Abstract: A joint is formed in a stack of at least two sheets of light metal alloy, using a self-piercing rivet that is fully hollow. The rivet is coated at least along a portion of its bore by a lubricant and pierces the upper surface thereof and such that the shank deforms outwardly to interlock with the material but without penetration to the die side of the material. The outside diameter of the shank of the rivet is 5.4 mm or less. The die has a volume that is less than 60% or 70% of the effective solid volume of the rivet.

Abstract: In a forming apparatus, stationary journal dies (10U, 10B) and movable journal dies (11U, 11B) each hold and retain rough journal portions (Ja) of a preform blank (4) therebetween, and crank pin dies (12) contacts rough crank pin portions (Pa) thereof, and in this state, the movable journal dies (11U, 11B) are moved axially toward the stationary journal dies (10U, 10B) and the crank pin dies (12) are moved in the same axial direction and in an eccentric direction. With this, weighted rough arm portions (Aa) are axially compressed to reduce their thickness to that of weighted arms of a forged crankshaft, and the rough crank pin portions (Pa) are pressed in the eccentric direction to increase the amount of eccentricity to that of the crank pins of the forged crankshaft.

Abstract: In a forming apparatus, movable journal dies and stationary journal dies hold and retain rough journal portions of a preform blank therebetween, and movable crank pin dies contact rough crank pin portions thereof, and in this state, the movable journal dies and the movable crank pin dies are moved axially toward the stationary journal dies and the movable crank pin dies are moved in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction. With this, rough arm portions are axially compressed to reduce their thickness to that of arms of a forged crankshaft, and the rough crank pin portions are pressed in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction to increase an amount of eccentricity to that of the crank pins of the forged crankshaft.

Abstract: In a featured embodiment, a lost core assembly includes a ceramic component having a tapered shape in a radial direction. A refractory metal component extends radially from the ceramic core component. A method of molding a gas turbine engine component is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multiple pressure casting mold includes a mold part having upper and lower molds, each having molten metal injection ports and the molded product accommodating parts for accommodating the molten metal for the molded product, a rotating unit for rotating the mold part so as to allow the molten metal injected through the molten metal injection ports to flow into the molded product accommodating parts, and a molten metal injection control unit having upper and lower pressing parts for pressing the molten metal injected through the molten metal injection ports so as to allow the molten metal to flow into the molded product accommodating parts with the rotating unit.

Abstract: A method is provided for casting an article such as a blade having an attachment root and an airfoil, the airfoil having a proximal end and a distal end. The method includes introducing a molten alloy into a mold. A composition of the introduced alloy is varied during the introduction so as to produce a compositional variation.

Abstract: A system for fabricating an object includes an extruder for one or more deposition materials. The extruder has at least one nozzle with a nozzle tip that includes an exit orifice and has a width that is equal to or larger than a width of the exit orifice. The system also includes a controller coupled with the extruder, the controller configured to apply a correction factor that has been calculated for a path of the nozzle based on a slope of a surface of an object to be fabricated. The correction factor for a positive slope is different from that for a negative slope. The extruder is configured to cause movement of the nozzle along the path to deposit material on the slope of the surface of the object, and the correction factor removes differences in thickness of the deposited material caused by the slope in relation to the path.

Abstract: A method includes providing a metallic first powder having a plurality of first particles with a first mean particle diameter. A second powder added to the first powder has a plurality of second particles with a second mean particle diameter less than the first mean particle diameter. Energy is applied to at least the second powder so as to selectively heat the second particles. The first powder is combined with the heated second powder to form a modified powder including modified powder particles. Modified powder particles have an interior portion containing an interior composition, and an outer surface portion with an outer composition different from the interior composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of forming sections of seamless titanium or titanium alloy pipe. The method involves providing a substrate for forming pipe and a sleeve of a section of pipe on the substrate. The pipe section has an end from which the substrate projects. The pipe is formed by spraying particles of titanium or titanium alloy generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the substrate to impact a face of the end and to cause particles to bond to and to accumulate on the pipe end to form pipe. The method further involves moving formed pipe longitudinally relative to the substrate to remove formed pipe from the pipe-forming substrate and continuing to spray titanium or titanium alloy particles onto the end face to cause further pipe to form continuously and integrally with the formed pipe. This enables a seamless titanium or titanium alloy pipe to be formed of any desired length.

