METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING A WORKPIECE

摘要

A method and apparatus for severing a workpiece with a cutting tool returnable through the kerf or cut made thereby and wherein at least one translatable slide is employed to move the uncut major portion of the workpiece in a generally linearly direction away from the kerf prior to return of the cutting tool. For enhancing measuring accuracy and life, provision is made for applying a slide moving force so as to minimize the moment exerted on the slide about the ways on which the slide is slidably moved during the translation. With the slide clamped to upper and lower slide surfaces of generally parallel ways, such minimization may be accomplished through the application of the slide moving force generally centrally of those way slide surfaces. For this purpose, a lever having a generally arcuate force transmitting surface may be employed to engage with a driven surface of the slide at a contact zone which remains substantially constant within the range of linear movement of the slide.