Abstract: A three-dimensional shape measuring instrument is provided for measuring a three-dimensional shape of the polishing subject face. A polishing controller is provided for controlling a polishing robot alone or with a polishing tool, based on three-dimensional shape data of the polishing subject face obtained by the shape measurement by the three-dimensional shape measuring instrument. The polishing tool provides a polishing action on the respective part of the polishing subject face through controlling of the polishing robot alone or with the polishing tool by the polishing controller. By controlling a measuring robot and the three-dimensional shape measuring instrument by the polishing controller, the three-dimensional shape measuring instrument moves to a predetermined measuring position relative to the polishing subject face to measure the three-dimensional shape of the polishing subject face.

Abstract: The invention herein relates to a variable weight exercise machine comprising a motor driven carriage assembly that moves along a linear path creating a variable resistant force against which the user exerts an opposite force. The chassis body and frame of said device may be positioned horizontally or vertically, and having a design that can be modularly configured in coordination with accessory elements to achieve a variety of concentric or eccentric exercise movements.

Abstract: A method of cutting a workpiece made of a highly-hard material is provided. The workpiece is cut by a machining device including a workpiece holder that holds the workpiece, a spindle device that rotates the workpiece holder, a tool holder that holds a tool, and a relative moving mechanism that relatively moves the workpiece holder and the tool holder at least in two axial directions orthogonal to each other. In the machining device, positioning errors in the axial directions are within 5 nm.

Abstract: The invention concerns a grinding machine having displaceable grinding means for the processing of workpieces made from wood, wood composite materials, plastics, metals and similar materials. The invention further concerns a method of grinding a workpiece by means of the inventive grinding machine. The grinding aggregate comprises: at least one translational driving means configured to translate the grinding means (6) and at least one eccentric tappet configured to rotatingly move the grinding means (6). The inventive device is characterized in that the grinding aggregate comprises a suctioning device which suctions waste products of the processing, such as chips, through the grinding means. In this way, it is possible to achieve a qualitatively superior grinding result.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermal mechanical machining of composite materials includes a head, a drive, and a shaft. The head has an abrasive face. The drive is coupled to the apparatus to move the head to produce abrasion of the composite material by the abrasive face. The shaft includes a passageway that communicates a heated gas to an interface between the abrasive face and the composite material. The gas removes particles that result from the abrasion of the composite material by the abrasive face. The gas can be heated sufficiently to carbonize or vaporize organic constituents of the composite material.

Abstract: A sander has a base, a rotating assembly, multiple abrasive assemblies, multiple driving assemblies and multiple reciprocating assemblies. The rotating assembly is rotatably mounted on the base on an axis that is parallel to a Z-axis and has a bottom end. The abrasive assemblies move linearly and reciprocatorily in a plane parallel to an X-Y plane and are rotatably mounted on the bottom end of the rotating assembly. The driving assemblies are respectively connected to and drive the abrasive assemblies to rotate. The reciprocating assemblies are mounted securely on the rotating assembly to linearly and reciprocatorily drive the abrasive assemblies in a plane parallel to the X-Y plane. A linear reciprocating direction of each abrasive assembly is opposite to that of an adjacent abrasive assembly.

Abstract: A low-stress polishing device includes a base; a plurality of actuators mounted to the base and spaced from each other in a predetermined interval, each of the actuators having a drive shaft and a buffer spring connected with the drive shaft for providing the drive shaft with a predetermined impulsive pressure, each of the drive shafts having a buffer pad located at a distal end thereof; at least one drive circuit electrically connected with the actuators for control of driving the actuators; a working plate mounted to the buffer pads; and a polishing pad mounted to the working plate. Accordingly, the vibration mode generated by the device provides a dynamic pressure on the wafer surface for destroying the chemical product on the wafer surface and is applicable to polishing of low-dielectric integrated copper structures.

Abstract: The invention concerns a grinding machine having displaceable grinding means for the processing of workpieces made from wood, wood composite materials, plastics, metals and similar materials. The invention further concerns a method of grinding a workpiece by means of the inventive grinding machine. The grinding aggregate comprises: at least one translational driving means configured to translate the grinding means (6) and at least one eccentric tappet configured to rotatingly move the grinding means (6). The inventive device is characterized in that the grinding aggregate comprises a suctioning device which suctions waste products of the processing, such as chips, through the grinding means. In this way, it is possible to achieve a qualitatively superior grinding result.