Abstract: A machine tool cuts a workpiece having an inclined or curved surface and includes a main spindle that holds and rotates the workpiece, a moving device that moves a cutting tool relative to the workpiece in a direction obtained by combining a Z direction parallel or substantially parallel with the axis of the main spindle, an X direction that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the Z direction and determines the amount of cutting of the workpiece, and a Y direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the Z direction and the X direction, and an angle setting mechanism that causes the direction of an edge of the cutting tool to match the inclined surface of the workpiece by inclining the direction of the edge with respect to the Z direction when seen from the Y direction in a state in which the direction of the edge is inclined with respect to the Z direction when seen from the X direction.

Abstract: A cutting insert includes a body having three vertices, an upper face, a lower face, and six planar flank faces perpendicular to and joining the upper and lower faces. A cutting edge is formed at an intersection between the upper and lower faces and each of the planar flank faces. A triangular-shaped island surrounds a central axis, A, of the cutting insert and is higher in elevation than the upper and lower faces. A tool holder includes a tool holder body having a generally triangular-shaped insert-receiving pocket with a triangular-shaped recess that is substantially identical in shape to the triangular-shaped island of the cutting insert that interacts with the island to properly locate and prevent rotation of the cutting insert when mounted in the tool holder.

Abstract: In a cutting tool having an indexable cutting insert with three cutting portions, the cutting insert is removably securable to an insert holder by means of a fastener. The cutting insert has two opposing end surfaces with a peripheral side surface extending therebetween. At least one end surface has a central boss protruding therefrom with a raised support surface, and the peripheral side surface has three abutment recesses. In an end view of the cutting insert, each of the three abutment recesses is visible and located inside a first imaginary circle circumscribing the visible central boss. A holding portion of the insert holder has a seating surface with at least one protuberance protruding therefrom. The support surface is in clamping contact with the seating surface, and exactly two of the three abutment recesses are engaged with the at least one protuberance.

Abstract: A chuck includes a chuck body extending along a longitudinal axis, the chuck body including a plurality of slots each arranged at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. A plurality of jaws each includes a first engagement portion, a jaw end, and a drive end. Each of the jaws is disposed within one of the plurality of slots and is movable between a close position and an open position. A biasing member is coupled to the plurality of jaws and is operable to bias the plurality of jaws toward the close position and a rotating assembly is selectively engageable with the plurality of jaws such that when engaged, the plurality of jaws are movable in response to rotation of the rotating assembly.

Abstract: A drilling method for forming a plurality of through-holes in a plate member includes: a first step of fixing at least one jig, which has a clearance hole, on a bed of a machine tool; a second step of placing the plate member on the at least one jig and fixing the plate member on the bed; a third step of operating the machine tool so that a leading end portion of a drilling tool of the machine tool is inserted into the clearance hole, and forming a first through-hole at a position of the plate member corresponding to the clearance hole; a fourth step of passing a fixing member through the first through-hole, and fixing the plate member on the at least one jig using the fixing member; and a fifth step of operating the machine tool to form a second through-hole other than the first through-hole.

Abstract: A rotary boring tool with detachable inserts, including a rotating insert carrier body including cartridges holding detachable cutting inserts configured to machine a cylinder barrel by axial movement of the tool in the barrel, and including a first cutting insert configured to rough-cut grooves in the material to be machined, a second insert configured to finish the grooves roughly cut by the first insert, and a third levelling insert configured to level rough material generated by the first two inserts.

Abstract: A drill configured for drilling ductile materials includes a drill margin with a margin extremity adjacent to a relief surface. The drill includes a drill body and a drill head secured to the drill body via rotational coupling of the drill head on the drill body.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cutting tools and cutting inserts in general, and more particularly to the specific shapes of cutting edges on cutting tools and cutting inserts. In an embodiment, a cutting tool with a cutting edge formed as a sinusoidal curve is provided. In an embodiment, a rotary drill bit including a cutting insert comprising a sinusoidal curve is provided.

