Abstract: A localized chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) platform is provided. A table is configured to support a workpiece with a to-be-polished surface. A polishing pad is spaced from the table with a width less than about half that of the table. The polishing pad is configured to individually polish rough regions of hillocks or valleys on the to-be-polished surface. A slurry distribution system is configured to apply slurry to an interface between the polishing pad and the workpiece. A cleaning system is configured to clean the workpiece in situ on the table. A drying system is configured to dry the workpiece in situ on the table. A method for CMP with local profile control and a system with local profile control are also provided.

Abstract: The feed system (30) for a honing machine (10) provides a capability to dynamically correct in real time errors in bore size inferred arising from variations in feed force, and a method of operation of the same. The system (10) allows a user to select between rate and force controlled honing modes, which provides one or more of the advantages of both modes. The system provides capabilities for automatic rapid automatic bore wall detection, compensation for elasticity of elements of the feed system (30) and honing tool (14), and automatic tool protection. The system is automatically operable using feed force, feed rate and positional information for honing a work piece (20) to one or more target parameters, such as one or more in-process sizes and a final size.

Abstract: A pair of long-arm gardening shears include a main body, a first casing, a second casing, a cutting blade assembly, a retaining member, a push button, and a spring. Thus, the angle between the cutting blade assembly and the main body is adjusted so that the length of the long-arm gardening shears is adjusted, thereby facilitating a user operating the long-arm gardening shears to shear the lawn at a lower height and the branches at a higher level. In addition, the use only needs to press the push button so as to rotate the cutting blade assembly and to release the push button so as to lock the cutting blade assembly, thereby facilitating the user adjusting the angles of the long-arm gardening shears.

Abstract: A conditioner disk for use on a polish pad in chemical mechanical polishing process includes a base structure a plurality of curved blades supported by the base structure. The blades radiate outwardly from a center region of the base structure and curve in a common direction.

Abstract: A wet-shaving system can include an exfoliation member, the position of which is adjustable relative to a housing and/or handle portion of the wet-shaving system.

Abstract: A subpad support for use in a web format or belt format polishing apparatus for polishing one or more layers of semiconductor device structures. The subpad support includes a subpad retention element for non-adhesively securing the subpad thereto. The subpad support may also include one or more lips protruding therefrom so as to at least substantially inhibit lateral movement of the subpad relative to the subpad support. Polishing apparatus including the subpad support are also disclosed. The polishing pads of such polishing apparatus may be at least partially moved away from the subpad or subpad support so as to facilitate assembly of a subpad with the subpad support or removal of the subpad from the subpad support without damaging the polishing pad. Methods of removably securing a subpad to the subpad support, removing the subpad from the subpad support, and replacing another subpad on the subpad support, as well as polishing methods, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A utility knife has a protective guard that moves from a locked position to an unlocked position. Preferred mechanisms utilize a pawl that cooperates with a stop to reduce movement of the guard while the guard is in a locked position, and a simple latching mechanism that allows the pawl to bypass the stop. The pawl is disposed with respect to other elements of the mechanism such that the blade guard can only pulled back to a retracted position after operation of a trigger or other actuator, and then only for a single use. Both the stop and the catch can advantageously be carried in a fixed special relation to one another by operation of a trigger or other actuator.

Abstract: Methods for reconditioning a polishing pad and detecting diamond contamination of the polishing pad, are disclosed. In particular, the methods include the step of exposing the reconditioned polishing pad to an energy source to induce the diamond contamination to fluoresce. Detection of the diamond contamination is then made by detecting the fluorescence. Removal of the diamond contamination results in an improved reconditioned polishing pad. A reconditioning system for reconditioning a damaged polishing pad is also disclosed. The reconditioning system includes a reconditioning disk including a plurality of diamonds for reconditioning the polishing pad, wherein each diamond fluoresces when exposed to an energy source.

Abstract: An additive impregnated abrasive article and method for fabricating the same is provided. The method includes providing an abrasive article having a pore structure, dissolving an additive in a supercritical fluid, and exposing the abrasive article to the additive-laden supercritical fluid, so that the fluid disperses through the pore structure. The supercritical fluid is then brought to below its critical point for a period of time sufficient to dissociate the additive from the fluid, so that the additive is deposited within the pore structure of the abrasive article.

Abstract: A completely automated apparatus for verifying the identity and geometry of drill bits, re-sharpening the cutting tip of a drill bit and re-positioning a locating ring upon the shank portion of the drill bit subsequent to the re-sharpening of the cutting tip thereof. The apparatus comprises a housing having a pair of cassette trays, a pair of grinding assemblies, a pair of optical assemblies, a pair of primary cleaning assemblies, a pair of secondary cleaning assemblies, a pair of inversion assemblies, a pair of workhead assemblies, a bumping assembly, and a loader assembly attached thereto. The workhead and loader assemblies are used to transport drill bits between the cassette trays and other assemblies in a selected sequence which is controlled and coordinated by a programmable control device. The control device is electrically interfaced to each of the assemblies and allows the cutting tip re-sharpening and locating ring re-positioning processes to be conducted simultaneously on at least two drill bits.

