A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.

A tubular fibrous architecture is disclosed. According to one aspect, the tubular fibrous architecture includes a closed tubular part in at least one of its ends or bottom. The closed tubular part includes an architecture in which a textile material, such as a thread, roving, ribbon or bundle of threads, is continuously output from the bottom. Each textile material that is output from the bottom is continuously wound about the tubular part. All of the textile materials at the junction between the bottom and the remainder of the tubular part are continuous and there is a continuous geometric transition between the bottom architecture and the architecture of the remainder of the tubular part such that the textile materials in the tubular part cross over. A method of making such a tubular fibrous architecture is also disclosed.

A braider comprises a plurality of horngears. The horngears can be arranged for forming at least two closed paths for braiding. Each horngear has a driving gear and a hornplate. Each horngear can be selectably operated in a first mode, to rotate with the driving gear, and in a second mode, in which the driving gear rotates, but the hornplate does not. Bobbin carriers are positioned on some of the horngears. A track is configurable in: a first flat braiding mode with the carriers arranged on the horngears, so that there is one or more separate closed path for forming a first flat braid configuration; and a second flat braiding mode for forming a second flat braid configuration different from the first flat braid configuration. A switch is provided for changing a configuration of the track between the first and second flat braiding modes.

A tubular braid and mechanisms for forming the braid are described. The mechanism for braiding includes a disc, a mandrel, a plurality of catch mechanisms, and a plurality of actuators. The disc defines a plane and a circumferential edge. The mandrel extends from a center of the disc and is adapted to hold a plurality of filaments extending radially from the mandrel toward the circumferential edge of the disc. The plurality of catch mechanisms are positioned circumferentially around the edge of the disc and are adapted to engage a filament. The plurality of actuators are configured to move relative to one another and are adapted to move the plurality of catch mechanisms in a substantially radial direction relative to the circumferential edge of the disc.

Devices and methods for forming a tubular braid comprising a plurality of filaments. The braiding machine includes a circular array of filament guiding members defining a plane; a mandrel defining an axis and adapted to carry one or more filaments extending from the mandrel to the circular array; a plurality of filaments extending from the mandrel in a radial array; a plurality of actuator mechanisms disposed operably about the disc; and a rotating mechanism adapted to rotate one or more filaments. The actuator mechanisms and rotating mechanism are configured to move each of the one or more filaments about the mandrel axis in a path comprising a series of arcs and radial movements. The braiding machine may alternately first and second annular members, a mandrel, first and second plurality of tubular wire guides, and a plurality of wires extending from the mandrel.

Devices and methods for forming a tubular braid comprising a plurality of filaments. The method for braiding includes the step of loading a plurality of filaments on a mandrel and extending the filaments radially from the mandrel, the plurality of filaments have a first subset and a second subset. Tension is applied to the plurality of filaments using a weight attached to each filament. The first subset of the plurality of filaments is engaged, moved circumferentially relative to the second subset, and then released. The second subset of filaments is then engaged and moved circumferentially relative to the first subset of filaments, such that a tubular braid of filaments is formed.

Energy-absorbing textile structure, in particular for use in vehicle construction, which has high-tensile yarns for absorbing force, is formed by a braided fabric (2) with standing ends (3) in the force input direction and in that the textile structure has at least one region (4) with local modification of the fiber structure (2, 3).

Methods of forming a structure for treating a vessel include providing a mandrel and braiding a plurality of filaments around the mandrel. The mandrel may include a strand having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of balls coupled to the strand along the longitudinal axis. Pairs of the plurality of balls may be spaced along the longitudinal axis. Braiding the plurality of filaments around the mandrel may include, during braiding, forming a plurality of bulbs around the plurality of balls and forming necks between pairs of the plurality of balls. The methods may include, after braiding the plurality of filaments, heat treating (e.g., shape setting) the plurality of filaments on the mandrel. Portions of the braided plurality of filaments may be secured to the mandrel, for example using bangles, wire, and/or adhesive.

