Abstract: A magnetic barrel finishing machine causes multiple different flows or motions of the abrasive media and workpieces by varying magnetic fields, thereby freeing the workpieces from the abrasive media and subjecting the workpieces to finishing action by the abrasive media. The machine includes a rotator made of magnetic material and a plurality of permanent magnets rigidly mounted on the rotator. A container is located above the rotator with a small gap therebetween, and contains workpieces to be finished and an abrasive medium of magnetic material, or workpieces to be finished and an abrasive medium including a magnetic material. The permanent magnets are arranged irregularly in such a way that they provide magnetic lines of force acting in the circumferential direction as well as the radial direction of the rotator.

Abstract: An abrasive grinding wheel (1) is described which has a concavity (8) in the abrasive in which a metal ring (4) is embedded. The metal ring (4) is non-abrasive but is sufficiently hard to resist wear by rubbing against the material being ground. The grinding wheel (1) hence removes material only until the metal ring (4) encounters the summit of the convex shape obtained. The metal ring (4) therefore operates as a stop-rest which automatically prevents superfluous removal of material.

Abstract: A composite polishing pad is provided, with a supporting layer, nodes attached to the supporting layer, and an upper layer attached to the supporting layer which surrounds but does not cover the nodes. The support layer, nodes, and upper layer may all be of different hardnesses.

Abstract: A surfacing pad adapted for use with a lapping tool has a substrate sheet having a plurality of mushroom-shaped projections which interlock with a number of loops on a lapping tool for retention of the pad on the tool. A segmented projection means is also provided.

Abstract: A rod-shaped workpiece W is supported at its circumferential surface by a shoe 14 and a pair of rolls 16 and 17, and is rotated by the rolls 16 and 17. The rod-shaped workpiece W is ground by being abut against a backing plate 19 at its one end by the rotation of the rolls 16 and 17, and put in abrasive contact with a sectionally arch-shaped groove-like circumferential surface 20b of a grinding wheel 20 at its other end surface. A floating plate 37 is provided so that a slight gap takes place is in a guide hole 42 of a housing 36. A sphere 39 supported by a support member 38 is provided in a retaining recess 47 on a rear end surface of the floating plate 37, and the floating plate 37 is swingably supported.

Abstract: A disk drive unit includes a housing enclosing a spindle and motor assembly, a number of magnetic data storage disks and a number of transducer heads. Each magnetic data storage disk includes a surface with a coarsely textured head landing zone and a finely textured data storage area. The coarse texture is applied over the fine texture in the landing zone without forming a step in elevation at the boundary. A method for texturing the magnetic disk includes first applying a fine texture to both the data storage area and the landing zone, and then applying a coarse texture to the landing zone only. Texturing apparatus includes peripheral disk clamps permitting axial compliant movement when the opposed disk surfaces are engaged by balanced, pneumatically biased abrading tools. A free abrasive slurry is introduced to pads carried by the tools.

Abstract: An improved ice skate blade sharpening system utilizing a powered rotating grinding wheel. The system has an adjustable guide for preventing canting and twisting of the blade as it is sharpened, and applies a constant cutting pressure to the edge irrespective of the force applied to the skate by the operator. The system also has a dressing mechanism utilizing a diamond-tipped stylus to maintain the proper curvature of the grinding wheel. The grinding wheel has a central plane perpendicular to the rotational axis, and is mounted to a drive shaft of an electric motor attached to a sliding block biased toward a first position by springs. The guide includes two opposing bearing surfaces spaced a distance apart and a mechanism for adjusting the distance between the bearing surfaces. The central plane of the grinding wheel lies between the bearing surfaces.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a polishing pad useful for polishing a semiconductor-comprising substrate is disclosed. The polishing pad is constructed to include conduits which pass through at least a portion of and preferably through the entire thickness of the polishing pad. The conduits, preferably tubulars, are constructed from a first material which is different from a second material used as a support matrix. The conduits are positioned within the support matrix such that the longitudinal centerline of the conduit forms an angle ranging from about 60.degree. to about 120.degree. with the working surface of the polishing pad. One preferred method of fabrication the polishing pad is pultrusion, where the tubulars are pulled through a resin bath to apply a coating of resin and then through a series of dies in which the resin is cured to provide a support matrix around the tubulars.

Abstract: An abrading device comprising two planar members that are disposed in a spaced apart relationship by at least one spacing member, a plurality of abrasive particles distributed over only the outermost surfaces of said two planar members, the space between said planar members being large enough to accommodate and protect the extended fingers of a person using the device.

Abstract: An improved and new apparatus and process for chemical/mechanical planarization (CMP) of a substrate surface, wherein the slurry concentration between the wafer and polishing pad is controlled through the application of an electric field between the wafer carrier and polishing platen, has been developed. The result is an increased polish removal rate and better uniformity of the planarization process.