Abstract: A vacuum drilling system and methods is provided that may utilize both a through tool coolant supply as well as a central vacuum extraction system. The system may include a cutting head provided on a hollow tube and a vacuum source to apply vacuum pressure to the area of the cutting head via one or more chip inlets arranged proximate to the cutting head. Sealed coolant containment channels supply coolant to the area of the cutting head.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include portable milling tools and methods for milling components. In an embodiment, a portable milling tool can be provided for a component including a plurality of dovetail slots therein, each of the plurality of dovetail slots being oriented substantially axially relative to a rotation axis of the component. The portable milling tool can include: a mounting plate configured to engage the component; a tool-aligning member slidably coupled to the mounting plate and extending along a chordal axis relative to the rotation axis of the component; and a milling head extending axially from the tool-aligning member to a selected one of the plurality of dovetail slots, such that sliding movement of the tool-aligning member relative to the mounting plate moves the milling head along the chordal axis to contact a selected one of the plurality of dovetail slots.

Abstract: A machining apparatus capable of performing chamfering with high precision is provided. A machining unit 13 is provided at a distal end portion 12a of an arm 12 of an articulated robot 11, and the machining unit 13 includes a profiling roller 57, which serves as a roller that abuts against a part to be profiled Wd of a workpiece W, and a rotatable tool 41 having an axis line 41a having a distance between the rotatable tool 41 and the profiling roller 57 in conformity with a width of the workpiece W (width of a band-like portion Wc) and extending in parallel with an axis line 57a corresponding to a support axis of the profiling roller 57, and the rotatable tool 41 includes cutting blades 41b or blade portions 73 and 73 as chamfering blades.

Abstract: A tool holder has a tool body with at least one pocket for receiving at least one cutting insert. The at least one pocket has a support surface and an abutment surface transverse thereto, and a first stress relief surface located between the support surface and the abutment surface. The first stress relief surface extends along a first axis towards a first pocket peripheral surface. A second stress relief surface is formed between the first stress relief surface and the first pocket peripheral surface. The second stress relief surface has a convex shape in a cross-sectional view taken in a second plane containing the first axis. The convex shape may have a radius greater than 0.3 mm.

Abstract: A cutting insert according to an embodiment of the present invention has an upper surface, a lower surface, a side surface connected to each of the upper surface and the lower surface, and a cutting edge located along an intersection of the upper surface and the side surface. The upper surface has a land surface disposed along the cutting edge, a rake surface which is located further inside than the land surface and is inclined so as to have a smaller height as departing from the land surface, and a bottom surface located further inside than the rake surface. The rake surface has a projection-shaped first region and a concave-shaped second region which are alternately disposed along the bottom surface. The first region has a first recess that reaches the second region adjacent to the first region.

Abstract: A cutting insert according to one embodiment includes upper and lower surfaces, a side surface including a front side surface, a rear side surface, and a pair of horizontal side surfaces, a first cutting edge, a second cutting edge, and a through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface. An opening of the through hole on a side of the upper surface is provided closer to a ridge line where the upper surface and the front side surface intersect each other than a ridge line where the upper surface and the rear side surface intersect each other. An opening of the through hole on a side of the lower surface is provided closer to a ridge line where the lower surface and the rear side surface intersect each other than a ridge line where the lower surface and the front side surface intersect each other.

Abstract: A broach tool includes a broach tool rake face with a tailored surface topography.

Abstract: Embodiments of a power saw are disclosed which comprise a base structure including a generally flat top having an upper work surface with the top having an opening through which a circular blade can extend, a relatively narrow box-like undercarriage pivotably mounted to the base around a pivot axis to provide an adjustable bevel angle of the blade relative to the top, and a motor saw assembly comprising an arbor shaft for mounting a circular blade thereon, a drive motor having an output shaft extending generally parallel to the plane of the blade, the output shaft being oriented 90 degrees relative to the arbor shaft, a speed reducing gear train interconnecting the output shaft and the arbor shaft, a gear housing enclosing the gear train, the motor saw assembly being adjustably mounted to the undercarriage to vary the portion of the blade that extends above the upper work surface.