Abstract: A carrier head for chemical mechanical polishing, includes a base, a support structure attached to the base having a surface for contacting a substrate, and a retaining structure attached to the base to prevent the substrate from moving along the surface. The retaining structure and the surface define a cavity for receiving the substrate. A polishing station includes a platen, a vibration damper mounted on the platen and a substrate polishing pad mounted on the vibration damper. The vibration damper includes a material that does not rebound to its original shape when subjected to a deformation.

Abstract: A contour follower includes a plurality of sensors spaced around a waterjet nozzle, each of the sensors being configured to measure a distance between a working surface and a first plane, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The sensors may include hall-effect sensors lying in the first plane and magnets lying in a second plane, parallel to the working surface. A detecting circuit processes signals from the sensors to determine an angle of the working surface, relative to the first plane, and a distance between an aperture of the nozzle and the working surface. A collision detection sensor provides a signal in the event the device approaches to within a selected distance of an obstruction in the plane of the working surface. A shield plate blocks and dampens secondary spray-back of cutting fluid occurring at low angles above the working surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for a pole saw for pruning trees or bushes. The pole saw comprises an elongated stiff tube extending from a drive unit to a remote chain saw head (12) and incorporates a drive shaft (14) connected to an input shaft (15) of a gear (16) arranged in the chain saw head (12). The gear is provided with an output shaft (18) on which a sprocket wheel (20) for driving a saw chain is arranged. A mass body vibration damper (23) is arranged between the gear (16) and the sprocket wheel (20).

Abstract: A grinding machine, which includes a grinding wheel rotatable by a motor, a first slide movable in X-axis direction, a second slide supported on the first slide and movable in Y-direction, a bracket supported on the second slide and turnable about Y-axis, a tool holder supported on the bracket for holding the workpiece for grinding by the grinding wheel, and a driving mechanism for rotating and reciprocating the tool holder.

Abstract: An abrasive article that includes a fixed abrasive element having a plurality of abrasive particles, a resilient element, and a plurality of rigid segments disposed between the fixed abrasive element and the resilient element.

Abstract: A lapping method and apparatus is provided that increases the yield rate in the magnetic head slider manufacturing process. According to the invention, an apparatus for lapping thin film magnetic heads includes a jig block and a lapping plate. The jig block includes a first jig which holds a bar to be lapped, and second jig which holds a member for load sharing. The lapping plate is movable relative to the first jig and the second jig, and is contactable with the surface to be lapped of the bar held by the first jig and the member for load sharing held by the second jig for lapping.

Abstract: The method for making an optical lens according to the present invention is characterized in comprising: a optical lens preform fabrication step of fabricating a optical lens preform which comprises a first curved portion which serves as an optically functioning part and which is on one side, a flat surface portion which is formed on the opposite side to the first curved portion, and paired beveling surfaces which are formed on the both sides of the flat surface portion; a drawing step of drawing a optical lens preform 40 until the optical lens preform 40 has obtained a desired outer diameter; and an optical lens fabrication step of cutting thus drawn optical lens preform and accordingly fabricating an optical lens. With this making method, since there are paired beveling surfaces disposed, it is possible to suppress a drawing-induced distortion.

Abstract: A hand-held dressing device has a blade with a sharpened cutting edge. The blade is preferably V- or U-shaped and permanently or removably supported by the limbs of a Y-shaped body with an extending hand group. The blade may be made from a single piece or form multiple segments with straight or curved cutting edges. The blade of blade segments may be fixed, such as by an adhesive, to a supporting carrier. Guard projections may extend from behind the cutting edge to beyond the cutting edge to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent contact with the blade edge while maintaining effective cutting action. In a method of use, the hair dressing device is manipulated so that the blade partly surrounds a cluster of hair strands and the device is moved to cut at least some of the strands of hair.

Abstract: A powered oscillating hand tool includes a drive unit having an electric motor and a drive shaft; a bearing eccentrically mounted on the drive shaft and located radially eccentrically relative to the drive shaft; a carrier plate mounted on the bearing and a platen for mounting on the carrier plate. The carrier plate is provided with a first engagement means and the platen is provided with second engagement means to engage with the first engagement means by rotation of the platen relative to the carrier plate. The first and second engagement means together comprise a bayonet fitting.

Abstract: A solid waste material comminuting system having a an electric motor for providing rotary motion, a pair of cutter stacks with cutter elements of one stack interleaved with cutter elements of the other, and gear means to transmit the rotary motion of the electric motor to counter-rotate cutter elements of one stack with cutter elements of the other. Each of the cutter stacks comprise comprises a central shaft journaled for rotation and a seal-bearing assembly/module at each end of the central shafts. Each bearing assembly/module comprises an end housing, and a pair of insertable pre-assembled seal-bearing elements/assemblies mountable in each of said end housings. One seal-bearing element/assembly has a thru-hole for journaling a first shaft for rotation and a second seal-bearing element/assembly has a thru-hole for journaling a second shaft for rotation.