Abstract: The polishing pad is suitable for polishing or planarizing at least one of semiconductor, optical and magnetic substrates with a polishing fluid and relative motion between the polishing pad and the at least one of semiconductor, optical and magnetic substrates. The polishing layer has an open-cell polymeric matrix, a polishing surface, a plurality of grooves in the polishing layer. The plurality of projecting land areas are buttressed with a tapered support structure that extends outward and downward from the bottom plurality of projecting land areas. The plurality of projecting land areas have an average width less than average width of the plurality of grooves for decreasing polishing dwell time of the projecting land areas and increasing the debris removal dwell time of the groove areas to a value greater than the polishing dwell time.

Abstract: A food processor includes a base and a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a cutting assembly driven by a motor. The cutting assembly is adjustable to vary the thickness of the cut food items. An adjustment assembly positioned in the base is operable to adjust the cutting thickness of the cutting assembly while the cutting assembly is driven by the motor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conditioning blades are provided. A method may include, for example, obtaining a cutting device, measuring various characteristics of the cutting edge of the cutting device, creating a current edge profile based on the characteristics, creating a modified edge profile, and/or conditioning the blade. Conditioning may include grinding, buffing and/or polishing. One or more of the conditioning steps may be based on the modified edge profile.

Abstract: In a knife sharpener with two whetting disks (2, 3) which are rotatably mounted about the same axis of rotation (8), oppose each other and have whetting surfaces (11, 12) facing each other, which between themselves form a sharpening slot (13) which widens outwards in radial direction, and with a housing (4) which surrounds the whetting disks (2, 3) and above the sharpening slot (13) includes a knife guiding slot (24) which extends at an angle (?) to the sharpening slot (13), at least a first one of the whetting surfaces (11) is formed convex and the second whetting surface (12) is formed linear or likewise convex in radial direction.

Abstract: An electric sharpener having a pair of abrasive wheel assemblies including energy absorbing hubs mounted a powered drive shaft and further integral flexible radially extending arms affixed to respective outer abrasive rings. A pair of disk abrasives assemblies are also affixed to the powered rotatable shaft and include a pair of flexible metal disks operatively connected to a hub attached to the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: A head structure for a lapping assembly including a lapping control feature is disclosed. The lapping control feature includes a raised contact surface elevated from a front surface of the head structure of the lapping assembly. A relative position of the workpiece and raised contact surface are aligned to control workpiece thickness and other lapping parameters. In illustrated embodiments, the relative position of the workpiece and raised contact surface are aligned via an adjustment mechanism on the head structure. In illustrated embodiments, the adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust a position of the workpiece relative to the raised contact surface.

Abstract: A parts carrier assembly for a grinding machine includes an annular parts carrier and a bearing insert. The annular parts carrier includes an upper surface, a lower surface, an inner edge, an outer edge, and a plurality of loading apertures. The inner edge is configured to engage a driving wheel of the grinding machine. The driving wheel rotates about a central axis resulting in rotation of the parts carrier about an offset axis, which is offset from the central axis. The loading apertures are configured to receive parts to be ground by the grinding machine. The bearing insert includes an inner bearing surface complementary in shape to the outer edge of the parts carrier. The outer surface the parts carrier bears against the inner bearing surface of the bearing insert as the parts carrier rotates about the offset axis.