Abstract: A device for sharpening the cutting teeth of a chain saw includes a frame having an upper web and first and second side walls, and an open area defining a sharpening area. The device further includes at least one clamping member operable with at least one of the first and second sidewalls of the frame for securing the frame to the guide bar of the chain saw. The device still further includes a second clamping member movably supported about the frame, which operates to engage a chain saw tooth of a chain and to fix its position within the sharpening area. The second clamping member includes a tooth stop for adjusting the position of the chain saw tooth within the sharpening area. The tooth stop includes a pawl support block and a pawl having at least one working portion engageable with the chain at different positions along a lateral axis of the pawl support block to provide clearance for a sharpening tool within the sharpening area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a soldering tip fastening sleeve (3) comprising a soldering device fastening portion (7) and a soldering tip fastening portion (6). The soldering device fastening portion (7) has an internal measurement (15) and an external measurement. Also the soldering tip fastening portion (6) has an internal measurement (16) and an external measurement (14) as well as a collar holder (10). The soldering tip fastening portion (6) and the soldering device fastening portion (7) are associated with different ends of the soldering tip fastening sleeve (3). The soldering tip fastening sleeve (3) according to the present invention is characterized in that the collar holder (10) is provided on a first subsector (17) of a circumference of the soldering tip fastening sleeve (3). The present invention also relates to a soldering tip (2) comprising a soldering portion (4) and a fastening portion (5).

Abstract: A chuck device capable of efficiently changing a welding tip and nozzle. The chuck device includes a rotatable chuck base, an engagement part fixed to the chuck base so as to rotate integrally with the chuck base and can engage an engagement surface of the welding tip, the engagement part allowing the welding tip to rotate with the chuck base when the chuck base is rotated while engaged with the engagement surface, and a plurality of fingers provided to the chuck base to be openable and closable and can hold the welding tip and the nozzle, the plurality of fingers being capable of moving in directions approaching and separating from the engagement part.

Abstract: An economical capacitor-type welding device and capacitor-type welding method that have a small power loss, that can be made compact, and that reliably control a charging circuit without being affected by the inductance of a charging path. In an exemplary capacitor-type welding device and an exemplary capacitor-type welding method of the invention, a bypass switching element having a forward-blocking function is connected in parallel to output terminals of a charging circuit, and the bypass switching element is brought into a conduction state to allow a backflow current, which is caused to flow by a magnetic energy stored in the inductance of a primary winding or an inductor included in the charging path, to bypass the charging circuit. A discharge switching element is brought into a conduction state after the bypass switching element enters the non-conduction state and recovers the forward-blocking function.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electronic device using ultrasonic joining, when the component members of the electronic device includes different structures. The method includes obtaining a joining condition that provides press-down amounts for the materials to be joined at predetermined values. The press-down amount generated by a horn and a supporting member biting into the materials during ultrasonic joining is predetermined for each specific structure of the component member of the electronic device.

Abstract: A friction stir welding method for steel sheets includes inserting a rotating tool into an unwelded portion where two or more steel sheets are overlapped or butted together; moving the rotating tool along portions to be welded while rotating the tool so that a softened portion is formed in the steel sheets by friction heat generated between the rotating tool and the steel sheets, and the steel sheets are welded together by utilizing a plastic flow generated by the softened portion being stirred; and preheating the unwelded portion before welding by the rotating tool by a pair of heating devices disposed over and under the unwelded portion and ahead of the rotating tool in the advancing direction to enable high speed welding without the risk of generation of welding defects and damage to the welding tool.

Abstract: A method of producing a spiral cut transparent tube using laser machining includes using an ultrafast laser beam comprising a burst of laser pulses and focusing the laser beam on the transparent tube to enable relative movement between the laser beam and the transparent tube by moving the laser beam, the glass tube or both the laser beam and the glass tube. A beam waist is formed external to the surface of the transparent tube wherein the laser pulses and sufficient energy density is maintained within the transparent tube to form a continuous laser filament therethrough without causing optical breakdown. The method and delivery system makes a spiral cut in the transparent tube.

Abstract: Provided is a laser beam welding apparatus capable of correctly detecting the beginning and the end of one welding point even in remote laser beam welding. The laser beam welding apparatus includes a head which irradiates a workpiece with a laser beam, an optical receiver which receives a reflected light of the laser beam from the workpiece, and a controller. The optical receiver receives only a laser beam and a plasma of the reflected light. The controller determines that one welding point begins when a time during which intensity of the reflected light is larger than or equal to a second set-intensity is longer than or equal to a first set-time, and determines that the one welding point ends when a time during which the intensity of the reflected light is smaller than or equal to a first set-intensity is longer than or equal to a second set-time.

Abstract: An optical system head of the laser processing machine includes a focusing optical system configured to deflect and condense an incident laser beam so that a target object to be processed is irradiated and a deflecting direction adjusting unit configured to adjust the direction of deflection of the laser beams about at least two axes perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each other. A nozzle holding head of the laser processing machine includes a cutting nozzle configured to blow a cutting gas at a site of the target object, at which the laser beam is irradiated, and a nozzle position adjusting unit configured to adjust the position of the cutting nozzle in a top plane parallel or substantially parallel to the target object. The optical system head and the nozzle holding head are separately supported by an optical system nozzle support member configured to selectively advance or retract in three axis directions relative to the target object.

