Abstract: A method and apparatus for using continuous-loop wires to drive circular flat-surfaced disk-type workholders which are positioned between two opposed upper and lower abrasive-surfaced rotatable platens. Flat-surfaced workpieces are mounted in receptacle openings in the workholders where both surfaces of the workpieces are simultaneously abraded by the two opposed platen that have annular bands of abrasive coatings. The drive wires allow the workholders to be driven at high speeds because of the smooth-action interface between the wires and the circular workholder disks that have circular wire grooves around the peripheries of the workholders. Each workholder assembly consists of a workholder disk, a drive wire, wire idlers, workholder idlers, a wire-tension device, a workholder disk support device and a wire drive motor. The workholder assemblies can be moved away from the platen surface to change platen abrasive disks. Three workholders provide stable three-point support of a floating upper platen.

Abstract: A low friction flat-lapping abrading apparatus and method for releasably attaching flexible abrasive disks to a flat-surfaced platen that floats in three-point abrading contact with flat-surfaced workpieces that are attached to three rotary spindles. The rigid equal-height flat-surfaced rotatable fixed-position workpiece spindles are mounted on a flat abrading machine base. They are positioned to form a triangle to provide stable support of the floating platen. All three spindle-tops are co-planar aligned to provide a precision-flat reference plane for mounting of the workpieces. The lapping operation has very high abrading speeds and very low abrading forces. The lightweight but strong lapping machine employs a pivot-balance structure where the weight of the drive motor is used to balance the weight of the abrading platen. Use of low-friction air bearings provides the capability for precision control of the abrading forces. The lapping machine is robust and well suited for a harsh abrading environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for releasably attaching flexible abrasive disks to a flat-surfaced platen that floats in three-point abrading contact with three rigid flat-surfaced rotatable fixed-position workpiece spindles that are mounted on a flat surface of an abrading machine base where the spindle surfaces are in a common plane. Three spindles are positioned to form a three-point triangle of platen supports where the rotational-centers of each of the spindles are positioned at the center of the annular width of the platen abrading surface. The spindles are supported by two-piece spindle-mount devices having a common-radius spherical joint that allows the spindles to be rotated to co-planar align the top flat surfaces of the rotatable spindle-tops and then to be locked into this aligned position. Spindle-mount spherical-action locking devices include mechanical fasteners and stress-free adhesive tabs. Precision-flat platens can be used as an alignment jig for co-planar alignment of the spindles.