Abstract: An arrangement (1) including a tool (7) and a feeler device (11) is movably guided along the edge of a workpiece (5) so that the workpiece is machined, for example, trimmed, along the edges (3) of the workpiece by the tool. The arrangement (1) can be adjusted perpendicularly to the plane of the workpiece, whereas the feeler device, which is designed for example as a Bernoulli disk (13), has a constant distance from the workpiece, so that the tool also is always guided at the correct position relative to the edge of the workpiece. Thus even for workpieces deviating from the target position, for example workpieces that are not level, the tool is always guided in such a way that the tool is correctly oriented relative to the center plane of the workpiece and, for example, the trimming of the borders at the edges of the workpiece is performed reliably.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus has a polishing pad, a top ring for holding a semiconductor wafer, and a vertical movement mechanism operable to move the top ring in a vertical direction. The polishing apparatus also has a distance measuring sensor operable to detect a position of the top ring when a lower surface of the top ring is brought into contact with the polishing pad, and a controller operable to calculate an optimal position of the top ring to polish the semiconductor wafer based on the position detected by the distance measuring sensor. The vertical movement mechanism includes a ball screw mechanism operable to move the top ring to the optimal position.

Abstract: A combination sharpener assembly which is particularly useful for fishermen, includes an electrically powered knife sharpener. A manually operated scissors sharpener is mounted in the recess of the housing for the knife sharpener. A hook sharpener is detachably mounted in a compartment in the housing of the knife sharpener. The motor for the knife sharpener is mounted in a sealed inner housing and can be selectively operated under either direct current or alternating current.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system includes a polishing pad, a platen to support the polishing pad, and two rotatable carrier heads configured to hold two substrates against the polishing pad at the same time. Each carrier head includes a retaining ring. Two actuators sweep the two carrier heads laterally across the polishing pad between positions closer to and farther from the center axis. A polishing surface of the polishing pad includes a center region with a first grooving pattern and an annular region with a second grooving pattern different than the first grooving pattern. A radius of the center region is equal to or less than a distance from a center axis of the platen to a closest outer edge of the two retaining rings when the carrier heads are in the closer positions.

Abstract: A tool sharpening assembly suitable for sharpening cutting tools. In accordance with some embodiments, the apparatus has a rotatable abrasive surface, and a tool support structure which contactingly supports a body portion of a tool while a cutting surface of the tool is presented against the abrasive surface during a sharpening operation. A cooling mechanism operates to reduce a temperature of the tool.

Abstract: The grinding machine (1), in particular for grinding and/or sharpening of knives, comprises a grinding disc (2), mounted rotatably around a turning axis (D1) and turnable in direction of rotation (D), with a cylindrically-shaped grinding surface (2a) comprising abrasive means, as well as comprising a guiding part (3), which is arranged immediately next to the grinding surface (2a) of the grinding disc (2), wherein the guiding part (3) has a guiding surface (3a) which extends in such a way that the guiding surface (3a), together with the grinding surface (2a), forms a gap (S), which progressively tapers in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation (D) and which runs parallel to the direction of the turning axis (D1), and that an overlay part (4) with an overlay surface (4a) running towards the gap (S) is arranged immediately next to the grinding surface (2a) of the grinding disc (2).

Abstract: An electrically powered knife sharpener for ceramic (or other brittle, crystalline or amorphous media which could be used for blades) knives includes at least one pre-sharpening stage with a sharpening member(s) and includes a final stage with a sharpening member(s). There are one or more motor driven shafts on which the abrasive surfaced sharpening members, such as disks, are mounted. Guide structure is provided to guide the knife for aligning and positioning the knife facet precisely at a defined location on the abrasive surface of each rotating sharpening member. The pre-sharpening stage sharpening member(s) moves in a first direction. The final stage sharpening member(s) moves in a second direction which differs from the first direction.

Abstract: A disc sander includes a housing having an operation platform for holding a workpiece on a work surface at the operation platform for sanding, a sanding mechanism pivotally mounted on the housing and having a sanding surface for sanding the workpiece, and an angle adjustment unit set between the housing and the sanding mechanism and including two swing plates disposed at two opposite lateral sides relative to the housing and respectively connected to the sanding mechanism so that the sanding mechanism is biasable with the swing plates relative to the housing to change the angle between the work surface and the sanding surface.