An exhaust connection coupler and a method for manufacturing a braid cover incorporated therein are provided. The method of manufacturing comprises the steps of providing a tubular sleeve formed of braided wire filaments and forming at least one end of the sleeve into shape using a forming die such that the at least one end of the cover includes a circumferential neck portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of a body portion of the cover. In the method, the sleeve may be pressed between male and female forming dies in order to create the cover's desired shape, which can include a shoulder extending radially outwardly from the cover's neck portion and meeting the cover's body portion at a corner.

A method of manufacturing a corrugated preform that allows a fiber volume fraction and an orientation angle to be substantially the same at a concave portion and at a convex portion when the corrugated preform is manufactured based on a braiding process. The method includes braiding a composite material corresponding to an outer diameter of a cylindrical cylinder shape, braiding the composite material by connecting a plurality of separate composite materials to one side of the braided composite material, and braiding the composite material to one side of the separate composite material corresponding to the outer diameter of the cylindrical cylinder shape.

A tower control system, under an indexing mode of operation, receives a first signal from rail yard equipment. In response to the first signal, the tower control system establishes a positioning mode of operation. Under the positioning mode of operation, and in response to actuation of an interface of the tower control system, the tower control system sends a second signal to a lead powered rail vehicle of a consist. The second signal includes a first command to adjust a throttle setting of the lead powered rail vehicle, along with a second command to idle a throttle of any remote powered rail vehicle of the consist.

A method of monitoring and/or controlling components of a railway system which includes a track and at least one train that is operable to run on said track, comprises the steps of: a) providing an acoustic transducer proximate the railway for picking up acoustic signals; b) receiving acoustic signals from the transducer; and c) analyzing the received signals.

The invention relates to an apparatus and method which allows information representing a state or condition or an action to be performed as part of a control system to be present to one or more users. The information is selected and generated in a manner which removes or at least reduces the risk of potentially catastrophic error occurring which would be possible if, for example, the information is corrupt or lost during subsequent transmission, remote processing and/or displaying. One such use of the apparatus and method of the invention is in relation to transport vehicles and the control of the movement of said vehicles along predefined geographical paths.

A method and system for verifying trackside conditions in safety critical railroad applications by reporting the status of trackside signals and switches to a remote train control system. The system comprises at least one sensor for providing trackside conditions electrically connected to a circuit for providing trackside conditions to a railroad, said sensor being powered by voltage applied to the circuit such that the sensor is energized only when said electrical component is engaged. The system and method further comprises a method and system which is failsafe and which enables the control system to independently verify signals from each sensor.

A locomotive warning system includes an acoustical warning subsystem configured to emit variably directed sound. A controller subsystem is responsive to an initiation command and is configured to trigger the acoustical warning subsystem to begin a sounding sequence when the initiation command is received at a first directivity angle and to continue the sound blast sequence at increasing directivity angles for a pre-establish time and/or distance traveled.

An apparatus for operating a railway system, the railway system comprising a lead vehicle consist, a non-lead vehicle consist and railcars, the apparatus including a first element for determining a slack condition of railway system segments, wherein the segments are delineated by nodes, and a control element configured to control an application of tractive effort or braking effort of the lead vehicle consist or the non-lead vehicle consist.

An assembly for molding and demolding hardened cementitious products comprises a flexible mold and a demolding apparatus. The flexible mold has a top side with separate openings for receiving cementitious material therein for hardening thereof, an opposite closed rear side and a perimeter. The apparatus for demolding the hardened cementitious products from the flexible mold comprises a conveyor, a holding member, a clamp, and a movable member. The conveyor conveys the flexible mold. The clamp grips a portion of the perimeter. The holding member engages the mold. The movable member moves the clamp and the clamped portion of the mold about the holding member thereby disengaging the flexible mold from the cementitious material.