Abstract: A rotatable abrasive lapper machine platen assembly is attached to a lapper machine frame. The assembly has at least: a) a circular-shaped rotatable horizontal platen having i) a front surface and ii) a back surface; b) the circular platen having a platen radius, a platen outer circumference and a platen outer periphery; c) the circular platen front surface having an outer annular planar portion where the platen outer annular planar portion extends radially to the circular platen outer circumference; and d) a flexible abrasive disk secured in conformable flat contact with the circular platen front surface outer annular planar portion wherein the abrasive disk is positioned concentric with the circular platen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for releasably attaching flexible abrasive disks to a flat-surfaced platen that floats in three-point abrading contact with three flat-surfaced rotatable fixed-position workpiece spindles that are mounted on spherical-rotation two-piece spindle-mount devices that are attached to a nominally-flat abrading machine base. The spindle-top flat surfaces are precisely co-planar with each other. The three spindles are positioned to form a triangle of platen supports where the rotational-centers of each of the spindles are positioned at the center of the annular width of the platen abrading-surface. Flat surfaced workpieces are attached to the spindles and the rotating floating-platen abrasive surface contacts the workpieces to perform single-sided abrading on them. The disk abrasive surfaces can be re-flattened by attaching abrasive disk-type components to the three spindles that are rotated while in abrading contact with the rotating abrasive disk.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for robotic devices that can be used to load and remove workpieces and abrasive disks for an abrading system having a floating, rotatable abrading platen that is three-point supported by annular, flat abrading-surface of the floating platen. The rotary spindles are mounted on the flat horizontal surface of a machine base and the spindle-top flat surfaces are aligned to be precisely co-planar with each other where the rotational-centers of each of the spindles fixed-position rotary flat-surfaced spindles. The flexible abrasive disks are releasably attached to the are positioned at the center of the annular radial-width of the platen abrading-surface. Flat-surfaced workpieces are attached to the spindle-top flat surfaces and the abrasive surface of the abrasive disk that is attached to the rotating floating-platen abrading surface contacts the workpieces to perform single-sided abrading on the workpieces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for releasably attaching flexible abrasive disks to a flat-surfaced platen that floats in three-point abrading contact with three rigid equal-height flat-surfaced rotatable fixed-position workpiece spindles that are mounted on a precision-flat abrading machine base where the spindle surfaces are in a common plane that is co-planar with the base surface. The three spindles are positioned to form a triangle of platen supports where the rotational-centers of each of the spindles are positioned at the center of the annular width of the platen abrading surface. Flat surfaced workpieces are attached to the spindles and the rotating floating-platen abrasive surface contacts all three rotating workpieces to perform single-sided abrading. The platen abrasive surface can be re-flattened by attaching equal-thickness abrasive disks to the three spindles that are rotated while in abrading contact with the rotating platen abrasive. There is no wear of the abrasive-disk protected platen surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for releasably attaching flexible abrasive disks to a flat-surfaced platen that floats in three-point abrading contact with three rigid equal-height flat-surfaced rotatable fixed-position workpiece spindles that are mounted on a precision-flat abrading machine base where the spindle surfaces are in a common plane that is co-planar with the base surface. The three spindles are positioned to form a triangle of platen supports where the rotational-centers of each of the spindles are positioned at the center of the annular width of the platen abrading surface. Flat surfaced workpieces are attached to the spindles and the rotating floating-platen abrasive surface contacts all three rotating workpieces to perform single-sided abrading. The platen abrasive surface can be re-flattened by attaching equal-thickness abrasive disks to the three spindles that are rotated while in abrading contact with the rotating platen abrasive. There is no wear of the abrasive-disk protected platen surface.

Abstract: A rotatable abrasive lapper machine platen assembly is attached to a lapper machine frame. The assembly has at least: a) a circular-shaped rotatable horizontal platen having i) a front surface and ii) a back surface; b) the circular platen having a platen radius, a platen outer circumference and a platen outer periphery; c) the circular platen front surface having an outer annular planar portion where the platen-outer-annular planar portion extends radially to the circular platen outer circumference; and d) a flexible abrasive disk secured in conformable flat contact with the circular platen front surface outer annular planar portion wherein the abrasive disk is positioned concentric with the circular platen.

Abstract: Abrasive disk sheet articles having raised islands coated with spherical abrasive agglomerates that can provide both precision flat and smooth workpiece surfaces by high speed lapping are described. These disks also provide high material removal rates and low surface pick-out of soft metallic or non-metallic materials embedded in hard workpieces. A method of producing equal-sized spherical shaped composite abrasive agglomerate beads containing small diamond abrasive particles is described. These beads can be bonded directly on the flat surface of a flexible backing or bonded onto raised island surfaces. Simple and inexpensive apparatus devices and process techniques are described that allow efficient low-volume batch or continuous web manufacturing of precision thickness, large diameter abrasive disk or rectangular sheet abrasive articles.

Abstract: Flexible abrasive sheet materials having annular bands of precise height flat-topped raised island structures that are coated with a mono layer of abrasive particles or abrasive agglomerates, processes for manufacture of the abrasive sheet materials, processes for using the abrasive sheeting in high speed lapping/abrading processes, and apparatus for using the abrasive sheeting are described. The process for manufacturing the abrasive sheeting provides an economical method for providing an improved configuration of abrasive sheeting that can provide precisely flat workpiece surfaces that are also highly polished.

Abstract: A method of producing equal-sized spherical shaped beads of a wide range of materials is described. These beads are produced by forming the parent bead material into a liquid solution and by filling equal volume cells in a sheet with the liquid solution. The sheet cells establish the volumes of each of the cell mixture volumes which are then ejected from the cells by an impinging fluid. Surface tension forces acting on the ejected equal sized solution entities form them into spherical beads. The ejected beads are then subjected to a solidification environment which solidifies the spherical beads. The beads can be solid or porous or hollow and can also have bead coatings of multiple material layers.

