Abstract: Abrasive jet stream cutting, wherein an abrasive is suspended in a flowable jet medium (64) and projected at high velocity and pressure (75) at a workpiece (76) is substantially improved by forming the medium of a polymer having reformable sacrificial chemical bonds which are preferentially broken under high shear conditions. Projecting the medium and suspended abrasive breaks the reformable sacrificial chemical bonds while cutting. The chemical bonds will reform, permitting recycling of the medium and abrasive for reuse in the method. The jet is effective at pressures of about 14 to 80 MPa.

Abstract: A stylus probe with both a contact sensing and a capacitive proximity sensing capability provided by positioning a capacitive sensor means (10) on the tip-end of a grounded, thin conductive stainless steel tube (12) so that the capacitive sensor means (10) is electrically insulated from the grounded tube, and a conductive lead wire (16), conductively attached to the capacitive sensor means (10), extends through the tube (12) with an electrically insulative material (18) dispersed between the tube (12) and the lead wire (16) to electrically insulate and space the lead wire (16) from the tube (12). The connecting-end of the tube (12) has an elastomer material (20) and (22) placed in an annular fashion and in direct contact with a mounting means and the tube (12) so as to dampen vibrations of the tube (12) caused by probe deflection. The stylus probe further comprises a tubular member with a length:width ratio of from about 40:1 to about 300:1 to give up to a 45.degree.

Abstract: An abrasive flow machining and polishing apparatus is provided having a hydraulically actuated reciprocating piston (42) and a extrusion medium chamber (10) adapted to receive and extrude a visco-elastic dispersion of an abrasive unidirectionally across the internal surfaces of a workpiece (40) having internal passages (41) formed therein to perform abrasive work on said surfaces. A fixture (24) directs flow of the viscoelastic abrasive dispersion from said hydraulic extrusion medium chamber (10) into the inlet of internal passages (41) in a workpiece (40), while a collector (30) is set to gravitrimetrically collect flow of the viscoelastic abrasive dispersion as it extrudes from an outlet of the internal passages and drops into the collector. The extrusion medium chamber (10) is provided with an access port (16) to periodically receive gravimetric return flow of the viscoelastic abrasive dispersion from the collector (30) into extrusion medium chamber (10).

Abstract: Friction welding is preformed by linear or non-rotating orbital motion in which both parts to be joined by friction welding are moved in identical paths, out of phase to produce friction until welding temperature is attained, and then in phase, with the parts registered in alignment, during the bonding phase. Because the registered, in phase control of the mechanism is attainable with great certainty and rapidity, friction welding with a far higher precision and accuracy of alignment is attained. The high precision and accuracy of the technique permits application of friction welding to fabrication of parts, such as turbine engines, not usually made by such techniques. A preferred apparatus for practice of the invention involves an opposed pair of orbital tables (110 and 120), on which parts to be joined are mounted and fixed in place by mounts 113 and 123).

Abstract: A method for chemical milling a workpiece utilizing a chemical milling fluid that is passivating to the workpiece, wherein the tool is provided with an abrasive surface, and said tool and workpiece are brought together with a contacting relative motion so that said abrasive surface will selectively abrade the workpiece to remove any passivation layer therefrom in those areas to be machined and such that the unabraded surface areas will retain the passivation layer to prevent chemical milling thereof, and a reciprocal motion between the tool and workpiece is also effected to pump the chemical milling fluid through the gap between the tool and workpiece and prevent reduction of the milling rate of the milling fluid.

Abstract: High frequency vibrational polishing without substantial loss of fine resolution and detail is provided by employing a tool of a more ultrasonically abradable material than the workpiece, as the oscillating driver of a liquid abrasive slurry. The total is preferentially eroded and conforms to the pattern of the workpiece continuously self-dressing during polishing.

Abstract: The surface parameters and characteristics of a conductive workpiece are determined by applying a voltage between the workpiece and a capacitance probe having proximity sensing capabilities, and moving the probe in two or three co-ordinate axes relative to the workpiece while measuring the capacitance between the probe and workpiece, and controlling the probe velocity and/or direction within a stand-off band adjacent to the workpiece as a function of the capacitance value measured for purposes of effecting significant real time process controls, and determining the workpiece surface parameters as a function of the probe movement and capacitance measured.

Abstract: A workpiece surface is worked by placing a displacer member adjacent thereto sufficient to create a closed chamber therebetween into which a visco-elastic abrasive medium is deposited. A relative motion is then created between the workpiece and displacer causing the visco-elastic abrasive medium to move about within said chamber sufficient to have a translational movement along the surface of the workpiece thereby working the workpiece surface.

