Abstract: A contoured surface planing apparatus for removing proud-standing material from a contoured surface without damaging the surface. The apparatus may include a tool comprising a motor-driven rotary cutter supported by a main body for rotation about a cutter axis, and orientation contact points spaced around the cutter and defining an orientation contact plane disposed parallel to the cutter axis.

Abstract: A substrate precession apparatus for a carrier head is provided. The apparatus enables substrate precession, which is the rotational movement of the substrate relative to the carrier head during polishing of the substrate. The carrier head and a retaining ring assembly may be de-coupled and move independently of one another to promote substrate precession during a CMP process.

Abstract: A device and method for finishing a surface of a work piece. The device includes a finishing apparatus which cooperates with the surface of the work piece. A mounting member is provided which cooperates with the surface of the work piece to removably mount the device to the surface of the work piece. At least one support member extends between the mounting member and the finishing apparatus. The finishing apparatus is moveable relative to the mounting member to allow the finishing apparatus to perform a finishing operation on the surface of the work piece.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and techniques for suppressing parasitic modes in planar waveguide amplifier structures. One or more of the side and end facets of a planar waveguide amplifier are angled with respect to a fast axis defined in a transverse plane perpendicular to a core region. A relationship between glancing in-plane angles of incidence and threshold bevel angles ?T can be used to select side bevel angles ?S to suppress parasitics by redirecting amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) from the core. It is possible to select the one or more bevel angles ?S to be great enough to substantially redirect all but ballistic photons of any guided modes, effectively narrowing a numerical aperture of the planar waveguide amplifier along a slow axis, defined in a transverse plane perpendicular to the fast axis. Beneficially, such improvements can be realized for three part waveguide structures (e.g., cladding-core-cladding), with substantially smooth edge facets.

Abstract: Row bars are attached to a lapping ring by a first single-sided adhesive film that adheres to the row bars and are secured to a first lapping ring by a vacuum. After backside lapping is performed on the row bars, the row bars are transferred to a second lapping ring with second single-sided adhesive film by compressing the row bars between the adhesive films and deactivating the vacuum, thereby releasing the row bars from the first lapping ring and providing ring-to-ring transfer without peeling the row bars off the first single-sided adhesive film. Lapping rings used for this process include vacuum channels and slots for holding the row bars so that the top surfaces of the row bars and lapping ring are substantially flat. Ring-to-ring transfer tools are used to transfer row bars between the backside lapping ring and the frontside lapping ring with minimal handling of the row bars.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for performing in-process compensating a machining operation on a workpiece, wherein the compensation process includes generating a control signal representative of magnitude of a contact force exerted on a cutting tool in a normal direction in relation to a machining surface of the workpiece, determining a compensation parameter value based on the control signal, and compensating the machining operation based on the compensation parameter value. The present invention also relates to corresponding machine arrangement for performing a machining operation on a workpiece, such as a hard turning process.

Abstract: An adhesive composition for bonding a wafer and a support for the wafer. The adhesive composition contains an elastomer in which a styrene unit is contained as a constituent unit of a main chain, a content of the styrene unit is 14% by weight to 50% by weight, and a weight average molecular weight of the styrene unit is 10,000 to 200,000.

Abstract: A skate sharpening holder includes an anvil plate surface that is adapted to engage with a skate blade so that the skate blade is securely held with respect to the anvil during skate sharpening or contouring. The anvil plate surface can include pins or openings that would engage with respective openings or pins in a skate blade to hold the skate blade in place.

Abstract: There is provided a processing apparatus and an optical member manufacturing method that can improve the figure accuracy and the waviness accuracy, and can highly and precisely process an optical element surface. A processing apparatus generates a pressure between a polishing member and a workpiece and relatively moves the polishing member and the workpiece to process a workpiece. The processing apparatus includes a support member that can perform oscillating movement, and a processing portion that is rotatably attached to the support member. The processing portion includes one or more pressure generation units to generate different pressures between the polishing member and the workpiece.

Abstract: The described embodiment relates generally to the polishing of a device housing. The device housing can be formed of a thermoplastic, or a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. More particularly, a method and an apparatus are described for calibrating a polishing process in which a precise amount of material can be removed. Accurate measurement of such a polishing process can be especially helpful in accurately determining material removal rates and pad wear occurring across curved surfaces and edges where such parameters tend to be difficult to predict.

Abstract: A method of grinding a substrate is provided. A substrate including a first main surface having a semiconductor layer formed thereon and a second main surface opposed to the first main surface is prepared. A support film is attached to the first main surface using a glue. The second main surface of the substrate is ground so as to reduce a thickness of the substrate. The support film is removed from the first main surface by applying force to the support film in a non-traverse direction.