An insulated concrete form including of first and second spaced sidewalls forming a cavity therebetween, said sidewalls having an inside surface and interconnected by a plurality of form ties, and a form insert made of an insulative material positioned adjacent the inside surface of at least one sidewall which thereby increases the R-value of the resulting structure.

An adjustable thermal die assembly is provided. The thermal die assembly includes a thermal forming die and at least one insert. The thermal forming die has at least one die cavity of a select shape. The die further has at least one opening to the at least one die cavity. The at least one insert has at least one internal passage that is conformed to have a shape of the at least one opening to the at least one die cavity of the die. Moreover, the at least one insert is configured and arranged to be selectively coupled to the die with the at least one internal passage of the at least one insert aligning with the at least one opening of the at least one die cavity to selectively increase a depth of a forming cavity of the thermal forming assembly.

A detachable threaded rod is used in an injection mold, and includes an operation portion, a molding portion, and a screw. The operation portion includes a rod part, the rod part defines a mating hole and a screw hole on a bottom surface of the mating hole. The molding portion includes a front end, a rear end, and a side surface connected between the front end and the rear end. The molding portion defines a cavity on a front end. The molding portion includes a mating portion extending from the rear end and received in the mating hole. The mating portion defines a through hole communicating with the cavity. The molding portion defines external threads on the side surface. The screw penetrates the through hole and screwing in the screw hole, the operation portion is fixed with the molding portion by the screw.

The present invention generally provides mold modules for constructing boat hulls, methods of constructing boat hulls using the mold modules, and hulls constructed using the mold modules. The modules may be adjustable, and may be included in a kit for building the hull of many boats of different dimensions but generally the same shape. Each mold module generally comprises a mold in a shape complementary to that of a portion of a boat hull, and an edge mold to form the edge of the hull part formed by that mold module. A mold module according to the present invention may also comprise one or more mold adjustment areas, and calibrators for selecting the boat hull dimensions. Methods for using the aforementioned mold modules generally comprise steps of molding hull parts, removing them from the mold modules, aligning them and finally attaching them together.

A system for constructing a form for forming a concrete structure is disclosed herein. The system may include a number of extensible form panels. An extensible form panel may be constituted with a basis frame having a basis frame section and an extensible frame section extensible for a variable amount in at least one direction, along one axis. The frame sections may be configured to respectively accept and support basis and filler facings. The extensible frame section may include male/female endings. The system may also include a capping member with male and/or female endings. A form panel may include hinges, which may be swivelable, drive screws, and/or electronic motors. The system may further include a stub free to facilitate vertical coupling of form panels. In various embodiments, the parts may be formed with reusable material or materials.

A mold structure, a patterning method thereof and a method of fabricating an LCD device using the same are disclosed, which can realize a conformal contact by applying a voltage between a mold structure and a material layer being opposite to each other in an In-Plane Printing process, so as to prevent defective patterns, wherein the mold structure comprises a mold whose surface is provided with patterns; a backplane for supporting the mold; and a conductive film formed between the backplane and the mold.

A curved surface forming device for an adjustable segmented mold board with square rams, consisting of an upper group and a lower group of adjustable molds (4) whose height can be adjusted, and a loading mechanism. The adjustable molds (4) are arranged in the loading mechanism and at least one group of adjustable molds (4) can move up and down under the drive of the loading mechanism. The upper group and the lower group of the adjustable molds (4) are respectively provided with M×N and (M−1)×(N−1) square rams (1) capable of swinging. The upper and the lower square rams (1) are arranged in an interlaced manner in both transverse and longitudinal directions. The square rams (1) are composed of a square plate (a) and the sphere (b) with the pressure imposition surface being a plane or a curved surface. The curved surface forming device can eliminate the crumpling and deformation generated in the board punching, reduce dents and improve processing quality.