Abstract: A method and control system for detecting harmonic oscillation in a chemical mechanical polishing process and reacting thereto, such as by taking steps to at least one of: 1) reduce or eliminate the harmonic oscillation; and 2) counter the noise which is associated with the harmonic oscillation. By reducing or eliminating harmonic oscillation, films with reduced structure strengths including low k dielectric films can be used. By countering the noise, the quality of the work environment is improved.

Abstract: The present inventions is directed to a method of polishing a workpiece. The method comprises providing an abrasive article, the abrasive article comprising superabrasive particles within agglomerates. The method then comprises contacting the abrasive article with a workpiece outer surface, the workpiece outer surface comprising a thermal spray hard phase, and relatively moving the abrasive article and the workpiece. The workpiece outer surface may further comprises a bonding phase. The abrasive article may be a continuous belt, an abrasive tape or a resin bonded disk.

Abstract: A workpiece-surface processing head has at least one processing tool which comes into contact with the surface to be processed and whose longitudinal axis is oriented essentially perpendicularly to the surface to be processed. The processing tool, for processing the workpieces, can be traversed by means of at least one drive device in a direction (X; Y) running at least approximately perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A grinding machine uses a conical grinding wheel (10) to create a non-circularly symmetric surface (defining, for example, a re-entrant cam) on a workpiece. The machine is operable to rotate such a workpiece about a first axis (5) and the machine has drive means for rotating the conical wheel about a second axis (14). A feeding mechanism brings the wheel into contact with the workpiece to define a line of grinding where the wheel contacts the workpiece (i.e. a cutting line). In use, a rocking movement is imparted to the wheel and spindle relative to the workpiece as the latter rotates so as to maintain the orientation of the cutting line relative to the first axis and of the second axis relative to the cutting line.

Abstract: A production type surface finishing apparatus for finishing the surfaces of workpieces such as cabinet doors and the like which include a plurality of relatively large, very lightweight finishing platens that are simultaneously movable in both a reciprocal and an orbital-like motion. The platen is moved in a reciprocal motion by a first motion-imparting mechanism and is simultaneously moved in a high-frequency, orbit-like motion by a second motion-imparting mechanism that includes shafts which are rotated at relatively high rates of speed. The shafts, and the motors which drive them, are mounted on platforms which are reciprocally movable relative to the main frame of the device. Connected to the rotating shafts by specially designed elastomeric sleeve-like members or yieldably deformable connector bands are specially configured, ring-like members. The rings are, in turn, connected to the platen assemblies by novel shaft and bearing assemblies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for polishing, especially adapted for polishing fiber optic connectors and similarly configured industrial components. The polishing apparatus includes a first stage having a first mounting member and a first staging member supported on the first mounting member for reciprocal movement along a first path; a second stage having a second mounting member supported on the first staging member and a second staging member supported on the second mounting member for reciprocal movement along a second path in angular relation to the first path; a polishing member mounted on the second staging member; and a drive mechanism operable to simultaneously reciprocate the first and second staging member along their respective paths so that the polishing member traces a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A method and machine for polishing, especially adapted for polishing fiber optic connectors and similarly configured industrial components. The polishing machine includes a first stage having a first mounting member and a first staging member supported on the first mounting member for reciprocal movement along a first path; a second stage having a second mounting member supported on the first staging member and a second staging member supported on the second mounting member for reciprocal movement along a second path in angular relation to the first path; a polishing member mounted on the second staging member; and a drive mechanism operable to simultaneously reciprocate the first and second staging member along their respective paths so that the polishing member traces a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A machine or apparatus for polishing, especially adapted for polishing fiber optic connectors and similarly configured industrial components. The polishing apparatus includes a first stage having a first mounting member and a first staging member supported on the first mounting member for reciprocal movement along a first path; a second stage having a second mounting member supported on the first staging member and a second staging member supported on the second mounting member for reciprocal movement along a second path in angular relation to the first path; a polishing member mounted on the second staging member; and a drive mechanism operable to simultaneously reciprocate the first and second staging members along their respective paths so that the polishing member traces a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A lapping assembly for lapping a group of workpieces including a pair of lapping discs and a cassette for positioning the workpieces between the lapping discs. The lapping discs are provided with two-component translational oscillations at the appropriate cutting speed, parallel to their working planes. This motion is effected using crank pins rotating about a coaxially positioned axis and elastic members (or swivel-supporting) members coupled to the body of the lapping machine to prevent the lapping discs from rotating. The cassette has an opening having a curvilinear shape for holding the workpieces, and protrusions which extend into the opening. The cassette is mounted on a support element and equipped with a drive to rotate it about a stationary axis. Alternatively, the cassette can be fixed during treatment and the lapping discs can be rotated at a speed less than the cutting speed.