Abstract: A blade outer air seal for a gas turbine engine having a surface that is eccentric with respect to the engine rotation centerline, and a method for creating same, are disclosed. Also, a method for grinding a work piece having nominal curvature defined by a work piece curvature centerline is disclosed, comprising the steps of: a) determining a desired surface profile for the work piece; b) providing a rotating grinding surface having a grinding rotation centerline; c) offsetting the grinding rotation centerline from the work piece curvature centerline; and d) applying the rotating grinding surface to the work piece while rotating the rotating grinding surface about the grinding rotation centerline to create the desired surface profile.

Abstract: An abrasive article having an array of abrasive members with an elastomeric support that permits each abrasive member to move independently in at least pitch and roll. Each abrasive member maintains a fluid bearing (air is the typical fluid) with the substrate. The abrasive members are capable of selectively engaging with nanometer-scale and/or micrometer-scale height variations and micrometer-scale and/or millimeter-scale wavelengths of waviness, on the surfaces of substrates. The spacing and pitch of the abrasive members can be adjusted to follow the topography of the substrate to remove a generally uniform layer of material; to engage with the peaks on the substrate to remove target wavelengths of waviness; and/or to remove debris and contamination from the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A system for sharpening a tool bit in a fixed geometry has a base with a support platform and guide rod attached to and extending from the platform; a fixture including a longitudinal extending body with a plurality of linear bore holes extending through a transverse width of the fixture; and a tool bit support assembly removeably connected to the fixture for receiving the tool bit. In operation, the system provides for a user to insert the guide rod through one of the bore holes in the plurality and to position the tool bit in a fixed orientation for sharpening a free end of the tool bit. By forming the fixture with a specific number of bore holes, each positioned at a precise angle within the fixture, the system provides for the sharpening of the tool bit in a fixed geometry in a way that is consistent, precise, and repeatable.

Abstract: A system for dressing centrifugal clutches has a drum tool with an internal abrasive surface, and a flap tool with abrasive flaps. The drum tool can replace the clutch drum on the clutch driven shaft to dress the clutch shoes, or the flap tool can replace the clutch shoes and mechanism on the clutch drive shaft, which may be the engine crankshaft, to dress the clutch drum. In either case, the tool being used and the component being dressed can accurately simulate the engagement of the clutch shoes and clutch drum in operation, so that the clutch drum and shoes can be accurately dressed to the correct shape, matching each other, for use.

Abstract: Disclosed are substances and methods of cleaning musical instruments which are capable of abrading or removing dirt and grime from instrument surfaces or cracks. In one embodiment, the substance comprises a plastic flexible material mixed with at least one abrasive material. In one method of use: (1) a lubricant (such as a water/detergent solution) is gently sprayed on to a small area on the surface of a musical instrument; (2) the substance is, with light to medium pressure, rubbed across the lubricated surface multiple times until the area is visibly clean or smooth to the touch; and (3) steps one and two are repeated until the whole instrument is cleaned or smoothed.

Abstract: A file having concave portion is most well-known. The use of this file has a risk of mining an effect of a leveling of frets due to undesirable scrape of a top portion of the fret and to losing a normal function of the fret due to a change of the height thereof. Since the file is held by hand, a tool angle varies in use. Since the size of a polishing surface of the tool is not suitable for all types of frets, a complete set including a various size of the files is required in order to select and use one of them as necessary and appropriately. Therefore, a tool of the invention has been made to solve these problems as follows: 1. the top portion of the fret is not scraped and the resultant fret after the leveling thereof are protected as important: 2. since the tool is placed on the fretboard with two side portions of the tool, and thus the tool angle is kept constant (thus, during use the axis of the tool is not rotated and the centerline of the tool is not displaced): 3.

Abstract: An abrasive article comprising: a first body comprising a first bond material having abrasive particles contained within the first bond material, wherein the first body comprising the first bond material comprises a ratio of VAG(1)/VBM(1) of at least about 1.3; a second body comprising a second bond material having abrasive particles contained within the second bond material, wherein the second body comprising the second bond material comprises a ratio of VAG(2)/VBM(2) of less than about 1.3, and wherein VAG is a volume percent of abrasive particles within a total volume of the first or second body respectively and VBM is a volume percent of the first or second bond material within the total volume of the first or second body respectively.

