Abstract: Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) systems and methods are provided herein. One aspect of the present subject matter is a polishing system. One polishing system embodiment includes a platen adapted to receive a wafer, and a polishing pad drum that has a cylindrical, or generally cylindrical, shape with a length and an axis of rotation along the length. The polishing pad drum is adapted to rotate about the axis of rotation along the drum length. The polishing pad drum, the platen, or both the polishing pad drum and the platen are adapted to be linearly moved to polish the surface of the wafer using the rotating polishing pad drum. The polishing pad drum and the platen are adapted to be operably positioned a predetermined minimum distance from each other as the polishing pad drum and the platen pass each other due the linear motion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for sharpening a circular blade. The sharpening apparatus is adapted to be positioned adjacent a power-driven sharpening wheel at an angle. The sharpening apparatus includes an angularly adjustable tool holder for angularly positioning the circular blade against the power-driven sharpening wheel. The sharpening apparatus of the present invention also includes a blade holder that quickly and easily locks the circular blade into place for sharpening and releases the blade after sharpening is complete. The present invention provides a reasonably safe and efficient sharpening apparatus for circular blades that provides uniform, high quality sharpening of one-sided and two-sided blades of varying circumferences.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for superpolishing the inside diameter surface of a seam of a flexible continuous photoreceptor belt.

Abstract: A thermal-chemical polishing device and method for polishing a diamond film of a workpiece, the device includes a horizontally displaced first rotatable high rpm shaft and a vertically displaced second rotatable high rpm shaft that are perpendicular. The first shaft is made of a material from transition metals or rare-earth elements which undergo a chemical reaction with the diamond film at high temperature. The circumferential surface of the first shaft has a predefined heating region. The second shaft moves axially towards the first shaft to allow the diamond film to make contact with the heating region of the first shaft. A heating unit is provided to heat up the heating region to create a chemical reaction for thermal-chemical polishing to perform while the diamond film is in contact with the heating region. The device of the present invention increases the rate of polishing and also decreases cost.

Abstract: In the wafer chamfering method, there is used a disk-shaped grindstone 8 which includes: a peripheral edge portion serving as a grinding surface 1; a flat portion formed in the central portion of the grinding surface 1 in the width direction thereof; and, two edge portions 5 respectively formed on the two sides of the flat portion 2 in the width direction thereof and made in the form of the shape of the valley portion of the notch portion 4 of a disk-shaped wafer 3 to be chamfered. In operation, in the wafer chamfering method, while rotating the above grindstone 8, the grindstone 8 is revolved in the thickness direction of the wafer 3 to thereby chamfer the wafer 3.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for finish machining brake components. The apparatus includes an electrode ring adapted to be secured to a rotatable shaft. The electrode ring includes at least one plurality of circumferentially spaced apart electrodes adapted to be electrically connected to a power supply. Each one of the at least one plurality of electrodes are arranged adjacent each other around the circumference of the electrode ring. The apparatus further includes a positioning mechanism for positioning a rotating, electrically grounded rotor adjacent the electrode ring until sparks are formed between the electrode ring and the rotor. The sparks vaporize a portion of the rotor surface thereby creating a finished surface on the rotor having the desired dimensions.

Abstract: A hole forming apparatus comprises a workpiece transfer mechanism that transfers one unformed workpiece at a time into a workpiece gripper and drives completed workpieces out of the workpiece gripper and onto an exit path. A compound hydro-pneumatic cylinder moves the gripper and one workpiece at a time downward into contact with a rotating forming tool. The forming tool includes a tool adapter head that holds various forming implements such as cutting blades or drill bits. The head also accommodates broachers and reamers, in which case a precision logic control detects and rejects defective workpieces that have no holes to broach or ream. The apparatus may also include a positive stop that prevents workpieces from overshooting the end of a forming stroke.

Abstract: A machine for lapping or testing gears comprising a single machine column having a first side oriented perpendicular to a second side with the first side having a first workpiece spindle rotatable about a first axis and the second spindle having a second workpiece spindle rotatable about a second axis. The first workpiece spindle is movably secured to the first side and the second workpiece spindle is movably secured to the second side. The first and second workpiece spindles are movable with respect to one another along one or more of mutually perpendicular directions G, H and V. At least one, and preferably both, of the spindles are direct drive spindles. At any relative position of the spindles and their associated gear members along the G, H and V directions, the crossing points of their respective axes remains the same. For lapping, the machine further includes means to introduce lapping compound at the toe end of one of the members rotating in mesh at a location before the point of mesh.