Abstract: A laser cutting device, including a laser beam generation unit emitting a laser beam; an optical system on a traveling path of the laser beam; a laser main body providing a passage through which the laser beam travels towards a substrate after passing through the optical system; a suction unit coupled to a header of the laser main body and sucking impurities, the suction unit including a curved surface therein; and a collection unit connected to the suction unit and collecting discharged impurities, the impurities being discharged to the collection unit along the curved surface inside the suction unit.

Abstract: A laser welding apparatus generates laser by a laser oscillator, converges the laser by a condenser lens, and applies the laser to an upper sheet and a lower sheet superposed together so as to weld the upper sheet and the lower sheet to each other. According to this apparatus, by laser irradiation, a melt pool Y is formed in the upper sheet and the lower sheet superposed together. Furthermore, by laser irradiation, the melt pool Y is caused to flow, and the upper sheet and the lower sheet are welded together.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithium secondary battery, and more specifically to a lithium secondary battery having a multi-directional lead-tab structure. The lithium secondary battery of the present invention includes: an electrode assembly which is formed by alternately laminating an electrode plate having a current collector, an active material, and a tab, and an isolation layer; a lead which is electrically connected to the tab; and a battery case, wherein the lead is divided into an anode lead and a cathode lead, and at least two or more anode leads and cathode leads are provided. The battery of the present invention uses the same lead-tab size as the prior art and is suitable for use with high current.

Abstract: A method of forming an earth-boring tool includes forming a tool body including at least one inverted cutting element pocket, at least a portion of the at least one inverted cutting element pocket having a profile substantially matching a profile of an actual cutting element to be secured within a cutting element pocket to be formed by subsequently machining the at least one inverted cutting element pocket. Hardfacing material may be applied to portions of the tool body. The actual cutting element pocket is formed by removing material of the tool body within the at least one inverted cutting element pocket subsequent to applying the hardfacing material to portions of the tool body. A cutting element is affixed within the actual cutting element pocket.

Abstract: Method of trimming weld flash from a weld joint formed between a first component and a second component. The method provides a rotary shear tool having a rotary blade and a second blade. The second blade may be a fixed blade. The method further includes shearing the weld flash from the weld joint by passing the weld flash between the rotary blade and second blade of the rotary shear tool. Also provides a rotary shear tool for trimming weld flash from a weld joint formed between a first component and a second component. The rotary shear tool includes: a rotary blade; a second blade; and a mounting portion for mounting the rotary shear tool on a robotic arm.

Abstract: A method for repairing a component is provided, where the component has a substrate comprising an outer surface and an inner surface and defining one or more grooves. Each groove extends at least partially along the outer surface of the substrate. The component further includes a structural coating, a bond coating, and a thermal barrier coating. The groove(s) and the structural coating define one or more channels for cooling the component. The repair method includes removing the thermal barrier and bond coatings, removing at least a portion of the structural coating in a vicinity of a damaged portion of the component, performing a repair operation on the damaged portion of the component, applying a structural coating at least in a vicinity of the repaired portion of the component, and applying a bond coating and a thermal barrier coating. Additional repair methods are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a large transmission gearwheel (1; 31; 36) consisting of a plurality of individual components, said process comprising the successive steps of: providing the individual components, which include at least one hub (2; 32; 37), a disc wheel (3, 4; 18, 19; 22; 24; 27; 33, 34; 38, 39) and a toothed ring (5; 20; 21; 23; 26; 35; 40) produced from case-hardened steel; at least partially mechanically soft machining the individual components; joining the individual components using a beam welding process; case hardening the individual components which have been joined to one another, and hard machining at least the toothed ring (5; 20; 21; 23; 26; 35; 40). The invention furthermore relates to a large transmission gearwheel produced by such a process.

Abstract: A chip conveyor which discharges chips produced by a machine tool from the inside of a splash guard is provided inside the splash guard that prevents the chips from being scattered. A chip carrying unit of the chip conveyor is attached to the splash guard so as to be movable with respect to the splash guard in the up and down direction. Accordingly, even when the chips are stuck between the chip carrying unit and the splash guard, the chip carrying unit automatically moves, and hence the chip stuck state may be resolved.

