Precision material positioning and shaping apparatus, system, and method thereof

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method thereof for precision material positioning and precision shaping of materials. The apparatus includes positioning device which includes allows precision rotatable positioning of a group of material shaping devices, such as grinding wheels and the like. The system includes both the aforementioned device and a second device which has a two-section positioning device which allows precision positioning of an engaged workpiece.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of material shaping devices;    a holder for the plurality of material shaping devices; and    a positioning device for rotatably positioning said plurality of material shaping devices for engagement with a workpiece.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of material shaping devices is a grinding wheel.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of material shaping devices are grinding wheels.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning device includes a ball detent system.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a motor operatively attached to the plurality of material shaping devices.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of material shaping devices are at least three grinding wheels of varying hardnesses.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of material shaping devices are selected from the group consisting of grinding wheel, buffer, gem cutter, profile shaper.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning device provides precision rotatable positioning.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the holder is operatively attached to said positioning device.  
     
     
         10 . A material shaping apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of material shaping devices each having an axis of rotation;    a positioning device for precision positioning of the plurality of material shaping devices.    
     
     
         11 . A method of precision positioning for material shaping comprising: 
 providing a plurality of material shaping devices;    attaching a holder to the plurality of material shaping devices; and    rotating the holder with a positioning device for rotatable positioning of said plurality of material shaping devices.    
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 engaging at least one workpiece to at least one of said plurality of material shaping devices.    
     
     
         13 . A system comprising: 
 a first apparatus including: 
 a positioning system having a first section and a second section, wherein at least one of said first section and said second section includes at least one depression for rotatable positioning along a path;  
   a second apparatus operatively engageable with said first apparatus including: 
 a plurality of material shaping devices;  
 a holder for the plurality of material shaping devices; and  
 a positioning device for rotatably positioning said plurality of material shaping devices for engagement with a workpiece.