Abstract: An abrasive article configured to grind a workpiece having a fracture toughness at least about 7 MPa·m0.5 includes a body comprising abrasive particles contained within a bond material comprising a metal, wherein the body comprises a ratio of VAG/VBM of at least about 1.3, wherein VAG is a volume percent of abrasive particles within a total volume of the body and VBM is a volume percent of bond material within the total volume of the body, and wherein the abrasive particles have an average particle size of 40 to 60 microns.

Abstract: An abrasive article configured to grind a workpiece having a fracture toughness of less than about 6 MPa·m ½ includes a body comprising abrasive particles contained within a bond material comprising a metal, wherein the body comprises a ratio of VAG/VBM of at least about 1.3, wherein VAG is a volume percent of abrasive particles within a total volume of the body and VBM is a volume percent of bond material within the total volume of the body, and wherein the abrasive particles have an average particle size of 1 to 45 microns.

Abstract: The invention concerns a module (100) adapted for use with a hand-held power drill (200) for dual-action abrading, polishing, and/or cleaning of a substrate. The module (100) uses a direct drive mechanism whereby rotation of a suitable work member (204) is actuated along a circular orbital path. The module (100) optionally includes a handle (114) coupled to the module (100), which allows the spindle (110) motion induced by the power drill (200) and the motion of the housing (102) to be effectively decoupled from each other and enhances operator control over the work member (204). Providing a modular device (100) that can be used with a common household tool results in an increased versatility as well as space and cost savings for the consumer.

Abstract: The present document describes a blade sharpening system comprising a blade sharpening device, a blade holding apparatus and a controller operatively coupled to the blade sharpening device and said blade holding apparatus to control sharpening of said blade, and methods of using the same.

Abstract: A turbine servicing device includes a base member mountable proximate an inlet of a section of a turbine system. Also included is a retaining component operatively coupled to the base member. Further included is a rod having a first end and a second end, the rod in a slidable and pivotable relationship with the retaining component. Yet further included is a machining device operatively coupled to the rod proximate the second end and configured to polish a portion of a turbine component.

Abstract: Methods of abrading surfaces by rotationally reciprocating abrasive surfaces in contact with the surfaces, abrasive articles for use in rotationally reciprocating tools, and methods of removing defects in a surface, where the methods include sanding using a rotationally reciprocating abrasive surface followed by one or more polishing operations are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for polishing silicon nitride-containing substrates. The method comprises abrading a surface of a silicon nitride substrate with a polishing composition, which comprises colloidal silica, at least one acidic component, and an aqueous carrier. The at least one acidic component has a pKa in the range of about 1 to 4.5. The composition has a pH in the range of about 0.5 pH units less than the pKa of the at least one acidic component to about 1.5 pH units greater than the pKa.

Abstract: Cutting tools and machining methods using cutting tools are disclosed. An example cutting tool comprises a shank and a head on the shank, the head comprising a diamond abrasive-coated cutting surface, the cutting head having grooves interrupting the cutting surface and extending from the cutting surface toward an axis of rotation of the head, the cutting surface having a substantially constant radius.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods strip and/or finish wood surfaces. Specifically, the present invention relates to using systems and methods utilizing rotary apparatuses having metal embedded or bonded industrial diamonds to cut, grind, and polish wood surfaces.

Abstract: A method for processing ferrules for fiber optic connectors is disclosed herein. The method involves ablating a distal end face of the ferrule with the plurality of laser beam pulses to remove a distal layer of the ferrule without removing an optical fiber secured within the ferrule. By removing the distal layer from the ferrule, the optical fiber is caused to protrude distally outwardly from the distal end of the ferrule by a desired amount.

Abstract: A damage prevention tool and method is provided in which a free-floating disk is connected to an abrasion disk through a bearing structure. When the tool is actuated, the abrasion disk rotates substantially independent of the floating disk. The floating disk may have a slightly larger circumference and a non-marring friction material on its outer edge, such that the outer edge does not damage foreign objects and protects the abrasion disk, and the abrasion material mounted to the abrasion disk, from contacting foreign objects.

Abstract: An abrasive particle having an irregular surface, wherein the surface roughness of the particle is less than about 0.95. A method for producing modified abrasive particles, including providing a plurality of abrasive particles, providing a reactive coating on said particles, heating said coated particles; and recovering modified abrasive particles.

Abstract: An illustrative method of making a load bearing member for use in an elevator system includes mechanically roughening at least one surface on an exterior of a jacket of the load bearing member to establish a friction characteristic that facilitates engagement between an elevator system sheave and the roughened surface.

