Abstract: Microfinishing devices and processes for in-process gauging of a microfinishing process of generally cylindrical workpieces. A size control shoe is used with a microfinishing shoe such that the diameter of a generally cylindrical workpiece can be continually monitored during the microfinishing process. Once a predetermined diameter or workpiece geometry is achieved, the machining process can be terminated. Several embodiments of size control shoes are disclosed which are particularly adapted for retrofit applications for existing microfinishing equipment. A "masterless" microfinishing machine is also described having arms which engage the size control and microfinishing shoes which follow the path of the workpiece during machining. Since the shoes must be maintained in engagement with the workpiece after a desired diameter is achieved, the pressure applied by the microfinishing arms is relieved until all of the workpiece surfaces are machined.

Abstract: A support device for facilitating the sharpening of a knife blade or the like is provided. The device is a solid block of rigid material having a flat lower surface to rest on a stable surface and an upper surface parallel to the lower surface. The upper surface has an elongated arcuate channel therein which extends the length of the block. Two spaced apart lips extend horizontally along the upper edges of the channel and extend slightly inwardly of the upper edges of the channel towards each other. A knife having a width greater than the width of the channel is inserted into the channel with its cutting edge extending out of the channel for sharpening, its non-cutting edge abutting against one of the lips, and the side if the knife abutting against the other lip. Thus the knife is held at the proper angle for sharpening with a stone.

Abstract: The flat grind stage assembly is programmed so that the grinding wheel is first caused to move along a straight path to form a flat on a wafer while the wafer is held in a stationary position. Thereafter, the grinding wheel is returned to the mid-point of the flat and then moved away from the flat. The wafer is then rotated and grinding commences when the end of the flat is reached so that a circular periphery is ground on the remainder of the wafer while the axis of the grinding wheel remains stationary.

Abstract: For the purpose of machining each journal (2,3) of the workpiece (1), the machine comprises three abrasive application blocks (13, 16a, 16b), one of which is mounted in a fixed position on the arm (7) and the other two are mounted on two jaws (14a, 14b) articulated on the arm (7), in such a way that, when the two jaws (14a, 14b) are clamped together, after the arm (7) has been lowered onto the journal to be machined, the three blocks (13, 16a, 16b) are arranged at the angles of an equilateral triangle and exert a uniform, controllable pressure on the workpiece (1).

Abstract: A tilting system for centrifugal finishing machines which include a finishing chamber or tub in which parts or work pieces are treated and which is pivoted about a horizontal axis for tilting to remove the parts comprising a hydro-mechanical system which permits free movement from an upright to a tilted position and retards movement from a tilted position to an upright position. The hydro-mechanical system preferably includes a hydraulic linear actuator which has a piston rod with pistons at each end and is connected by a rack and pinion arrangement to the tub. A line extends from one end of the actuator to the other and a one way flow control valve is provided in the line. The tilting motion may be applied manually or by power.

Abstract: A hydraulic blasting apparatus has an abrasive storage tank disposed operatively between an abrasive recovery tank and a hydraulic pressurized tank. The abrasive storage tank is provided with a first valve openable from the inside of the storage tank to the atmospheric pressure, and also with a second valve to open the connection between the storage tank and the recovery tank and with a third valve to open the connection between the storage tank and the pressurized tank. The pressure in the abrasive storage tank will become the same as the atmospheric pressure by opening the first valve. Next the first and second valve are closed, and after that the third valve is opened so as to drop the abrasive only into the pressurized abrasive tank for a recycle use.

Abstract: An abrasive honing stick is bonded within a channel-shaped shell which is made of sheet metal and which is secured detachably to a stone holder by a pair of retaining studs. Each stud extends through a hole in the shell, is telescoped into an alined hole in the holder and is clamped by a set screw which, when tightened, cams against the stud to draw the shell inwardly against the holder. The retention studs extend radially from the shell to reduce the circumferential dimension of the overall stone assembly and thereby enable a comparatively large number of assemblies to be placed in a hone body of a given diameter.

Abstract: This invention is a new high wheel speed grinding process that uses only one very hard grade resin bonded grinding wheel of the desired abrasive grit size for the surface finish required, where simultaneously with the grinding of a workpiece the wheel face is conditioned and trued by a truing element heated to a temperature between 250.degree. F. and 1200.degree. F. at the truing rates required to provide grinding at quantitatively predictable desired and constant unit volume energy and metal removal rate values.

Abstract: A gear-shaped tool (30) having stock removing surfaces (38) is rotated together with a bevel or hypoid work gear (32) in accordance with their respective number of teeth, and the gear-shaped tool 30 is also moved relative to the work gear (32) in the manner of a theoretical generating gear (46) rolling through mesh with the work gear (32) for generating desired tooth surfaces (40) in the work gear (32). Generating motions of between the gear-shaped tool (30) and work gear (32) may be controlled independently of indexing motions of the gear-shaped tool (30) and work gear (32) to improve performance of a gear finishing operation.