Abstract: Abrasive disk sheet articles having raised islands coated with spherical abrasive agglomerates that can provide both precision flat and smooth workpiece surfaces by high speed lapping are described. These disks also provide high material removal rates and low surface pick-out of soft metallic or non-metallic materials embedded in hard workpieces. A method of producing equal-sized spherical shaped composite abrasive agglomerate beads containing small diamond abrasive particles is described. These beads can be bonded directly on the flat surface of a flexible backing or bonded onto raised island surfaces.

Abstract: Abrasive sheet materials, abrasive sheet materials with island distributions of abrasive particles, processes for manufacture of abrasive sheet materials with minimized abrasive content (with monolayers and as few as four layers of abrasive particles), processes for using the abrasive sheeting in high speed lapping/abrading processes, and apparatus for using the abrasive sheeting are described. The process for manufacturing the abrasive sheeting provides an economical method for providing improved quality sheeting, while also allowing for greater control over the shape and distribution of abrasive islands on the sheet than is available from present processes of manufacture.

Abstract: Abrasive sheet materials, abrasive sheet materials with island distributions of abrasive particles, processes for manufacture of abrasive sheet materials with minimized abrasive content, processes for attaching abrasive particles exclusively on the top surface of raised islands in monolayers, and processes for attaching raised island foundation structures to inexpensive flexible backing sheets are described. The process for manufacturing the abrasive sheeting provides an economical method for providing improved quality abrasive sheeting, while also allowing for greater control over the shape and distribution of abrasive islands on the sheet than is available from present processes of manufacture.

Abstract: A movable shaft with fluid bearing low friction support for the movable shaft comprises a housing, where the housing contains a shaft, at least one fluid bearing adjacent a surface of the shaft, a source of fluid at a pressure of at least 16.7 psi into the at least one fluid bearing, at least one vent for carrying fluid from the shaft to a reduced pressure area, and at least one fluid pressure chamber at one end of the shaft. The fluid pressure chamber providing fluid pressure that provides a force along an axial direction of the shaft to move the shaft axially.

Abstract: Abrasive sheet materials, abrasive sheet materials with island distributions of abrasive particles, processes for manufacture of abrasive sheet materials with minimized abrasive content, processes for attaching abrasive particles exclusively on the top surface of raised islands in monolayers, and processes for attaching raised island foundation structures to inexpensive flexible backing sheets are described. The process for manufacturing the abrasive sheeting provides an economical method for providing improved quality abrasive sheeting, while also allowing for greater control over the shape and distribution of abrasive islands on the sheet than is available from present processes of manufacture.

Abstract: Lapping or polishing at high speeds with fine abrasive particles offer significant advantages in the speed of lapping, savings of time in lapping, and smoothness in the finished articles. An improved lapping system comprises a lapper platen system comprising: a) a frame (e.g., having a total weight of at least 200 kg) supporting a work piece holder b) a rotatable platen having an abrasive surface comprising an abrasive sheet secured to said platen, said platen being capable of providing surface feet per minute speeds on in outer edge of at least about 1,500 surface feet per minute; and c) a work piece holder which is movable on said frame.

Abstract: Lapping or polishing at high speeds with fine abrasive particles offer significant advantages in the speed of lapping, savings of time in lapping, and smoothness in the finished articles.

Abstract: A process for lapping a surface and providing a very smooth surface in short periods of time comprises:a) providing a work piece to be lapped, having at least one surface to be lapped,b) providing a rotating platen havingi) a back surface andii) a flat surface which can be adjusted to a position parallel to said at least one surface of said work piece,c) providing a sheet of abrasive material having an abrasive face and a back side, said back side being on said flat surface of said platen with the abrasive face of said sheet facing said at least one surface to be lapped,d) securing said sheet of abrasive material to said flat surface of said platen,e) rotating said platen at a rotational speed of at least 500 revolutions per minute, and a surface speed at an outside edge of said sheet of abrasive material of at least 1500 surface feet per minute, andf) contacting said abrasive face and said at least one surface of said workpiece to be lapped.