Abstract: Tools and methods for machining a dovetail are disclosed. The dovetail includes a plurality of tangs. In one embodiment, the tool includes a body and a plurality of mount brackets, each of the plurality of mount brackets connected to the body and positionable in contact with a crush surface of the dovetail. The tool further includes an engagement member connected to the body and adjustable such that contact by the engagement member with the dovetail forces each of the plurality of mount brackets against the associated crush surface. The tool further includes a machining assembly for machining one of the plurality of tangs of the dovetail, the machining assembly connected to the body.

Abstract: Cleaning or polishing magnetic recording media (MRM) may comprise mounting and rotating the MRM on a spindle; circulating a tape adjacent to a surface of the MRM; and applying an electrostatic (ES) voltage to the tape and attracting particles located on the MRM to the tape. The ES voltage may apply an ES load to the tape to force the tape into contact with the surface of the MRM. No mechanical load may be applied to the tape to force the tape into contact with the surface of the MRM. Additionally, a mechanical load may be applied to the tape to force the tape into contact with the surface of the MRM.

Abstract: A method for finish-machining a workpiece surface includes moving the workpiece surface relative to an active area of the finishing tool in a rotation direction about a workpiece axis, and superimposing on the relative movement of the workpiece surface and the active area an additional oscillatory movement with an oscillation frequency lower than 20 kHz in a direction perpendicular to the workpiece surface.

Abstract: A method and device for setting a predetermined radial gap width for rotor blades arranged in a housing of a turbomachine is provided. The method includes removing a housing part and at least partially exposing the rotor blades which are to be machined, arranging a grinding device in the region of a rotor blade which is to be machined such that the tip of the rotor blade is machined using a grinding disk of the grinding device, screening off the machining region by arranging a screening device which is formed so as to counter a release of grinding dust from the screen off machining region, providing a suction extraction such that it extracts grinding dust from the screened-off machining region and grinding the tip of the rotor blade in situ producing the radial gap width.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for preparing and buffing an item made of powder coated MDF (or other substrate containing wood) with the end result of improved visual and tactile smoothness; the invention includes the steps of cutting and machining the part, pre-powder preparation and sanding of the part, powder coating the part, post-powder preparation and sanding, and buffing the part. This method of sanding and buffing results in a smoother finish than is currently available in any other powder coated MDF finish while requiring less coats than similar liquid paint finishes.

Abstract: A robotic surface treatment device includes at least two wheels, at least two electric motors, wherein one electric motor is connected to one corresponding wheel via a motor shaft, at least two treatment pads, wherein at least one treatment pad is attached to a bottom surface of a corresponding wheel, a main controller positioned on top of and in connection with drive controllers positioned on top of each electric motor, a plurality of sensors integrated in the main controller, and a rechargeable battery connected to the main controller. At least one treatment fluid tank may be positioned on the robotic surface treatment device, and at least one treatment fluid tube may extend from a bottom surface of the treatment fluid tank to a bottom surface of the robotic surface treatment device. The sensors may be laser or acoustic sensors configured to create a boundary line for a treatment area.

Abstract: Polishing and cleaning techniques are combinatorially processed and evaluated. A polishing system can include a reactor assembly having multiple reaction chambers, with at least a reaction chamber including a rotatable polishing head, slurry and chemical distribution, chemical and water rinse, and slurry and fluid removal. Different downward forces can be applied to the polishing heads for evaluating optimum process conditions. Channels in the polishing pads can redistribute slurry and chemical to the polishing area.

Abstract: Flat-surfaced workpieces such as semiconductor wafers are attached to a rotatable floating workpiece holder carrier rotor that is supported by and rotationally driven by a bellows. The wafer carrier rotor is contained by a set of idlers that are attached to a stationary rotor housing to provide support against abrading forces that are imposed on the wafer by the moving abrasive coating on a rotary platen. The idlers allow low-friction operation of the abrading system to be provided at the very high abrading speeds used in high speed flat lapping with raised-island abrasive disks. The system is also well suited for lapping optical devices and rotary seals and for chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) polishing of wafers using resilient pads. Pressurized air is injected into the bellows device to provide uniform abrading pressure across the full surface of the wafer. Wafers can be attached to the workpiece carrier with vacuum.

Abstract: A retaining ring for holding a substrate below a carrier head during chemical mechanical polishing includes an annular lower portion and an annular upper portion secured to the lower portion. The annular lower portion has a main body with a bottom surface for contacting a polishing pad during polishing, and is a first material. A top surface of the upper portion is configured to be secured to the carrier head. The upper portion is a second material that is more rigid than the first material. A thickness and stiffness of the lower portion is selected for a particular polishing environment to improve polishing uniformity near an edge of the substrate.