Abstract: A dust collection system includes a drill that includes an arbor and a hole saw. A vacuum is provided that includes a hose. A bellows is provided and the bellows may be positioned against a surface. The drill is extended into the bellows to cut a hole in the surface. The bellows surrounds the hole saw to contain dust created when the hole saw cuts the hole. The hose of the vacuum is fluidly coupled to the bellows. Thus, the vacuum sucks the dust out of the bellows.

Abstract: A method is proposed for operating at least one hand-held power tool, in which a data processing device, realized separately from the hand-held power tool, processes at least one application quantity, in particular a vibration quantity, with respect to a user.

Abstract: A controller for controlling a synchronized operation of spindle and feed axes. A spindle-axis control section includes an initial-motion control section for making a spindle axis perform an accelerated rotation at maximum capacity from a process start position; a maximum-acceleration detecting section for detecting a maximum acceleration of the spindle axis; a residual rotation-amount detecting section for detecting a residual rotation amount of the spindle axis; a current-speed detecting section for detecting a current speed of the spindle axis; a decelerating-motion control section for making the spindle axis perform a decelerated rotation at a gradually increasing deceleration so as to reach an intermediate rotation speed after the accelerated rotation; and a positioning-motion control section for making the spindle axis perform a decelerated rotation at maximum capacity so as to reach the target thread depth after reaching the intermediate rotation speed.

Abstract: In order to provide a tool changer that can detect an entry of a foreign substance into a turret mechanism portion or wear of a turret mechanism part, a tool changer of the present invention includes a reference phase false detection sensing portion that monitors load variations which occur in a turret drive source and detects an entry of a foreign substance into the turret mechanism portion based on a difference between the load variations and a reference load used as a reference. Moreover, the reference phase false detection sensing portion can also detect the progress of wear of the turret mechanism part based on the integral of the absolute value of a difference between the load variations which occur in the turret drive source and the reference load used as a reference.

Abstract: The wear status of a micro-endmill tool may be inferred by monitoring the chip production rate of the tool in operation. Chips may be extracted from a work area, captured on an adhesive surface, imaged, and counted to determine the chip production rate. When the rate of chip production falls, the feed rate of the micro-endmill may be modified to a level suitable for the current state of tool wear. In this manner, costly and inconvenient work stoppages to evaluate the wear status of a tool are eliminated.

Abstract: The device is for grinding a pipe from an inside. The device has a spindle arranged to be rotated. The device further has protrusions fastened to the spindle. The protrusions have a strip causing an elastic force when being bent. The protrusions are arranged to position the device or a part of the device inside the pipe. The protrusions have blades arranged to grind the inner surface of the pipe, while the spindle is being rotated.

Abstract: A modular honing guide system comprised of interchangeable parts, having a multitude of configurations for manually sharpening or honing a multitude of tool types used for, but not limited to wood carving, wood working, fine art printmaking, jewelry making and metal work. A plurality of edge tool clamps mountable to a universal honing guide base system. Tools are honed on planar abrading surface(s) in conjunction with a supporting honing guide base configuration moving across a work surface which is in parallel with an abrading surface or medium. Cancellation of thickness variation of individual abrading mediums, and elimination of variability of abrading surface height differentials relative to a work surface, for a plurality of abrading mediums, is provided. A multitude of bevel, skew and cutting edge profiles are attained. Resulting is a superior solution to honing guides having limited expandability and/or lacking in abrading medium thickness variation or height differential mitigation.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for cleaning the surface of CMP polishing pads comprising blowing a stream or curtain of forced air or gas from a source onto the surface of a CMP polishing pad substrate at a pressure of from 170 kPa (24.66 psig) to 600 kPa (87 psig), towards a vacuum source, the forced air or gas blowing at an angle of from 6 to 15° from a vertical plane which lies normal to the surface of the substrate, traverses the entire width of the surface of the substrate, and passes through the source of the forced air or gas, while, at the same time conveying along a horizontal plane the CMP polishing pad so that the entire surface of the CMP polishing pad surface is exposed to the forced air or gas at least one time; and, vacuuming the surface of the CMP polishing pad at a point on the surface which is downstream from a point at which the stream curtain of forced air or gas contacts the surface of the CMP polishing pad.