Abstract: A finishing machine will finish the surface texture of a concrete wall. The finishing machine has a frame with guide rails that will extend along one side of the wall. The frame extends up over the top of the wall. A wheel mounted to the upper section of the frame supports the guide rails and the frame. The wheel will roll along the top of the wall and is driven by an electric motor. A rotary drive head will rotate polishing stones for polishing the side of the wall. The lifting device will raise and lower the drive head on the guide rails.

Abstract: An improvement in a finishing machine for trochoidal surfaces of a rotary engine housing. The finishing machine rotates the engine housing in a trochoidal path around a constant tool engagement point that utilizes a super finishing abrasive film advancement oscillating head whereby precise finishing can be consistently obtained without abrasive tool wear and associated realignment of the abrasive tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for the fine grinding of rotating brake disks in the context of a flexible machining line. The grinding machine has a portal which forms a slide shiftable on a machine frame relative to a brake-disk holder having a fixed axis to allow adjustment for different diameters of hubs of lots of the brake disks which are ground on the machine. The brake disks are fed with vertical axes in succession to a fixed pickup location, are gripped by a manipulator and transferred to the holder where they are rotated about the horizontal axis of the latter to be ground by grinding wheels carried by the portal.

Abstract: The grinder is provided with a grind burr which is programmed to form a notch in a peripheral edge of a wafer before or after grinding of the peripheral edge of the wafer. The grind burr is mounted on the housing of the grinding wheel to be moved in common therewith. The grind wheel housing can be moved vertically to bring the grind burr into alignment with the edge of the wafer.

Abstract: A seal assembly is mounted within a grinding machine to separate a grinding wheel from the main portions of a wafer being ground. The seal assembly has a pair of free edges which are disposed to define a V-shaped gap through which the peripheral edge of the wafer passes into grinding relation with the grinding wheel. A perforated hollow tube is also mounted behind the free edges of the strips to blow air onto and across the planar surface of the wafer being ground to prevent accumulation of debris thereon.

Abstract: A grinder capable of disassembling a pair of rolls of a rolling mill each having a pair of bearing assemblies on its opposite ends, separately grinding and reconditioning the disassembled rolls, and reassembling the reconditioned rolls. Included are a pair of opposed wheel stocks each having an abrasive wheel and both movable linearly along respective wheel guideways extending parallel to each other. Two pairs of opposed pivotal work carriers are disposed intermediate the pair of wheel guideways, with each pair of work carriers spaced from each other in a direction parallel to the wheel guideways. Each pair of work carriers are jointly movable between a common centerline position midway between the pair of wheel guideways, and a grinding position adjacent one of the wheel guideways.

Abstract: A blast media recovery system is provided that recycles reusable blasting media from spent blasting materials. The system includes several different separators which classify the recovered materials by either specific gravity or size. After the materials have been classified by size and the low density materials have been removed, the bulk recycled materials are directed towards a dense particle separator that is arranged to separate any high density materials from the usable blasting media. The dense particle separator includes a frame having a plenum coupled thereto. A porous stone is placed within the plenum and the recycled materials to be cleaned are delivered into the plenum over the top surface of the porous stone. Compressed air is then passed into the plenum through the porous stone to form a fluidized bed. As more material enters the plenum, the lower density materials (i.e. the reusable blasting media) pile over the higher density materials and spill from the plenum into a media chute.

Abstract: A process of grinding ceramic materials such as zirconia comprises grinding in an agitated media-type mill in the presence of a dispersant, the process being characterized in that the grinding media has a particle size of from 0.8 3.0 mm, and in that the quantity of media present is such that the average stand-off distance between adjacent media particles is from 30-90 um.The preferred apparatus is an attrition mill with an additional holding tank which allows recycling.The ceramic powders thus produced are fine with an unusually narrow particle size distribution.

Abstract: A machine for finishing the surface of a lens including a lap holder moved orbitally in a first plane, a lens arm support having a lens holder, the lens arm support being oscillated in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, the lens arm holder being also simultaneously oscillated in a third plane perpendicular to the first plane, the lens holder being urged toward the lap holder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a numerically controlled grinding machine for grinding a tapered surface of a workpiece. In the grinding machine, a workpiece having a tapered portion and a reference end surface is supported on a traverse table in such a way that the workpiece is rotatable about an axis intersecting the Z-axis at a predetermined angle, which is equal to an angle formed between the tapered surface and the rotational axis of the workpiece. In addition, a measuring device for measuring the position of the reference surface is mounted on the wheel head.

Abstract: A polishing plate wherein the arcs cut in the soft parts by a circle whose radius is equal to approximately half that of the disk and whose center is at a distance from that of the disk equal to half the radius of the disk have a length between 0.5 and 5 mm.