In a process for producing half-shells (2) which are made from a dough for bakery products and are characterized by an annular orifice rim (6) with a finished surface, by producing a wafer sheet (1) comprising a plurality of half-shells (2) connected to one another by an interconnecting wall (4), by forming and baking said dough in a mold with the use of a mold formed by two complementary plates (12, 14) having respective front surfaces which, as a result of the fitting together of the two plates, can define a forming cavity having a shape generally corresponding to that of said wafer sheet (1), a mold is used wherein the front forming surface of at least one of said plates has shaped portions (26) which project towards the front surface of the other plate (12) and which can define, in the dough that is subjected to baking in the forming cavity, a notch (24) in the interconnecting wall (4) adjacent each half-shell (2), wherein the plates can be fitted together in an initial position in which the forming cavity has a volume smaller than the volume of the wafer sheet to be obtained, the dough is subjected to a first, partial baking step in the forming cavity with the molds fitted together in the initial position, while the volume of the forming cavity is kept constant until the dough is partially solidified, the dough is then subjected to finishing baking with an increase in the volume of the forming cavity, in order to obtain a wafer sheet (1) wherein the half-shells (2) are connected to the interconnecting wall (4) by an annular region (28) having a thickness which is substantially less than the thickness of the interconnecting wall (4); the half-shells can thus be separated from the wafer sheet by a slight pressure exerted in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wafer sheet.

A method of forming a mesh by a molding a link element around other link elements to form a mesh in which the interlinking link elements are formed as continuous unjoined loops by a molding process. An apparatus for forming a mesh including a plurality of first cavities for accommodating first link elements and a plurality of second cavities for forming interlinking link elements. The method and apparatus allow the continuous production of mesh formed of a range of materials including plastics materials.

The present invention provides templating methods for replicating patterned metal films from a template substrate such as for use in plasmonic devices and metamaterials. Advantageously, the template substrate is reusable and can provide plural copies of the structure of the template substrate. Because high-quality substrates that are inherently smooth and flat are available, patterned metal films in accordance with the present invention can advantageously provide surfaces that replicate the surface characteristics of the template substrate both in the patterned regions and in the unpatterned regions.

An apparatus for making frozen comestibles including a base having a plurality of apertures formed within said first site thereof, and a plurality of molds attached to or formed integrally with the base. Each of the molds includes a receiving surface and an opening aligned with a corresponding one of the apertures of the base. Each of the molds is moveable between a first position, in which a substantial portion of at least one mold is positioned within the interior portion of the base and said receiving surface forms a molding cavity that is adapted to receive a comestible to be frozen, and a second position, in which a substantial portion of the mold extends outwardly from the first side of the base and the receiving surface of the mold is exposed externally.

A method for demolding concrete blocks which are cast in a resilient mold supported in a rigid frame, the mold having a top surface and at least one cavity with an opening on the top surface, which cavity holds a cured cast concrete block. The mold has two opposing edges. The demolded blocks are stacked on a collection surface. A support is positioned over the cavity and the mold, the support and the frame are inverted and positioned in demolding apparatus. After two opposing edges of the mold are engaged by the demolding apparatus, the support is withdrawn to allow the mold to sag. The blocks may release from the mold and fall onto the collection surface. If any blocks remain in the mold, a plunger mechanism is pushed against the sagging mold to release the blocks. Guide members may facilitate positioning the blocks on the collection surface.

A system for accelerated manufacturing of concrete modular housing units including a first deck platform including a plurality of exterior movable wall forms. A second deck platform including a plurality of exterior movable wall forms. A first concrete slab is placed on the first deck platform. At least one core including a plurality of core walls placed on the first concrete slab. The exterior movable wall forms of the first deck platform are positioned proximate the core walls to define a wall space there between configured to receive wet concrete and create a first concrete modular housing unit. A second concrete slab is placed on the second deck platform. Wet concrete in the wall space is allowed to set a until it is partially cured and then the at least one core is removed from the first concrete slab and placed on the second concrete slab such that the at least one core can be reused one or more times during a predetermined amount of time to create a least a second concrete modular housing unit while the first concrete modular housing unit is still curing.