Abstract: Hands free removal of layers of material simultaneously from a number of dies is accomplished by temporarily positioning a plurality of die holding devices into different segmented open areas of a template mounted over the grinding surface. In one embodiment, frictional force imparted to each holding device by the grinding wheel serves to position the holding device against a stop within the confines of each opening. The stop in each segment could be positioned at a different radial distance from the center of the grinding wheel in order to use different portions of the grinding wheel to grind each of the dies. In some embodiments, the segments are offset from each other around the template in order to increase the effective working area of the grinding surface.

Abstract: Techniques for manufacturing sheet product of varying surface profile and products thus manufactured are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the disclosed invention provides a method for profiling a surface of a sheet product having a first profile on first surface. In one embodiment, the method includes creating a profiling template or contoured support surface. A profiled surface may be formed by arranging the profiling template and the sheet product such that the profiling template is located between the sheet product and a support surface, conforming the arrangement of the sheet product and the profiling template to the support surface such that conformance causes the sheet product to have a second surface profile on the first surface, and processing the sheet product to form a third surface profile on the first surface.

Abstract: In order to grind bar-shaped workpieces which have a non-circular cross-section and flat faces which are parallel to each other, two partial operations are performed consecutively. First, the bar-shaped workpiece is rough ground and finished on the faces by way of double-disk face grinding. The bar-shaped workpiece is clamped on the longitudinal sides in the first clamping position thereof, and the bar-shaped workpiece is transported between two clamping jaws, which clamp the workpiece in the second clamping position thereof on the faces. The first clamping position is then released, and the bar-shaped workpiece is rotated by the clamping jaws. A CNC-controlled peripheral grinding step is performed based on CX interpolation principles. This rough grinds and finishes the longitudinal sides of the bar-shaped workpiece. Transport from the first to the second clamping position is effected by a clamping station, which concomitantly forms the holder for the face grinding operation.

Abstract: A bowling ball surface treatment device for abrading, polishing or cleansing a bowling ball includes a housing, a ball displacing unit movably mounted to the housing for holding the bowling ball in a rotatable manner and for reciprocatingly displacing the bowling ball between a temporary waiting region and a surface treatment region, a surface treatment disc for supporting and spinning the bowling ball in the surface treatment region, the surface treatment disc having a surface treatment element for making frictional contact with the bowling ball, a temporary support disc for temporarily supporting the bowling ball in the temporary waiting region when the bowling ball is moved out of the surface treatment region, and a disc drive unit for rotatingly driving the surface treatment disc and the temporary support disc.

Abstract: A bowling ball surface treatment apparatus is designed to uniformly abrade and polish a bowling ball. The apparatus includes a housing and a ball movement guider provided inside the housing for guiding movement of a bowling ball and confining the bowling ball within a limited surface treatment area, and a surface treatment disc arranged below the ball movement guider for supporting, rotating and revolving the bowling ball. The surface treatment disc has a disc shaft and a surface treatment element for abrading or polishing the bowling ball. The apparatus further includes a disc rotating device for rotating the surface treatment disc about a disc center axis and a disc revolving device for rotatably holding the disc shaft of the surface treatment disc and for causing the surface treatment disc to make revolving movement around a sun axis offset from the disc center axis.

Abstract: A device and method of sharpening hair cutting scissor blades passes a blade over the perimeter portion of a flexible sharpening pad to flex the perimeter portion out of the plane of the pad. The blade is held in an angled orientation over the pad and is moved horizontally and downward during the sharpening motion. Independent horizontal and vertical movements allow addressing irregularly shaped blades including blades with a radial shape and convex blades.

Abstract: A hydrostatic pad for use in holding a semiconductor wafer during grinding of the wafer by grinding wheels. The pad includes hydrostatic pockets formed in a face of the body directly opposed to the wafer. The pockets are adapted for receiving fluid through the body and into the pockets to provide a barrier between the body face and the workpiece while still applying pressure to hold the workpiece during grinding. The hydrostatic pads allow the wafer to rotate relative to the pads about their common axis. The pockets are oriented to reduce hydrostatic bending moments that are produced in the wafer when the grinding wheels shift or tilt relative to the hydrostatic pads, helping prevent nanotopology degradation of surfaces of the wafer commonly caused by shift and tilt of the grinding wheels.

