Abstract: Sharp-edged cutting tools and a method of manufacturing sharp-edged cutting tools wherein at least a portion of the sharp-edged cutting tool is formed from a bulk amorphous alloy material are provided.

Abstract: An improved shearing blade module of an electric clipper comprises an upper blade and a lower blade; the lower blade is fixed, and the upper blade is comprised of a swaying member capable of swaying sideway in the housing of the electric clipper, such that the blades of the upper and lower blades define the shearing action; the lower blade has a metallic main body, and a hard vacuum coated film is disposed on the surface of said main body; said upper blade has a main body with both volume and area smaller than those of the lower blade, and said main body is made of ceramics. Combining the excellent properties of the ceramic material and the hard multiplayer film, the blade module enhances the heat resistance, wear resistance, and sharpness of the blade sections of the upper and lower blades.

Abstract: A blade of ceramic material is treated to enhance the strength and sharpness of the cutting edge. In one embodiment, ceramic particles along at least one margin of an edge-forming face are fused, such as by a laser treatment. The edge mardin can have a hard ceramic coating of a different ceramic material such as a nitride of chromium, zirconium, titanium, titanium carbon or boron. The hard ceramic coating can be used alone or in conjunction with the laser treatment. The invention includes the methods of treating the edge, both to form the hard ceramic coating and to fuse the particles by scanning with laser, such as an ultraviolet laser.

Abstract: Provided is a razor blade material which has excellent high hardness, high strength and high corrosion resistance. The material is made of an Fe-base alloy containing, by mass %, not less than 0.5% carbon, 9.0 to 14.0% Cr and from more than zero to 8.0% Mo, wherein precipitates, which can be observed at an optional cross section of the razor blade material, have a diameter of less than 0.1 m. The alloy has preferably a chemical composition of 0.5 to 5.0% carbon, 9.0 to 14.0% Cr and 0.5 to 8.0% Mo, 0.5 to 8.0% of B+Si, and the balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities. Preferably, the alloy has a metal structure, not less than 30 volume % of which is amorphous. The material has a thickness of 30 to 100 &mgr;m. The razor blade is preferably coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

Abstract: Apparatus for stripping a coating from a coated optical fiber. The apparatus has a pair of opposed blade holders, one end of each blade holder being adapted to releasably receive and retain a blade. The opposed ends of the blade holders are joined with a flexible member. The opposed blade holders are movable from an open position to a closed position. In the closed position edges of the blades are in a parallel spaced apart position, spaced to grip a coated optical fiber between the plastic blades. The plastic blades are selected and positioned to grip and to effect cracking of the coating while minimizing damage to the optical fiber when a coated optical fiber is placed and moved between the closed blades.

Abstract: A razor blade including a substrate with a cutting edge defined by a sharpened tip and adjacent facets, a layer of hard coating on the cutting edge, an overcoat layer of a chromium containing material on the layer of hard carbon coating, and an outer layer of polytetrafluoroethylene coating over the overcoat layer.

Abstract: A process for making a cutting instrument includes cutting a blank from a plate or strip of Type 60 Nitinol, having a thickness of between 0.005″-0.500″ using an abrasive waterjet, wire electron discharge machining or laser cutting, and grinding top and bottom surfaces of the blank by rotating a grinder having cubic boron nitride or diamond abrasive particles on a cutting surface of said grinder against the knife blank at a surface speed of about 5000 to 7000 surface feet per minute and grinding to a depth of about 0.001 to 0.005 inches per pass to remove material along the blade surface. The surface of the blade is polished to a surface finish smoother than 20 microinches RMS using Turkish emery abrasive grinding/polishing materials on a buffing wheel driven by a high power motor. The blade is then finish polished to a mirror-like luster of 2 microinches RMS or less using a fine diamond buffing compound and a buffing wheel running at about 3000 RPM.

Abstract: A sliding member having a sliding surface for sliding contact with a cooperative member is disclosed. A protective film is deposited not only on the sliding surface but also a surface region immediately adjacent the sliding surface such that a ratio d1/d2 is controlled to be 1 or greater, where d1 is a thickness of the protective film on the sliding surface and d2 is a thickness of the protective film on the surface region immediately adjacent the sliding surface. Alternatively, the protective film is deposited at least on the sliding surface such that the protective film is varied in thickness to define an irregular top surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a cutting member (3). According to the method, a single side 9 of a carrier 1 of the cutting member is provided with an auxiliary layer (11). The carrier is provided with a cutting edge (7) by means of an electrochemical machining device (19), an electrode (21) of the electrochemical machining device being arranged on a side (15) of the carrier remote from the auxiliary layer. According to the invention, the auxiliary layer is provided as far as the cutting edge to be provided on the carrier, and, after the cutting edge has been provided on the carrier, the auxiliary layer is maintained on the carrier as a layer which is functional for the cutting member. In this manner, the auxiliary layer has a double function and is thus utilized in a better way. In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary layer mainly comprises SiO2 and has a thickness below 200 nm, preferably below 100 nm.

Abstract: A process for making a cutting instrument includes cutting a blank from a plate or strip of Type 60 Nitinol, having a thickness of between 0.005″-0.500″ using an abrasive waterjet, wire electron discharge machining or laser cutting, and grinding top and bottom surfaces of the blank by rotating a grinder having cubic boron nitride or diamond abrasive particles on a cutting surface of said grinder against the knife blank at a surface speed of about 5000 to 7000 surface feet per minute and grinding to a depth of about 0.001 to 0.005 inches per pass to remove material along the blade surface. The surface of the blade is polished to a surface finish smoother than 20 microinches RMS using Turkish emery abrasive grinding/polishing materials on a buffing wheel driven by a high power motor. The blade is then finish polished to a mirror-like luster of 2 microinches RMS or less using a fine diamond buffing compound and a buffing wheel running at about 3000 RPM.

Abstract: A method for mechanically stripping the protective coating from a silica or glass optical fiber using a polymeric or soft metal blade having a hardness less than that of the glass optical fiber but greater than the protective coating. The blade is preferably selected from a group of polymeric materials, or alternately a soft metal, which is selected or treated so as to not detrimentally oxidize in conventional operating environments. For a silica-containing optical fiber, the blade has a hardness of less than approximately 125 on the Knoop hardness scale, and preferably less than approximately 60 on the Knoop hardness scale. A method of inhibiting damage to the exposed region of the silica-containing optical fiber comprises applying a substance that forms a protective layer to provide a barrier to particulates and moisture, and which does not inhibit subsequent processing of the optical fiber, selected from a group of silane-containing compounds.

Abstract: A knife with ceramic blade including a body portion having a lower end. The lower end has a generally triangular lower portion extending downwardly therefrom. The lower portion has a lower end forming an apex. The apex has a channel formed therein extending a length of the body portion. A plurality of ceramic blades are provided that each have an elongated vertical upper segment and a lower cutting edge. The elongated vertical upper segment of each ceramic blade is received within the channel formed in the apex of the lower portion of the elongated body portion.

Abstract: A safety razor blade tool comprises a substantially rectangular, single-edged safety razor blade having a cutting edge and an opposing non-cutting edge and a thermoplastic protective cover fixedly attached to the non-cutting edge. The protective cover is substantially coextensive with the length of the non-cutting edge of the blade and has a resilient, slip-resistant surface. The protective cover comprises two substantially identical, complimentary cover parts. Each cover part comprises an injection-molded substantially rigid inner layer of thermoplastic material and a rubberized outer layer covering the rigid inner layer. The outer layer comprises a compatible, injection-molded thermoplastic rubber.