A housing component system having fiberglass resin forms secured in place with a binder such as cement. The forms may have a variety of forms and once secured with the cement will be strong avoiding the need for any reinforcement components such as reinforcing bar (rebars) of metal mesh.

A formliner, sheet, system, and methods of use and manufacture are provided in order to provide a product that can minimize and/or eliminate visible seaming between interconnected formliners during fabrication of a pattern on a curable material. In some embodiments, the formliner can comprise raised sections that define interrelated inner and outer dimensions. Thus, a plurality of formliners can be interconnected by overlaying raised sections thereof. Further, the formliner can comprise one or more detents and one or more protrusions to enable engagement between interconnected formliners without requiring adhesives. In this manner, formliners can be interconnected in a nested manner such that visible seaming between the interconnected formliners is reduced and/or eliminated.

A mold and method for making a hollow core concrete block. The mold has two opposing side walls; a bottom wall; a front wall; a top side with an opening through which the block can be removed from the mold; a cover, and a rear side through which liquid, such as concrete, can be poured into the mold. Extending from the two side walls are a pair of trunnions about which the mold is rotatable, such that when the mold is suspended by the trunnions and the mold is empty, gravity rotates the mold from a block-removal orientation in which the top side faces upwards to a mold-filling orientation in which the rear side faces upwards. The trunnions are also positioned such that when the mold is filled with the liquid, gravity rotates the mold from the mold-filling orientation to the block-removal orientation.

Disclosed is a double linkage triggering system including a main body, which has a trigger unit and a shooting unit. The trigger unit is capable of being contacted with the shooting unit. The trigger unit comprises a bracket body, a trigger block, a hammer, a trigger power-adjusting bolt, a triggering mechanism and a trigger-safety device. The hammer is hinge connected to the bracket body. The trigger block is hinge connected to the bracket body and each end of the trigger block is respectively capable of being limited by the hammer and the trigger power-adjusting bolt. The shooting unit has a sight stand, a guide device, a pressure plate, a rotary latch, a roof plate, a latching plate, a returning device, and an anti-empty shooting mechanism. The returning device is inserted into the roof plate. The roof plate is hinge connected to the latching plate.

Exemplary embodiments of a gas pressure regulator comprise a regulator body, an adaptor sleeve, a retainer and an indexing ring. The regulator body includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, a ported intermediate portion therebetween, and a main bore. The adaptor sleeve axially receives the distal portion and includes an outer threading for engaging an air source adaptor of a paintball marker. The retainer threadably engages the main bore within the distal end, thereby axially securing the adaptor sleeve onto the distal end. The indexing ring receives the distal portion therethrough for resiliently biased axial movement of the indexing ring between a locking position and an unlocking position. When the indexing ring is in its unlocking position, the adaptor sleeve is rotatable with respect to the regulator body. When the indexing ring is in its locking position, the adaptor sleeve is rendered substantially non-rotatable with respect to the regulator body.

A device for controlling the firing of an airsoft gun is provided with a valve under a butt. Pressurized air from a high pressure air canister is directed to a rear section of a chamber in the butt. Opening of a valve directs the pressurized air further into a front section of the chamber via the valve so as to bring a plastic pellet to a ready to fire position. Closing of the valve causes pressurized air in the chamber to push a plunger forward to fire the plastic pellet.

A toy pump action rifle for launching discs having an outer housing, a stock, a grip, a trigger, a handle for cocking the rifle and a revolving drum for storing multiple discs. Within the housing is a mechanism for removing discs, one at a time, from the drum where the discs are arranged in a first position, rotating each disc 90° to a second position, and transporting each disc to a discharge chamber. The mechanism includes a transfer arm to remove each disc from the drum, a disc pocket for receiving the removed disc, the pocket being rotatable to reorient the disc, and disc pocket also being slidable to carry the disc to the discharge chamber. Activation of the trigger releases a cocked launch arm that snaps forward and strikes the disc to cause discharge.