Abstract: A saw blade sharpening assembly includes a sharpening disk, a blade support panel disposed generally adjacent to the sharpening disk and a generally sloped blade support base carried by the blade support panel.

Abstract: Short and/or rod-shaped workpieces are completely machined by grinding two parallel end faces and the longitudinal sides of the workpiece with very short cycle times. The grinding machine includes two grinding spindles that are arranged in a tandem arrangement with parallel rotational axes on a shared grinding headstock and that are jointly moved in the X direction. In cooperation with a special holding and transport device for the workpieces, two workpieces are each ground, at least partly concurrently, the end faces of the one workpiece being ground in one machining position and the final non-circular grinding of the exterior contour of a second workpiece occurring in a second machining station, the end faces of the second workpiece having already been ground.

Abstract: A glass-plate working machine 1 is arranged such that while a cutting head 9 for forming a cut line on a glass plate 5 and a grinding head 10 for grinding a peripheral edge of the glass plate 5 bend-broken along the cut line are being moved simultaneously in parallel under numerical control, the cutting head 9 and the grinding head 10 respectively having angle control motors 46 and 49 are synchronously subjected to angular control about axes 39 perpendicular to the surface of the glass plate 5, and the cutting head 9 and the grinding head 10 are moved such that the orientation of a cutter wheel 52 is adjusted to a processing line, and the press contacting direction of a grinding wheel 64 of the grinding head 10 is kept in a normal direction with respect to a processing line of an edge of the glass plate 5.

Abstract: A device and method of sharpening hair cutting scissor blades passes a blade over the perimeter portion of a flexible sharpening pad to flex the perimeter portion out of the plane of the pad. The blade is held in an angled orientation over the pad and is moved horizontally and downward during the sharpening motion. Independent horizontal and vertical movements allow addressing irregularly shaped blades including blades with a radial shape and convex blades.

Abstract: A tool for polishing and fine-grinding optically active surfaces in precision optics has a main body which can be attached in a rotationally fixed manner to a tool spindle of a machining machine. A guide element is arranged concentrically in the main body and is mounted such that it can be displaced axially therein. A machining disk is replaceably attached to the outer end of the guide element. The main body is rigidly connected in a rotationally fixed manner, over the full displacement travel, to the guide element mounted such that it can be displaced axially therein, and in that the machining disk is rigidly fixed in a non-tiltable manner on the guide element.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for grinding or polishing at least one edge of a glass substrate. The apparatus includes a grinding unit configured to remove a predetermined amount of material from the edge when in an aligned position. The grinding unit applies a predetermined force normal to the edge. An air bearing slide system is coupled to the grinding unit. The air bearing slide system is configured to slide along a predetermined axis on a thin film of pressurized air that provides a zero friction load bearing interface. A linear actuation motor is coupled to the air bearing slide system. The linear actuation motor is configured to control the movement of the air bearing slide system such that the grinding unit is moved from a non-aligned position to the aligned position.

Abstract: A key destroyer preferably deploys an angle grinder fitted with a grinding chamber, cover, and insertion tube through which a key can be inserted to be destroyed. The key is gripped in a holder that can slide key foremost through the support tube so that the coded portion of the key can pass through a safety wall at the inner end of the support tube and engage a rotating abrasive disk that grinds away the coded portion of the key. The head of the destroyed key can then be retained as evidence that a particular copy of a key no longer exists.

