Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to adjusting output or conditioning of an electron beam. More specifically various configurations are disclosed that relate to maintaining a footprint of the electron beam incident to a workpiece within a defined energy level. Such a configuration allows the electron beam to heat only specific portions of the workpiece to a superheated state in which intermetallic compounds are dissolved. In one embodiment a mask is disclosed that prevents low energy portions of an electron beam from contacting the workpiece. In another embodiment the electron beam can be focused in a way that maintains the electron beam at an energy level such that substantially all of the electron beam is above a threshold energy level.

Abstract: The invention addresses the problem of providing an edged tool such as a surgical blade or a razor blade that is durable and sharp, and a manufacturing method therefor. The problem is solved by an edged tool manufacturing method provided with a process of treating a metal base material, which has a machined surface obtained by machining, using a plasma generated in an atmosphere filled with a mixed gas having a main gas and a reaction gas as the main components.

Abstract: A de-coating method includes: exposing a coated body in which a coating made of an inorganic material is formed on a surface of the metal body to ion flows to peel off the coating from the metal body, wherein the coated body is placed at an ion flow-concentrated portion where two or more ion flows overlap each other, and is exposed to the ion flows without addition of a positive or negative bias to the coated body. As gases for use in generating ions from plasma, oxygen and CF4 that promote de-coating through a chemical reaction are preferably used in addition to Ar that performs de-coating under the physical action of ion collision and stabilizes plasma.

Abstract: A de-coating method includes: exposing a coated body in which a coating made of an inorganic material is formed on a surface of the metal body to ion flows to peel off the coating from the metal body, wherein the coated body is placed at an ion flow-concentrated portion where two or more ion flows overlap each other, and is exposed to the ion flows without addition of a positive or negative bias to the coated body. As gases for use in generating ions from plasma, oxygen and CF4 that promote de-coating through a chemical reaction are preferably used in addition to Ar that performs de-coating under the physical action of ion collision and stabilizes plasma.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a puncture needle, which causes no significant pain during use such as when pierced. The method for producing the puncture needle includes the step of processing a pipe-like metallic base material having at one end a grinding surface obtained by machine work with plasma generated in an atmosphere filled with a mixed gas mainly including a main gas and a reaction gas.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a puncture needle, which causes no significant pain during use such as when pierced. The method for producing the puncture needle includes the step of processing a pipe-like metallic base material having at one end a grinding surface obtained by machine work with plasma generated in an atmosphere filled with a mixed gas mainly including a main gas and a reaction gas.

Abstract: The invention addresses the problem of providing an edged tool such as a surgical clade or a razor blade that is durable and sharp, and a manufacturing method therefor. The problem is solved by an edged tool manufacturing method provided with a process of treating a metal base material, which has a machined surface obtained by machining, using a plasma generated in an atmosphere filled with a mixed gas having a main gas and a reaction gas as the main components.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for medical equipment involves electron beam irradiating a titanium or titanium alloy substrate surface that has at least been machined, whereby platelet adhesion of the surface to be contacted by blood is reduced. The manufacturing method for medical equipment can also use a specific pre-processing method and an electron beam irradiation method to reduce the platelet adhesion of the surface which is to be contacted with blood, to suppress the formation of minute depressions (craters) in the surface, which can occur due to the irradiation by an electron beam.

Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to adjusting output or conditioning of an electron beam. More specifically various configurations are disclosed that relate to maintaining a footprint of the electron beam incident to a workpiece within a defined energy level. Such a configuration allows the electron beam to heat only specific portions of the workpiece to a superheated state in which intermetallic compounds are dissolved. In one embodiment a mask is disclosed that prevents low energy portions of an electron beam from contacting the workpiece. In another embodiment the electron beam can be focused in a way that maintains the electron beam at an energy level such that substantially all of the electron beam is above a threshold energy level.

Abstract: A highly polished surface on an aluminum substrate is formed using any number of machining processes. During the machining process, intermetallic compounds are typically generated at a top surface area of the aluminum substrate caused by spot heat generated between the tool edge and the cut tip of the aluminum substrate during the cutting process. The intermetallic compounds can leave surface imperfections after conventional mechanical polishing operations that render the surface of the aluminum substrate difficult to obtain a desired high glossiness due to exfoliation of the intermetallic compounds from the top surface. In order to remove the effect of the intermetallic compounds, an acid etching solution is applied to the surface resulting in removal of intermetallic compounds across a surface portion of the aluminum substrate.