A sight and range finder for a projectile launching device are disclosed. The range finder calculates a range between a target and a projectile launching device, and transmits a signal indicative of the range. The sight visually aligns the target with the projectile launching device. A drive assembly moves an alignment member of the sight, and at least one processor receives the signal and actuates the drive assembly to move the alignment portion a selected distance based on the range.

The present invention discloses a device and method for wireless communication between a paintball marker or gun and it's associated paintball loading device. This wireless communication, whether bidirectional or unidirectional, allows for the transmission of “load” commands and various other useful information between the paintball marker and the paintball feeding device. When the “load” command, which is much more responsive than the “passive” communication found in the prior art, is wirelessly received by the paintball feeding device, the paintball feeding device loads a singular or plurality of paintballs into the paintball marker of appropriate conduit.

An adjustable mechanical vibration limiting and absorbing device for an archery bow including a hollow housing and two groups of elastomer washers provided in the hollow housing with a means for preventing the first group from advancing out of the hollow housing and separating the first group from the second group. In addition, a fastener extends through the center of the first and second groups of elastomer washers and a lock nut and weight are provided on the projecting end of the fastener.

Methods, apparatus, systems, and kits for loading paintballs into a feed tube of a paintball gun are disclosed. A loader includes a chamber for holding paintballs, a feed mechanism having a rotational feeder within the chamber that feeds paintballs from the chamber along a feed channel when rotating to fill the feed tube, and a drive mechanism that drives the rotational feeder of the feed mechanism, ceases to drive the rotational feeder responsive to stoppage of the rotational feeder, and periodically attempts to rotate the stopped rotational feeder. Paintballs are loaded from a loader into a feed tube of a paintball gun by driving a rotational feeder within the loader, the rotational feeder configured within the loader to feed paintballs into the feed tube when rotating, ceasing to drive the rotational feeder responsive to stoppage of the rotational feeder, and periodically attempting to rotate the stopped rotational feeder.

A double-magazine (“Dmag”) able to house projectile ammunition for a projectile launcher having a first ammunition channel, a second ammunition channel, and a flexible projectile control bar (“FPCB”) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the first ammunition channel contains a first set or column of projectiles and the second ammunition channel which is situated in parallel to the first ammunition channel is configured to house a second set of projectiles. Dmag also includes a follower with a follower lock capable of moving along the first ammunition channel. The follower is configured to push the first set of projectiles toward a first ammunition supply port of the first ammunition channel. The FPCB has a first flexible flap which keeps the first set of projectiles from reaching the loading port of the launcher until the follower lock is released.

The apparatus for mounting at least one dampener and/or stabilizer to an archery bow to absorb shock and vibration realized by an archer upon the release of the archery bow. The present invention provides an elongated support structure releasably connectable to the at least one dampener and/or stabilizer. A releasable fastener is connected to one end of the support structure, and the releasable fastener is releasably connectable to the archery bow such that the support structure is extendible in a cantilevered position relative to the archery bow.

A saw for simultaneously cutting and beveling including a cut-off saw, a cutting blade, and a beveling blade. The cutting blade cuts simultaneously while the beveling blade bevels. The beveling blade preferably has a head with two faces annularly connected by an annular slanted circumference. The head has at least one notch suitable for accommodating a respective at least one tooth insert interconnected with a respective at least one cartridge. Each cartridge is interconnectable with a respective tooth insert.

A cutting tool for cutting a work piece and catching debris during turning operations is described herein. The cutting tool comprises a tubular cutting member having first and second ends, the first end having a sharpened edge, and a debris receiving means connected to the second end. The tubular cutting member may have a number of different cross-sections providing a number of different cutting tool configurations for use in turning operations. The debris receiving means may further include a flexible hose having a first hose end and a second hose end, wherein the first hose end is connected to the second end of said tubular cutting member. The hose may be connected to a vacuum source to more effectively collect debris generated during turning operations. The tubular cutting member could be made in a range of sizes from one quarter inch to two inches in diameter, with a nominal tube length of from three inches to twenty inches, or even larger where needed. Both ends of the tubular cutting member could be sharpened, and reversed in the holder when one end is dull.