Abstract: A device for grinding welding electrodes comprises a driving motor, a shaft driven by said driving motor and a grinding wheel driven by said driving motor through said shaft, said grinding wheel having a first and a second grinding surface. A first guiding block is provided having at least one first opening, said first opening defining a position relative to said first grinding surface and said opening being adapted to guide a welding electrode for grinding into said defined position relative to said first grinding surface, and a second guiding block having at least one second opening, said second opening defining a position relative to said second grinding surface and said second opening being adapted to guide a welding electrode for grinding into said defined position relative to said second grinding surface.

Abstract: The emery wheel grinding machine with adjustable drill bit chuck disclosed herein has an adjustable chuck in which is provided with a T-bushing having an outer flange formed at one end thereof. The outer flange is provided with several pairs of stop traps along its circumference, whereas the number of stop traps are determined according to the number of cutter blades to be shaved. Several stop pins are formed on the surface of the outer flange to control the turning angle of the drill bit or the cutter. The T-bushing further has a taper hole in it. When the chuck head which holds the drill bit or the cutter is inserted into the taper hole, the cutter blade can be in contact with the emery wheel with a certain tilted angle thereby allowing the cutter blades of various length and number to be effectively shaved, ground and finished.

Abstract: In a grinding machine with a grinding means for machining a workpiece surface which can be moved in a direction of conveyance relative to the grinding means and is arranged in a machining plane, wherein the grinding means has a large number of grinding heads with grinding elements (8) rotating about a respective shaft, and the grinding heads can be moved by means of an endlessly revolving transporting means (1) in a grinding region (3) by deflection about deflection rollers via rectilinear portions in a grinding region at an angle to the direction of conveyance, improved grinding results are facilitated as a result of increased degrees of freedom in the setting of the grinding parameters without high costs for drive motors if a drive means (13), with which the grinding elements (8) are driven in rotation by a common motor provided for rotationally driving these grinding elements (8), is provided for at least one group of a plurality of grinding elements (8), and in that the drive means (13) consists of a flex

Abstract: In through-feed grinding workpieces by grinding stones rotating around the axes of spindles, the spindles are tiltably held by elastic holding means around tilt axes substantially orthogonal to the direction of exit and entrance of the workpieces with respect to the grinding stones. When a grinding loads are imposed on the entrance sides of the grinding stones, the spindles are tilted by offset loads around the tilt axes against the force of urging means in such a manner that the axial displacement and the exit displacement of the grinding stone due to the offset load are substantially the same. The grinding stones are reset around the tilt axes by the elastic holding means immediately before the end of processing at which time the axial displacement is smaller. This makes it possible to reduce the number of defectively ground articles coming from the through-feed grinding and reduce the wear in the grinding stones.

Abstract: A ice skate blade sharpening machine comprises a skate holder which holds the blade in a releasably fixed position, a rotatable grinding wheel having a periphery and rotatable about a grinding wheel axis, and a contouring tool having a contour surface, moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the contouring tool is held in place with respect to the grinding wheel axis, the contour surface engages the rotating grinding wheel and grinds the periphery of the grinding wheel to define a grinding wheel contour, and wherein the grinding wheel contour grinds the blade to define a profile when the grinding wheel is rotating and the blade is held in the releasably fixed position.

Abstract: A device for grinding welding electrodes comprises a driving motor, a shaft driven by said driving motor and a grinding wheel driven by said driving motor through said shaft, said grinding wheel having a first and a second grinding surface. A first guiding block is provided having at least one first opening, said first opening defining a position relative to said first grinding surface and said opening being adapted to guide a welding electrode for grinding into said defined position relative to said first grinding surface, and a second guiding block having at least one second opening, said second opening defining a position relative to said second grinding surface and said second opening being adapted to guide a welding electrode for grinding into said defined position relative to said second grinding surface.

