing the rigid follower to one of said housings fixes the rigid follower to the first housing.
3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the step of providing a rigid follower includes providing a surface thereon for contacting the physical object that has a radius of curvature.
4. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the step of providing a rigid follower includes providing a surface thereon for contacting the physical object that has a radius of curvature and the radius of curvature thereof is less than the radius of curvature of any part of the physical object over which the follower is translated.
5. The method as described in claim 2 wherein the step of providing a rigid follower includes providing a surface thereon for contacting the physical object that has a radius of curvature and the radius of curvature thereof is less than the radius of curvature of the physical object and providing a follower that has cylindrical section contact surface.
6. The method as described in claim 2 that further includes detecting the centroid of light visible within an aperture that carried in coaxial relationship with a follower that has a cylindrical section shape and is carried on an elongated member.
7. The method as described in claim 2 that further includes measuring the ratio of the change in the apparent size of the aperture at the aperture centroid projected onto a datum of the aperture path divided by the tangent of the aperture path.
8. The method as described in claim 1 that further includes offsetting the elongated member from the axis of the aperture to proportionally increase the detection of the physical object dimensional deviation traced on the surface of the physical object by the path of the aperture centroid to a magnitude less than the radius of the rod.
9. The method as described in claim 1 further including the step of detecting the centroid of the aperture in the video recording at successive intervals during the translation of the follower over the physical object.
10. The method as described in claim 1 further including the step of detecting the centroid of the aperture in the video recording periodically during the translation of the follower over the physical object and further including the step of measuring the ratio of the successive aperture sizes at the center point position of the aperture divided by the tangent to the successive aperture center points.
11. The method as described in claim 10 further including utilizing the tangent to a space curve traveled by the aperture as a representation of the point on a sphere that is used to generally represent the aperture centroid having a tangent plane parallel to the image plane.
12. The method as described in claim 10 further including utilizing the measurable diametric change as the average ratio in contour segment slope divided by the slope of a rectangular area.
13. The method as described in claim 10 wherein the step of providing an aperture in the housing includes providing an aperture that is generally planar.
14. The method as described in claim 2 wherein the step of providing an aperture in the housing includes providing an aperture that is generally planar and the step of providing a rigid follower includes providing a follower having a surface for contacting a work piece that is in oblique relation to the axis of a plane defined by the aperture.
15. The method as described in claim 2 further including measuring the change in the apparent aperture size projected on an image plane relative to a segment of the space curve on the aperture path to produce a parameter that is a function of the change in depth perspective.
16. Apparatus for collecting data for geometric modeling of a physical object in cooperation with an associated video recorder in a housing and which comprises:
a first housing having an aperture in the housing;
a source of light within said housing that is strong enough to be perceptible in the ambient conditions at the aperture; and
a rigid follower dimensioned and configured for following the surface of the physical object fixed to said housing.
17. The apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said rigid follower has a surface thereon for contacting the physical object that has a radius of curvature.
18. The apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said rigid follower has a surface thereon for contacting the physical object that has a radius of curvature and the radius of curvature thereof is less than the radius of curvature of any part of the physical object over which the follower is translated.
19. The apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said rigid follower includes a surface thereon for contacting the physical object that has a radius of curvature and the radius of curvature thereof is less than the radius of curvature of any part of the physical object over which the follower is translated and said follower is cylindrical.
20. The apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said aperture is generally planar.
21. The apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said aperture is generally planar and said follower has a surface for contacting a work piece that is in oblique relation to the axis of a plane defined by the aperture.
22. A method for guiding a tool which comprises:
providing a first housing;
providing an aperture in the first housing;
providing a source of light within the first housing that is strong enough to be perceptible in the ambient conditions at the aperture;
fixing the first housing to an associated tool;
providing a video recorder in a second housing;
video recording the light visible through the aperture as the tool is moved with respect to an object.
23. A method for replicating a part which comprises:
providing a first housing;
providing an aperture in the first housing;
providing a source of light within the housing that is strong enough to be perceptible in the ambient conditions at the aperture;
providing a video recorder in a second housing;
providing a rigid follower dimensioned and configured for following the surface of the physical object; and
rigidly fixing the rigid follower to one of said housings; and
translating the follower along the surface of the physical object and simultaneously using the video recorder to video record the path of the light visible at the aperture as well as
providing a third housing;
providing an aperture in the third housing;
providing a source of light within the third housing that is strong enough to be perceptible in the ambient conditions at the aperture;
fixing the third housing to an associated tool;
providing a video recorder;
video recording the light visible through the aperture in the third housing as the tool is moved with respect to an object.
24. A method for guiding a tool with respect to a work piece which comprises:
providing a first housing;
providing an aperture in the first housing;
providing a source of light within the housing that is sufficiently strong to be perceptible in the ambient conditions at the aperture;
providing a video recorder in a second housing;
fixing one of said housings to the tool;
fixing the other of said housings in fixed relation to the work piece;
moving the tool with respect to the work piece;
video recording the aperture; and
utilizing the video recording to guide the tool with respect to work piece.
25. The method as described in claim 25 further including the step of rigidly fixing a rigid follower to one of said housings.