Abstract: A marking stylus for use in automated marking systems with one of the following superabrasive components as the scribing tip: polycrystalline diamond or polycrystalline cubic boron nitride. The superabrasive may have one or more chamfers, as well as a sharp, rounded, or blunt tip. The superabrasive is preferably attached to the body of the stylus by one of the following methods: brazing, press fit, shrunk fit, clamped, casted, injection molded, or a high pressure high temperature cycle.

Abstract: A marking stylus for use in automated marking systems with one of the following superabrasive components as the scribing tip: polycrystalline diamond or polycrystalline cubic boron nitride. The superabrasive may have one or more chamfers, as well as a sharp, rounded, or blunt tip. The superabrasive is preferably attached to the body of the stylus by one of the following methods: brazing, press fit, shrunk fit, clamped, casted, injection molded, or a high pressure high temperature cycle.

Abstract: A vacuum cup assembly that generates a local vacuum using a prime mover that may be an electrical motor or a solenoid. The vacuum cup may have one or more ports to remove and vent air between the cup and the atmosphere. The prime mover drives a piston or a flexible membrane, which may be a diaphragm, through one or more reciprocating cycles to generate the local vacuum. The vacuum cup assembly may be used to form a temporary attachment to a work piece, the act on the work piece, such as by moving the work piece, and then release the work piece from the vacuum cup assembly. The vacuum cup assembly disclosed herein is self-contained inasmuch as the assembly may have a power source, such as a battery, located on a housing. This makes its operation quiet and effective.

Abstract: A vacuum cup assembly that generates a local vacuum using a prime mover that may be an electrical motor or a solenoid. The vacuum cup may have one or more ports to remove and vent air between the cup and the atmosphere. The prime mover drives a piston or a flexible membrane, which may be a diaphragm, through one or more reciprocating cycles to generate the local vacuum. The vacuum cup assembly may be used to form a temporary attachment to a work piece, the act on the work piece, such as by moving the work piece, and then release the work piece from the vacuum cup assembly. The vacuum cup assembly disclosed herein is self-contained inasmuch as the assembly may have a power source, such as a battery, located on a housing. This makes its operation quiet and effective.

Abstract: A vacuum cup assembly that generates a local vacuum using a prime mover that may be an electrical motor or a solenoid. The vacuum cup may have one or more ports to remove and vent air between the cup and the atmosphere. The prime mover drives a piston or a flexible membrane, which may be a diaphragm, through one or more reciprocating cycles to generate the local vacuum. The vacuum cup assembly may be used to form a temporary attachment to a work piece, the act on the work piece, such as by moving the work piece, and then release the work piece from the vacuum cup assembly. The vacuum cup assembly disclosed herein is self-contained inasmuch as the assembly may have a power source, such as a battery, located on a housing. This makes its operation quiet and effective.

Abstract: A method of producing incorporated marks into thermoplastics and the apparatus resulting from the method. The marking material may be applied as a coating via a number of techniques, and then incorporated into the plastic via a variety of heat sources, including a laser. The incorporated coating components may have features such as color that contrasts with the color of the surrounding substrate surface material, and/or may contain environmental indicators or tracer materials. A laser may be used to heat the coating and cause the plastic structure's surface to soften, thereby permitting the components of the coating to become physically encompassed in the plastic. Surrounding coating and/or plastic may be removed using a stronger laser or other energy-application apparatus.

Abstract: A marking stylus for use in automated marking systems with one of the following superabrasive components as the scribing tip: polycrystalline diamond or polycrystalline cubic boron nitride. The superabrasive may have one or more chamfers, as well as a sharp, rounded, or blunt tip. The superabrasive is preferably attached to the body of the stylus by one of the following methods: brazing, press fit, shrunk fit, clamped, casted, injection molded, or a high pressure high temperature cycle.

Abstract: A method of making a polycrystalline diamond compact includes mixing a diamond particle feed with a binder to form a mixture, forming the mixture into a precompact, heating the pre-compact in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to substantially drive off the binder, oxidizing the pre-compact in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature and for a time sufficient to burn off non-diamond carbon without overoxidizing diamond, and sintering the pre-compact at high pressure and high temperature to form a polycrystalline diamond compact. The method may also include oxidizing the diamond particle feed prior to mixing with the binder.

Abstract: A vacuum cup assembly that generates a local vacuum using a prime mover that may be an electrical motor or a solenoid. The vacuum cup may have one or more ports to remove and vent air between the cup and the atmosphere. The prime mover drives a piston or a flexible membrane, which may be a diaphragm, through one or more reciprocating cycles to generate the local vacuum. The vacuum cup assembly may be used to form a temporary attachment to a work piece, the act on the work piece, such as by moving the work piece, and then release the work piece from the vacuum cup assembly. The vacuum cup assembly disclosed herein is self-contained inasmuch as the assembly may have a power source, such as a battery, located on a housing. This makes its operation quiet and effective.

Abstract: A superabrasive compact and a method of making the superabrasive compact are disclosed. A superabrasive compact may comprise a superabrasive volume comprising about 60 to about 99.5 weight % superabrasive particles, about 0.5 to 40 weight % catalysts. The catalyst comprises a non-transitional metal atom.