Abstract: A highly polished surface on an aluminum substrate is formed using any number of machining processes. During the machining process, intermetallic compounds are typically generated at a top surface area of the aluminum substrate caused by spot heat generated between the tool edge and the cut tip of the aluminum substrate during the cutting process. The intermetallic compounds can leave surface imperfections after conventional mechanical polishing operations that render the surface of the aluminum substrate difficult to obtain a desired high glossiness due to exfoliation of the intermetallic compounds from the top surface. In order to remove the effect of the intermetallic compounds, an electron beam is applied to the surface resulting in Joule heating to melt down a top surface zone. In this way, any tooling traces and intermetallic compounds are eliminated.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for medical equipment involves electron beam irradiating a titanium or titanium alloy substrate surface that has at least been machined, whereby platelet adhesion of the surface to be contacted by blood is reduced. The manufacturing method for medical equipment can also use a specific pre-processing method and an electron beam irradiation method to reduce the platelet adhesion of the surface which is to be contacted with blood, to suppress the formation of minute depressions (craters) in the surface, which can occur due to the irradiation by an electron beam.

Abstract: In a vacuum chamber, the edge of each blade group is subjected to an ion beam treatment under predetermined conditions using a plasma ion gun and argon as a medium, and is subjected to a plasma ion implantation of nitrogen plasma under predetermined conditions using a plasma ion implantation gun. As a result, it is possible to provide a blade member having an edge of a cutting quality enhanced by increasing the sharpness, a blade member having an edge of a rigidity enhanced by increasing the hardness, and a working apparatus capable of working those edges efficiently.

Abstract: A process for producing a medical instrument, such as a stent and a guide wire, which has an excellent fatigue life; and a medical instrument, such as a stent and a guide wire, which has an excellent fatigue life. The process for producing a medical instrument includes: a preparation step of preparing a medical instrument including a NiTi-based alloy as a base material; and an ion irradiation step of irradiating the medical instrument prepared in the preparation step with Xe ions. The medical instrument is produced by irradiating a medical instrument including a NiTi-based alloy as a base material with Xe ions.

Abstract: A die includes abase body and a modified surface layer. The base body includes tungsten carbide particles bonded by a bonding phase. The modified surface layer includes tungsten carbide particles and a filling material filled among the tungsten carbide particles to bond the tungsten carbide particles to each other. The filling material comprises copper. The modified surface layer is formed on at least a part of a surface of the base body.

Abstract: In a vacuum chamber, the edge of each blade group is subjected to an ion beam treatment under predetermined conditions using a plasma ion gun and argon as a medium, and is subjected to a plasma ion implantation of nitrogen plasma under predetermined conditions using a plasma ion implantation gun. As a result, it is possible to provide a blade member having an edge of a cutting quality enhanced by increasing the sharpness, a blade member having an edge of a rigidity enhanced by increasing the hardness, and a working apparatus capable of working those edges efficiently.

Abstract: Method for surface treating a die made of metal in which a low energy, pulsed electron beam, which does not scatter, performs a treatment over a wide area due to presence of anode plasma in a chamber in which the electron beam is formed to smooth and gloss a surface of the die and increase a surface hardness and corrosion resistance of the die. The irradiation may be performed with an energy density not less than 1 J/cm2 per pulse, at least 5 pulse irradiations and a pulse duration of at least 1 ?s. A die subjected to the surface treatment method exhibits improved surface smoothness and glossiness, as well as high corrosion resistance.

Abstract: Wear-resistant and low-friction hard amorphous, diamond-like carbon coating (DLC) is formed directly on an eternal surface of a magnetic recording media sensor (MRMS). The coating demonstrates a high degree of hardness, low friction coefficient and moderate electric resistivity, providing abrasion-proof, low-clogging, static electricity-deterrent properties.

Abstract: Method for surface treating a die made of metal in which a low energy, pulsed electron beam, which does not scatter, performs a treatment over a wide area due to presence of anode plasma in a chamber in which the electron beam is formed to smooth and gloss a surface of the die and increase a surface hardness and corrosion resistance of the die. The irradiation may be performed with an energy density not less than 1 J/cm2 per pulse, at least 5 pulse irradiations and a pulse duration of at least 1 &mgr;s. A die subjected to the surface treatment method exhibits improved surface smoothness and glossiness, as well as high corrosion resistance.

Abstract: An input device for providing signals for controlling a knitting machine. The device includes a mechanical information storage means and a switch means responsive to the contents of the storage means to provide a signal corresponding to the stored information. The storage means is disposed for operation either manually by a machine operator or electromechanically in response to instructions provided by other components of the machine. The device is incorporated in a program reading apparatus to specify feeding direction of the program carrier on the knitting machine.