Abstract: A method for electrochemical machining a workpiece utilizing an electrolyte that is passivating to the workpiece, wherein the conductive tool is provided with a nonconductive abrasive surface, and said tool and workpiece are brought together with a contacting relative motion so that said abrasive surface will selectively abrade the workpiece to remove any passivation layer therefrom in those areas to be machined and such that the unabraded surface areas will retain the passivation layer to prevent electrochemical machining thereof, and a reciprocally motion between the tool and workpiece is also effected to pump the electrolyte through the gap between the tool and workpiece and prevent it from becoming over-heated.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a sheet material by drawing it into a die cavity (12) utilizing the flow of a viscous thermoplastic polymer medium extruded against the sheet (22) and/or extruded out of said die cavity (12) through a plurality of passageways, (14a), (14b), and (14c) and programmably varying said extrusion of said medium to cause the sheet material to be controllably stretched into the cavity and shaped.

Abstract: An apparatus for abrading a workpiece surface by extruding a flowable plastic abrading medium through a passageway which includes said workpiece surface. The apparatus utilizes at least three chambers for feeding and receiving said medium whereby at least two of said chambers operate at differential parameters to effect differential abrasion on different surfaces of said workpiece.

Abstract: unidirectional abrasive flow machining is achieved by a pair of extrusion chambers, whereby a first workpiece is fixtured to a first of said chambers and an abrasive medium is extruded from the first chamber through the first workpiece, and upon exiting the first workpiece, is allowed to fall into and be collected within the second chamber. Thereafter, the first workpiece is removed and a second workpiece is fixtured to the second chamber so that the abrasive medium collected therein is extruded through the second workpiece and upon exiting the second workpiece, is allowed to fall into and be collected within the first chamber.

Abstract: Fluid flow through orifices, particularly where flow rates are to be controlled or metered, is improved by employing abrasive flow machining to achieve a target flow resistance in the orifice.

Abstract: An apparatus for abrading a workpiece surface by extruding a flowable plastic abrading medium through a passageway which includes said workpiece surface. The apparatus utilizes at least three chambers for feeding and receiving said medium whereby at least two of said chambers operate at differential parameters to effect differential abrasion on different surfaces of said workpiece.

Abstract: A method of processing an orifice in a structure to attain a precise predetermined flow resistance through said orifice. Undersized orifices are machined by either electrochemical, chemical or electric discharge machining, while oversized orifices are electroplated, electroless plated or vapor deposition coated, such that the processing fluid, i.e. the electrolyte, corrosive fluid, dielectric or carrier gas as used in the machining, plating or coating process is passed through said orifice during said processing at a predetermined fixed pressure while measuring the dynamic flow resistance of said processing fluid through said orifice until said dynamic flow resistance is equal to that desired.

Abstract: The present invention is based upon the performance of abrasive flow machining through pump casings and, more particularly, through volute casings whereby the internal surface friction of the casing is substantially reduced to consistently effect a minimal internal friction, operation after operation, and whereby the industry standards for internal friction values for pumps may be established.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing and quantifying the conformity of a workpiece surface contour to a predetermined design contour. The sensor consists of an array of capacitor elements on a surface having the negative image of the predetermined design contour, against which the workpiece is mated. In operation, each of the capacitor elements and the workpiece are connected to a corresponding oscillator circuit so that the frequency of each circuit is a function of the capacitance between the individual plate element and the workpiece, while the capacitance is a function of the distance between the individual plate element and the workpiece. Hence the overall output of the circuits is a function of the conformity of the workpiece surface contour to the contour or topology of the sensor surface.

Abstract: An orbital table assembly having a top plate which can be made to orbit or translate in a path without rotating, and having a fixed base plate under said top plate and a linkage plate between the two other plates, while an orbiting cam secured to the top plate imparts orbital motion thereto. A first set of arms is provided to secure the linkage plate to the base plate to prevent rotation of the linkage plate while permitting linear lateral movement in one direction only, and a second set of arms is provided secured to secure the top plate to said linkage plate to prevent rotation of said top plate while permitting linear lateral movement in a single direction perpendicular to the aforesaid direction.

Abstract: An arrangement for a tactile sensing system involved in the determination of object shape, contour, orientation and detection of slip finding one use in real time control of robotically manipulated tools. The sensor uses contact between the object and a gripper upon which the sensor is disposed wherein the object surface forms one plate of the sensing electrode.

Abstract: An EDM apparatus for high speed machining of a workpiece and redressing of a graphite electrode by an ultrasonic machining tool or a total form machining tool. When the electrode becomes worn the workpiece clamped on a table (1) is shifted away by a slideway mechanism (4) so that a master on another table (2) confronts the worn electrode. The electrode is then redressed and the workpiece is slid back into position by the slideway mechanism (4) for more machining by the redressed electrode.