Abstract: A shearing tool for cutting cement siding which includes upper and lower blade holders. Each blade holder has first and second ends and an elongated slot extending substantially therebetween. The blade holders are positioned so that the slots face each other and are substantially aligned. Upper and lower blades are removably mounted in the slots of the upper and lower blade holders, respectively. The upper and lower blades each have a relatively narrow cross-sectional width and a cutting edge. When positioned in the slots of the blade holders, the upper and lower blades define a cutting plane in which the cutting edges are substantially aligned and face each other. A number of links are operatively connected to the ends of the blade holders so that either the upper or lower blade holder can move towards the other in the cutting plane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is achieved for creating or restoring a high friction surface to a drive roller 52. Abrasive pads 12 define a scrubbing surface for acting upon a media roller's surface 54-58. As the roller's surface is scrubbed, creping occurs which increases the surface's coefficient of friction, and more particularly, the coefficient of friction between the roller and media sheet ("COF(rm)"). In one embodiment, the creping apparatus is formed by a pair of plates 16, 18 hinged along one edge 30 and open along an opposite edge 28. A spring 19 is positioned between the plates biasing the plates apart at the open end. One or more abrasive pads are attached to the outer surface of one plate 18. The spring is selected to provide a specific biasing force. To create or restore a high friction surface, the apparatus 10 is positioned adjacent to the roller 52.

Abstract: An article having a hard surface of oriented particles for abrasive or wear-resistant applications is provided and includes a plurality of synthetic single crystals of diamond or cubic boron nitride, or like materials, oriented in a formation so that their corresponding crystallographic directions of maximum hardness, i.e., maximum abrasive resistance, are aligned, whereby the group of crystals, which form a working surface, exhibits a common direction of maximum hardness across the surface, and to a method of making such an article.

Abstract: The present invention provides a glass cutting apparatus for cutting glass to a predetermined pattern. The glass cutting apparatus includes a rotatable workpiece holder which is adapted to rotatably hold a glass workpiece and overlaying pattern thereon. A cutting unit is provided which includes at least one cutter blade for scoring the glass workpiece which is held by the workpiece holder, and a pattern follower which is adapted to abut against the pattern held by the workpiece holder during the scoring of the glass workpiece by the cutter blade. The glass cutting apparatus of the present invention may additionally include a grinding unit having a rotatable grinder for grinding an edge of the glass workpiece held by the workpiece holder and a pattern follower adapted to abut against the pattern held by the workpiece holder during grinding of the edge of the glass workpiece by the grinder.

Abstract: A container assembly for a sharpening stone which can be converted from a package for transport and display into a pedestal for supporting and exposing the sharpening stone for use. The assembly is formed of a sheet of polymeric material having a plurality of panels joined by living hinges. A generally box-shaped package can be formed for containing the sharpening stone by folding the panels in one direction and joining end flaps and panels by the use of detents. A pedestal for exposing the sharpening stone can be formed by folding the respective panels on the assembly in the opposite direction and joining into a box-shaped configuration with the use of the end flaps, panels and detents.

Abstract: A vertically stacked planarization machine includes two or more vertically stacked individual platens on which wafers are polished. The wafers are held by wafer holders which may rotate the wafers. The individual platens are also orbited in order to polish the wafers. The platens may have a top and bottom polishing pad for polishing multiple wafers. A single wafer holder, using hydraulic or pneumatic means, between two platens will hold and exert pressure on both a downward wafer and an upward wafer. The pressure exerted onto the top and bottom wafers by the dual wafer holder is designed to be equal to prevent any bowing of the platen. The platens are supported by three vertical members positioned at 120 degree intervals around the circumference of the platens to form a platen stack. Transport elevators are used to carry the wafers to and from the wafer holders and the platens.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a tool having a cutting edge in a predetermined abrading orientation with respect to a tool abrading apparatus. The apparatus comprises a base member supportable on the tool abrading apparatus and adapted to support a tool thereon. A positioning member is movably attached to the base member for selective abutting contact with the tool. An adjustment assembly is attached to the base member for selectively advancing and retracting the positioning member relative to the base member to position the tool into the predetermined abrading orientation. A tool retaining member is removably attached to the base to selectively retain the tool on the base member in the predetermined abrading orientation.

Abstract: A device that is intended as a snap on attachment for an existing pole-mounted sander. Snap-fit receiving elements are attached to the poleward side of the generally rectangular and planar abrasive receiving surface and the pole itself is slid through and retained against lateral movement by a central rigid collar. This then brings a substantially rigid mouth portion that is configured to extend about the periphery of the receiving surface, and that also carries upon it the protruding snap members, into a proximal relationship with the abrasive receiving surface whereby the mutually engageable snap members hold the present invention in place to form a continuous intake port. A flexible collar portion lies between the mouth portion and the rigid collar portion to allow for tilting of the abrasive surface during use, as is common on the pole mounted sanders currently in use.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a polishing pad useful for polishing a semiconductor-comprising substrate is disclosed. The polishing pad is constructed to include conduits which pass through at least a portion of and preferably through the entire thickness of the polishing pad. The conduits, preferably tubulars, are constructed from a first material which is different from a second material used as a support matrix. The conduits are positioned within the support matrix such that the longitudinal centerline of the conduit forms an angle ranging from about 60.degree. to about 120.degree. with the working surface of the polishing pad.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air motor having an engine pack (with a rotor provided with front and rear retainers, a stator, and vanes) which can be assembled and replaced even by an unskilled person. An air supply joint is engaged with guide projections formed on the inner peripheral surface of a housing, with its forward end portion held in contact with the rear retainer; the forward end portion being fastened by a nut member which is threadedly engaged with the housing. On the rear face of the forward end portion are formed a plurality of first projections produced of a rigid synthetic resin, and on the front face of the nut member corresponding to the first projection are formed a plurality of second projections, so that a firm relation of engagement is established by an elastic force of restoration of the first projection; that is, the nut member will not accidentally become loose owing to the locking effect of the first and second projections.