Milling machine cutting tool height setter - with tool lowered to interrupt laser beam and height accurately indicated by electronic voltmeter

摘要

A machine tool such as a milling machine uses a laser beam (4) to position the cutter (9) at a required height ready for machining the workpiece. The machine bed (1) has a pedestal or bracket (2) carrying the laser tube (3), and another bracket (6) at the other end carrying a photoelectric sensing device (5) at the same level. The sensor is connected by leads (7) to an electronic voltmeter. The milling cutter can then be lowered until it interrupts. the beam by a given amount. This amount can be determined by the reading of the voltmeter, and the arrangement ensures a very high accuracy.