Abstract: A process for preparing the cutting edge of a cutting tool having a rake face and a clearance face. The process comprises the elimination of material from the cutting edge by providing a series of rapidly recurring electrical spark discharges in a gap located between the tool edge and a counterface. The spark discharges vaporize and melt the tool edge to form a desired radius.

Abstract: A processor generating a histogram of a set of data values receives a data value, and sets a corresponding register in each of two sets of registers based respectively on a decoded value represented by bits in a first and second set of positions in the received data value. The processor then simultaneously increments/updates each of multiple frequency counters (specifying frequency of occurrence of respective data values/ranges) by a value of a corresponding register in one of the two sets of registers if a value of a corresponding register in the other one of the two sets of registers is set. As a result, histogram generation is made efficient and fast. In an embodiment, 32 frequency counters are updated in 16 operations.

Abstract: A process for preparing the cutting edge of a cutting tool having a rake face and a clearance face. The process comprises the elimination of material from the cutting edge by providing a series of rapidly recurring electrical spark discharges in a gap located between the tool edge and a counterface. The spark discharges vaporize and melt the tool edge to form a desired radius.

Abstract: The in-process or post-machining detection of intermediate and macro-level surface porosity in machined castings in a machine tool environment.

Abstract: A method of wire electrical discharge machining comprising applying a pulsed voltage between a tool electrode and a workpiece which are physically separated by a working gap, the tool electrode being in the form of a wire with an electrically conductive core and an external surface embedded with an electrically non-conductive abrasive material.

Abstract: A method of assessing the surface roughness of an object includes directing gas supplied at a constant pressure through a control orifice and subsequently to a measurement nozzle adjacent to and spaced from a surface of the object, with subsequent escape of the gas to the atmosphere. The object is moved past the measurement nozzle and the resultant back pressure of the gas upstream of the measurement nozzle and downstream of the control nozzle is measured to provide a back pressure signal. The frequency content of the back pressure signal is examined to thereby obtain an assessment of the surface roughness of the object.

Abstract: A processor generating a histogram of a set of data values receives a data value, and sets a corresponding register in each of two sets of registers based respectively on a decoded value represented by bits in a first and second set of positions in the received data value. The processor then simultaneously increments/updates each of multiple frequency counters (specifying frequency of occurrence of respective data values/ranges) by a value of a corresponding register in one of the two sets of registers if a value of a corresponding register in the other one of the two sets of registers is set. As a result, histogram generation is made efficient and fast. In an embodiment, 32 frequency counters are updated in 16 operations.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for depositing a corrosion resistant weld clad material upon a cylindrical surface of a workpiece such as the internal cylindrical conduit of a valve body (10). The apparatus includes a turntable (12) having a rotating platform (24) which is adapted for supporting the valve body for rotation about the cylindrical axis of its internal conduit (14). The platform (24) can be tilted from a horizontal position through to a vertical position such that the central axis of the valve body conduit connected thereto can be angled between 30 and 60 degrees. A wire-fed, gas-shielded welding torch (16) is supported adjacent to the cylindrical surface of the conduit (14) to be coated such that as the valve body (10) is rotated by the turntable (12), weld material (82) is deposited circumferentially about the surface of the conduit.