Precision positioning tool

Claim 2

A tool for use in the volume production of baseplates for magnetic tape transports, which baseplates consist basically of essentially unmachined castings having precision detail features therein at precisely predetermined locations thereof, the casting having cast therein holes at positions corresponding generally to the locations of the detail features of the finished part, the casting including a machined reference plane which is essentially the only machined surface on the casting itself, said tool comprising a dimensionally stable base having a reference plane for mating with the casting reference plane, a plurality of pedestal fittings mounted on the tool reference plane and extending upwardly therefrom, the pedestal fittings being arranged on the tool reference plane in an array corresponding to the arrangement of the holes in the casting and defining precision locating means for respective oNes of a corresponding plurality of precision insert elements defining corresponding detail features of the finished transport baseplate, at least a plurality of the fittings including a plane surface spaced apart from the reference plane and parallel thereto, means for securing the insert elements to the fittings each with a plane face in engagement with the plane surface of the respective fitting so that said detail features defined by the insert elements occupy precisely the same relation to each other in the tool as the detail features of the finished transport baseplate occupy to each other, including a plane parallel to and spaced apart from the machined reference plane and means for clamping the casting to the tool base with the casting and tool reference surfaces engaged and with the insert elements secured to the fittings disposed in the casting holes in spaced relation to the holes.

Claim 3

A tool according to claim 1 wherein the tool base is fabricated of granite and the pedestal fittings are fabricated principally of meehanite.

Claim 4

A tool for use in the volume production of baseplates for magnetic tape transports, which baseplates consist basically of essentially unmachined castings having precision detail features therein at precisely predetermined locations thereof, the casting having cast therein holes at positions corresponding generally to the locations of the detail features of the finished part, the casting defining a machined reference surface which is essentially the only machined surface on the casting itself, said tool comprising a dimensionally stable base having a reference surface for mating with the casting reference surface, a plurality of pedestal fittings mounted on the tool reference surface and extending upwardly therefrom, the pedestal fittings being arranged on the tool reference surface in an array corresponding to the arrangement of the holes in the casting and defining precision locating means for respective ones of a corresponding plurality of precision insert elements defining corresponding detail features of the finished transport baseplate, means for securing the insert elements to the fittings so that said detail features defined by the insert elements occupy precisely the same relation to each other in the tool as the detail features of the finished transport baseplate occupy to each other, means for clamping the casting to the tool base with the casting and tool reference surfaces engaged and with the insert elements secured to the fittings disposed in the casting holes in spaced relation to the holes, and a rubber washer having an outer diameter greater than the adjacent diameter of the corresponding casting hole associated therewith and an inner diameter less than the diameter of the insert element associated therewith for sealing the lower limits of spaces defined between a casting clamped to the base and insert elements secured to the fittings.

Claim 5

A tool for use in the volume production of baseplates for magnetic tape transports, which baseplates consist basically of essentially unmachined castings having precision detail features therein at precisely predetermined locations thereof, the casting having cast therein holes at positions corresponding generally to the locations of the detail features of the finished part, the casting defining a machined reference surface which is essentially the only machined surface on the casting itself, said tool comprising a dimensionally stable base having a reference surface for mating with the casting reference surface, a plurality of pedestal fittings mounted on the tool reference surface and extending upwardly therefrom, the pedestal fittings being arranged on the tool reference surface in an array corresponding to the arrangement of the holes in the casting and defining precision locating means for respective ones of a corresponding plurality of precision insert elements defining corresponding detail features of the finished transport baseplate, means for securing the insert elements to the fittings so that said detail features defined by the insert elements occupy precisely the same relation to each other in the tool as the detail features of the finished transport baseplate occupy to each other, means for clamping the casting to the tool base with the casting and tool reference surfaces engaged and with the insert elements secured to the fittings disposed in the casting holes in spaced relation to the holes, and a rubber washer having an outer diameter greater than the adjacent diameter of the corresponding casting hole associated therewith and an inner diameter less than the diameter of the insert element associated therewith for sealing the lower limits of spaces defined between a casting clamped to the base and insert elements secured to the fittings.

Claim 6

A tool according to claim 3 including means for biasing the washer into engagement with a casting clamped to the tool about the periphery of the corresponding casting hole.

Claim 7

A tool according to claim 4 wherein the biasing means includes a resilient foam pad engaged between the washer and the corresponding fitting.

Claim 8

A tool according to claim 5 wherein the biasing means includes a spring engaged between the pad and the fitting for urging the pad away from the tool reference surface.

Claim 9

A precision positioning tool for a magnetic tape transport baseplate comprising: a dimensionally stable base having a reference plane; a plurality of mounting fixtures arrayed on the reference plane and extending thereabove; each of the mounting fixtures having a plane surface precisely positioned parallel to the reference plane, and means for temporarily receiving an insert element having a plane face mounted in engagement with the plane surface so that the insert element is precisely positioned parallel to the reference plane; and means for temporarily fastening a magnetic tape transport baseplate onto the base with a baseplate reference plane in engagement with the base reference plane and with openings aligned with the mounting fixtures.

Claim 10

A precision positioning tool for a magnetic tape transport baseplate comprising: a dimensionally stable base having a reference plane; a plurality of mounting fixtures arrayed on the reference plane and extending thereabove; each of the mounting fixtures having a plane surface precisely positioned parallel to the reference plane, and means for temporarily receiving an insert element having a plane face mounted in engagement with the plane surface so that the insert element is precisely positioned parallel to the reference plane; and means for temporarily fastening a magnetic tape transport baseplate onto the base with a baseplate reference plane in engagement with the base reference plane and with openings aligned with the mounting fixtures.

Claim 11

A tool as defined in claim 7 wherein another plurality of plane surfaces on mounting fixtures are in a third plane parallel to the first plane.

Claim 12

A tool as defined in claim 7 wherein each mounting fixture further comprises means for sealing a region adjacent an insert element on the fixture.

Claim 13

A precision positioning tool for a magnetic tape transport baseplate comprising: a dimensionally stable base having a reference surface; a plurality of mounting fixtures arrayed on the reference surface and extending thereabove; each of the mounting fixtures having a surface portion precisely positioned in relation to the reference surface, and means for temporarily receiving an insert element mounted in engagement with the surface portion so that the insert element is precisely positioned in relation to the reference surface; and means for temporarily fastening a magnetic tape transport baseplate onto the base with a baseplate reference surface in engagement with the base reference surface and with openings aligned with the mounting fixtures and wherein each mounting fixture comprises: washer means for engaging a magnetic tape transport baseplate mounted on the base, and resilient means between the washer means and the respective mounting fixture for resiliently biasing the washer away from the fixture surface portion for sealing a region adjacent an insert element on the fixture.

Claim 14

A precision positioning tool for a magnetic tape transport baseplate comprising: a dimensionally stable base having a reference surface; a plurality of mounting fixtures arrayed on the reference surface and extending thereabove; each of the mounting fixtures having a surface portion precisely positioned in relation to the reference surface, and means for temporarily receiving an insert element mounted in engagement with the surface portion so that the insert element is precisely positioned in relation to the reference surface; and means for temporarily fastening a magnetic tape transport baseplate onto the base with a baseplate reference surface in engagement with the base reference surface and with openings aligned with the mounting fixtures and wherein each mounting fixture comprises: washer means for engaging a magnetic tape transport baseplate mounted on the base, and resilient means between the washer means and the respective mounting fixture for resiliently biasing the washer away from the fixture surface portion for sealing a region adjacent an insert element on the fixture.