A precision multi-purpose machining apparatus for facilitating lathing, milling, drilling, sawing or routing operations typically using a rotary-type cutting tool. In a preferred embodiment the multi-purpose machining apparatus of this invention is characterized by an elongated support frame and a cutting tool mount cradle which is adjustably mounted on the support frame for receiving a cutting tool, such as an electric-powered DREMEL (trademark) rotary cutting tool. The support frame is capable of resting in a horizontal position, in which the cutting tool can be fitted with a cutting tool bit and the frame fitted with alternative workstock mounting attachments, to facilitate various lathing operations on a wooden or aluminum workstock. Alternatively, a saw table and saw blade can be removably mounted on the horizontal support frame and the cutting tool becomes a saw motor, the rotating shaft of which is connected to the saw blade by means of a drive belt, to facilitate various sawing operations. In another application, the frame can be disposed in a vertical configuration, in which a rotary table is removably mounted on the support frame and the cutting tool fitted with a milling blade or drill bit to facilitate milling and drilling operations, respectively. Alternatively, a router table can be removably mounted on the vertical support frame or on the rotary table, and a router bit mounted in the cutting tool to facilitate router operations.

A wood lathe includes a driving pulley unit disposed around a rotating inner rod, a driven pulley unit disposed around an output shaft that is used to rotate a workpiece, a V-belt unit trained on the driving and driven pulley units, and a speed-adjusting unit. When a rotary knob is rotated, amovable inner half of the driven pulley unit moves toward or away from a fixed outer half of the driven pulley unit so that the V-belt unit moves a movable outer half of the driving pulley unit away from or toward a fixed inner half of the driving pulley unit. As such, the position of the V-belt unit can be adjusted relative to the driving and driven pulley units to change the rotational speed of the output shaft.

A system and method allows visual programming of simultaneous and synchronous machining operations on multi-axis lathes. The system and method accounts for different combinations of simultaneous and synchronized lathe operations on the spindles which can utilize multiple tools. A graphic synchronization icon is assigned to each mode that preferably represents the lathe operation. Appropriate synchronous operations are grouped together in synchronization groups. The system and method are universal since a postprocessor processes the synchronization modes and synchronization groups, and translates them for use with computer programs understood by a particular CNC lathe.

A cutting tool piece is provided including a rear portion and a lead portion, the lead portion including a front section having an upper side angled downwardly and forwardly and a lower side angled upwardly and forwardly to form a transverse lead cutting edge. The rear portion includes a hole to secure the tool piece to a cutting tool and transverse cutting edges extending outwardly from side walls of the front section. A system is also described for cutting a bowl by coring out an interior portion of a wood block by applying the cutting tool which is curved and rotatably mounted to a post. Its lead end with the tool piece attached creates a circular groove. The cutting tool is advanced on a path which curves toward the central axis of the lathe.

A concentric coaxial cutting machine which cuts cylinders, cylindroids or cones using a chain saw from a single larger object such as a wood tree trunk, a block of ice or a block of plastic. An embodiment of the invention comprises a transverse support member having directly or indirectly mounted thereon; a headstock member including; a headstock spindle member mounted to said headstock member including; a drive spindle rotationally mounted to said headstock spindle member and adapted to rotationally retain one end of an object to be centrically cut; a tailstock member including; a tailstock spindle member mounted to said tailstock member including; a tailstock spindle rotationally mounted to said tailstock spindle member and adapted to retain an opposite end of the object; a drive assembly in rotational communication with the drive spindle and adapted to rotate said drive spindle around a common axis with said tailstock spindle; and, a first chain saw variably aligned at an angle to said common axis and adapted to concentrically cut the object from at least the opposite end.