Abstract: A production type surface finishing apparatus for finishing the surfaces of work-pieces such as cabinet doors and the like which include a plurality of relatively large, very lightweight finishing platens that are simultaneously movable in both a reciprocal and an orbital-like motion. The platen is moved in a reciprocal motion by a first motion-imparting mechanism and is simultaneously moved in a high-frequency, orbit-like motion by a second motion-imparting mechanism that includes shafts which are rotated at relatively high rates of speed. The shafts, and the motors which drive them, are mounted on platforms which are reciprocally movable relative to the main frame of the device. Connected to the rotating shafts by specially designed elastomeric sleeve-like members are specially configured, ring-like member which are provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures along one edge of the ring. The rings are, in turn, connected to the platen assemblies by novel shaft and bearing assemblies.

Abstract: An improved drive and support for a machine tool by which a part thereof can be supported and driven along a linear path for machining. The drive and support includes a linear slideway having a magnetic track along which a housing will move when a moving magnetic field is generated in an electromagnetic assembly mounted in the housing. The direction the housing moves depends upon the direction of movement of the generated magnetic field, and first hydrostatic bearing pads acting between the housing and the slideway, or between the electromagnetic assembly and the track or any combination thereof, to counteract the attractive force between the electromagnet and the track.

Abstract: A fining and polishing machine and method enable a work piece, suitably a spectacle lens, to be polished with a relative motion between the lens and a tool that is precisely matched to the specific lens prescription. The lens and tool are reciprocated along first and second non-co-linear axes, respectively, and the lens is polished as each reciprocates. The relative motion between lens and tool is equal to the vector sum of their individual motions. By precisely controlling the reciprocation of lens and tool, a wide range of desired motions can be obtained, enabling a lens to be polished to a particular prescription by altering the frequency and/or amplitude of the reciprocating motions along the two axes. A controller drives a pair of actuators which reciprocate the lens and tool in accordance with resident motion equations, as realized with prescription-specific amplitude and frequency parameters received as inputs.

Abstract: An abrasive apparatus adopted to abrade a curved surface of workpiece includes: an abrading head including an abrading tip having a substantially spherical outer surface and a rotating shaft supporting the abrading tip, the abrading head being positioned to face the curved surface; a thrust moving mechanism for relatively moving the abrading head and the curved surface; a lateral moving mechanism for relatively moving the abrading head and the curved surface; a pivotal moving mechanism for relatively moving the abrading head and the curved surface pivotally around a center point; and a controller for controlling the abrading head, the thrust moving mechanism, the lateral moving mechanism and the pivotal moving mechanism synchronously so that the abrading tip contacts and presses the curved surface at any point thereon with a substantially constant pressure in a direction consistent with a normal line thereat.

Abstract: The invented Sander with Orbiting Platen and Abrasive includes a platen, an abrasive secured to the platen, and a motor connected to the platen to move the platen and abrasive in an orbit or circular pattern. The motor is connected to the platen by a belt that extends around at least one drive shaft, where the shaft includes two ends with a step between the ends so that when the shaft is rotated around one end's longitudinal axis, the step causes a portion of the shaft and the platen to orbit around that axis. The preferred embodiment of the invented sander includes a frame, a conveyor, first and second drive shafts that support a brace and that cause the brace to move in a first orbit, second and third drive shafts that are supported by the brace and connected to an orbit so that when the second and third drive shafts are rotated, the platen moves in a second orbit, and a plurality of rubber or synthetic rubber stabilizers positioned between the brace and platen.

Abstract: An automated machine is disclosed for grinding and polishing the terminated ends of the optical fibers in fiber optic cables. The machine utilizes abrasive material in strip form. The abrasive material is moved in a carriage along a linear path while the carriage is oscillated in a circle within a plane during polishing. There are three separate carriages operating concurrently, the first having a relatively course grade of abrasive while the others have finer grades. Fixtures holding the cables for polishing are held in fixture supports that are automatically fed toward the abrasive material during polishing and retracted after polishing is complete. The fixture engagement mechanism for the first carriage engages at a slower rate than do the mechanisms of the other carriages.