Abstract: The grinding machine for grinding a frictional surface of a pad of the present invention comprises: a grooving cutter to be rotated; a cylindrical grinding wheel arranged at a position distant from the grooving cutter; a pad chucking portion for holding a frictional surface of the brake pad so that the frictional surface can be opposed to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical grinding wheel; an X-axis feed mechanism for advancing and retreating the pad chucking portion in the direction of X-axis parallel to the frictional surface of the brake pad; a Y-axis feed mechanism for advancing and retreating the pad chucking portion in the direction of Y-axis perpendicular to the frictional surface of the brake pad; a Z-axis rotation mechanism for rotating the brake pad around the Z-axis perpendicular to the frictional surface of the brake pad; and a numerically controlling circuit for controlling the motions conducted by the above mechanisms.

Abstract: A machine for cutting/grinding ophthalmic lenses has a lens spindle aligned on a vertical longitudinal axis and a tool spindle aligned on an angled axis in relation to the vertical axis. The lens blank is chucked on the upper end of the lens spindle and a tool is mounted on a lower end of the tool spindle. One motor rotates the lens spindle and the lens blank about the longitudinal axis and a second motor vertically reciprocates the lens spindle and the lens blank. A third motor rotates the tool spindle and the tool about the angled axis and a fourth motor linearly horizontally reciprocates the tool spindle and the tool. A microprocessor coordinates the rotation and reciprocation of the spindles to cause the tool to cut/grind the lens blank to a predetermined contour. The tool has a spherical grinding surface of diameter approximating but not greater than twice the radius of the steepest lens curvature to be cut/ground.

Abstract: A machine tool comprising a bed, a worktable movable relative to the bed along a linear path and a tool movable to engage a workpiece on the worktable wherein drive means for effecting the movement of the worktable relative to the bed and therefore to the tool comprises a friction drive so as to provide a smooth carriage motion to the worktable. The worktable may be slidable along a slideway which defines the linear path for the worktable and the drive means therefor comprises an elongate member forming a track mounted parallel to the slideway. Wheel means frictionally engages the track and is carried by drive means therefor mounted on the worktable so that the axis of rotaion of the wheel means is fixed in relation to the worktable.

Abstract: A grinding machine for grinding an inner race of a constant velocity joint, which contains a grinding wheel with a concentric peripheral surface of boron nitride, and a device for rotating the grinding wheel at a speed of at least about 5,000 revolutions per minute. The machine also has a lubricating fluid injection system for lubricating the inner race and grinding bit. The machine also contains devices for moving the inner race in the X axis, in the Z axis, and simultaneously in the X and Z axes.

Abstract: A circular grinding machine wherein a reciprocable carriage supports a first rotary tool spindle for a relatively large grinding wheel and the housing including the bearing for the first spindle mounts a carrier which is pivotable about the axis of the first spindle by a fluid-operated motor and supports a second tool spindle for a relatively small grinding wheel. The carriage can be advanced to a first position to move the relatively large grinding wheel into coarse material removing contact with a rotary workpiece (such as a camshaft), and the carriage is thereupon retracted to a second position in which the carrier can be pivoted about the axis of the first spindle to move the relatively small grinding wheel into precision-finishing engagement with the pretreated workpiece.

Abstract: A machine designed to grind the rotor blades of aeronautical engines includes a bench with a sliding table which holds the rotor supports. The rotor supports include a side stand point and a side stand counterpoint, both of which are combined with a bridge frame over which the rotor is suspended. The stands have elastic joints which have associated optional blocking mechanisms that are controlled by the machine's CNC control. The table has sliding supports which also include mechanisms for optional blocking. When the blocking mechanisms of both the elastic joints and the table supports are utilized, a high precision balancing and rectifying operation is achieved.

Abstract: A grinding machine for regrinding a housing of a constant velocity joint which contains a grinding bit, a high speed spindle, a lubricating fluid injection system, and devices for rotating the housing, for moving the housing in the X axis, for moving the housing in the Z axis, and for simultaneously moving the housing in the X and Z axes. The fluid injection system has two coolant nozzles with different volumetric flow rates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for dressing a hone of a honing wheel which is used for honing a gear to be finished. A dressing tool is brought into contact with the honing wheel under a predetermined constant contact pressure and during the reciprocal feed of the dressing tool. The amount of the contact pressure is maintained constant so as to gradually increase the in-feed of the honing wheel. This is useful in decreasing the number of transverse feeds of the dressing tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to composite fibers having a diamond surface which can be produced using a substrate such as graphite, or other non-diamond inorganic fiber. These substrates produced in the manner described, give rise to improved diamond deposits producing composite fibers having properties not heretofore available.