Abstract: The sharpener holder is a device for sharpening blades of knives, scissors, axes, planes, chisels, and other cutting implements. The device accommodates any off-the-shelf sharpener rod whereas other sharpeners require the use of a unique or special rod built into the sharpener assembly. Most users already have sharpening rods, so all they have to do is put their existing sharpening rods into the sharpener holder to sharpen their knives or other cutting implements. The sharpener rod in the rod holder is securely clamped in position. The adjustable base is rotated to the required sharpening angle and securely clamped in position. The user moves the blade vertically against the sharpening rod at a perpendicular angle with respect to the base assembly to sharpen the blade.

Abstract: A magnet holding jig comprises a platform and first and second holders disposed on opposite sides of the platform. The platform is provided with channels, the holders are comb-shaped to define digits and slits, the channels and the slits being aligned to define guide paths for permitting entry of a cutting tool therein, and the holders are also configured as digitate hooks. The holder hooks are in contact with a rare earth magnet block resting on the platform. The holders are pushed inward at their lower portions so as to bring each hook digit of the second holder in pressure abutment with the magnet block at a higher level than each hook digit of the first holder for thereby holding the magnet block in place on the platform.

Abstract: A magnet holding jig comprises a platform and first and second holders disposed on opposite sides of the platform. The platform is provided with channels, the holders are comb-shaped to define digits and slits, the channels and the slits being aligned to define guide paths for permitting entry of a cutting tool therein, and the holders are also configured as digitate hooks. The holder hooks are in contact with a rare earth magnet block resting on the platform. The holders are pushed inward at their lower portions so as to elastically deform the digitate hook and move it backward and to bring the hook digits in pressure abutment with the magnet block, thereby holding the magnet block in place on the platform.

Abstract: Methods for abrasive cleaning, deburring, providing barrier coatings and sealing leaks in existing pipes, in a single operation, in one pass by intermittent bursts of dry particulates forced and pulled by air throughout the piping system by a generator and a vacuum. Cleaning includes intermittently injecting bursts of abrasive particles into the pressurized gas into the piping system for cleaning pipe interior walls, reducing burrs and interior lips in the pipe interior walls and generating a vacuum suction in the piping system to remove abrasive particles and debris.

Abstract: Curved plastic objects and systems and methods for deburring the same are disclosed. The curved plastic object can be the cap or grill of a headphone or earbud.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flex-arm device including a base, at least one support block attached to the base, the support block including a shaft aperture, a shaft engaged with the shaft aperture of the support block, and a flex-arm mount attached to the shaft. When the device is in an unlocked orientation, the shaft is capable of rotation within the shaft aperture such that the flex-arm mount may be angularly displaced about multiple positions, and when the device is in a locked orientation, the shaft is restricted from rotation within the shaft aperture.

Abstract: A sanding system suitable for drywall sanding has a foam sanding block that fits into a hollow housing such that a gap is left around most of the perimeter of the sanding block and the housing near the plane of sanding. Some regions of the perimeter are dimensioned relative to the sanding block such as to not leave a gap but instead are such as to provide a friction fit between the housing and the sanding block.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow needle (1) for a sample pipettor in an automated analysis instrument, which sample pipettor is suitable for withdrawing sample liquid from a sealed sample vessel by virtue of the cover or the cap of the sample vessel being pierced by the hollow needle (1). The hollow needle (1) has a substantially straight cylindrical basic shape with a tip (8) for piercing a cover and enables a removal of sample liquid, comparatively less susceptible to errors, from a sample vessel in an automated analysis instrument. In the region of the tip (8) of the hollow needle (1), a number of faces (22, 26, 28, 30) have been introduced in such a way that the radial force components resulting at the respective faces (22, 26, 28, 30) during an axial movement into an elastic material cancel one another.

Abstract: A sensor for detection and measurement of a particular substance present in a liquid is disclosed. The sensor includes a non-circular or non-symmetrically fixed electrode for detection and measurement of a particular substance present in a liquid in which said sensor is submersed. The sensor with non-circular or non-symmetrically fixed electrode and method of using the same reduces or eliminates electrode deformation upon residue removal therefrom thereby prolonging operating life.

Abstract: A boroscope (60) has a first end (62) and a second end (64) and the first end (62) of the boroscope (60) has an optical fibre (66) and light source (68). A working head (70) is attached to the first end (62) of the boroscope (60). The working head (70) has an electrical motor (72) and a tool (74) is attached to and is arranged to be driven by the electrical motor (72) and the boroscope (60) carries a cable (76) extending from the electrical motor (72) to the second end (64) of the boroscope (60).