Abstract: An orbital rotary blade sharpener for sharpening rotary cutter blades and other rotary blades includes a bottom blade holding portion having a center and a perimeter edge, a top blade holding portion rotatably connectable to said bottom blade holding portion, having a perimeter and a center, a central shaft portion extending from said bottom blade holding portion through said top blade holding portion over which a rotary blade can be fitted, a radial shaft portion extending through said top blade holding portion positioned between the perimeter and the center of the top blade holding portion, and grinding portion connected to said radial shaft portion, and within said top blade holding portion, positioned to be orbitally revolvable around said bottom blade holding portion center and contactable with a blade held between said top and bottom blade holding portions.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing pad (200) that includes a polishing layer (204) having a polishing region (208) and containing a plurality of grooves (212) extending at least partially into the polishing region. During polishing, the grooves contain a slurry (236) that facilitates polishing. Each groove includes a plurality of mixing structures (220) configured to cause mixing of slurry located in a lower portion (240) of the groove with slurry located in the upper portion (244) of the groove.

Abstract: A device for processing welding electrodes includes a driving motor, a shaft, a housing and a first grinding wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft. The first grinding wheel is driven by the driving motor through the shaft. The lateral openings formed in the housing and are adapted to guide the welding electrode for grinding into a defined position relative to the first grinding wheel. A second grinding wheel is provided which is also driven by the shaft.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus for polishing a workpiece has a polishing unit and a cleaning unit. The polishing unit has a polishing table having a polishing surface thereon, and a top ring for pressing the workpiece against the polishing surface. The cleaning unit has a rotatable shaft configured to be vertically movable, a holding mechanism mounted to the rotatable shaft for detachably holding the workpiece, and a plurality of cleaning devices disposed around the rotatable shaft for cleaning the workpiece which has been polished in the polishing unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for grinding center bearings of crankshafts includes a clamping unit for clamping and driving a crankshaft; a grinding spindle, positionable perpendicular to the crankshaft; a plurality of grinding wheels on the grinding spindle, corresponding to the number of center bearings to be ground; a plurality of steadies, for supporting the crankshaft, opposite the grinding spindle; and an additional processing unit for performing preliminary grinding on the center bearing, by forming an elevated bearing seat for the steadies, opposite the bearing, such that the steadies are continuously guidable during grinding of the center bearings. In a method for grinding center bearings of a crankshaft using the apparatus, the center bearings are simultaneously ground using a multilayer grinding wheel set, and prior to a final grinding of the center bearings to their final dimensions, a bearing seat for a steady is ground on at least one center bearing.

Abstract: A finishing apparatus modifies the physical structure along the edge of a metal knife blade wherein the edge is formed at the junction of two edge facets presharpened with abrasives. The finishing apparatus consists of at least one precision angular knife guide that positions the edge of the blade into contact with the rigid surface of a driven moving member and positions the plane of the adjacent edge facet at a precise predetermined angle relative to the plane of the rigid surface that is harder than the metal of the knife and is without tendency to abrade.

Abstract: A sanding machine having a horizontal rotating sanding disc and a vertically located guide plate, with guide pins, for locating one mitered moulding (or the like) on each side of the guide plate; can sand and correct the angle, and or, length of the two mouldings at the same time. This machine also has a multi-angle adapter plate that is multi positional in cooperation with the two lower guide pins on each side of the vertical guide plate allowing any moulding with a mitered angle, from approximately 10 degrees up to and including 90 degrees, to be sanded.

Abstract: A drill bit sharpener includes a motor assembly and a drill bit grinding assembly. The motor assembly has a motor with a drive shaft to drive the drill bit grinding assembly, which includes a driven assembly, a sharpener housing, a grinding wheel assembly and a bit guide assembly. The sharpener housing is attached to the motor assembly, and the grinding wheel assembly is rotatably mounted in the sharpener housing and is rotated by the driven assembly. The bit guide assembly is mounted in the sharpener housing above the grinding wheel assembly. An adjusting screw in the bit guide assembly is used to adjust the grinding wheel assembly relative to the bit guide assembly. Multiple bit guide holes correspond to the grinding wheel assembly are defined in the bit guide assembly and allow a drill bit to pass through to abut the grinding wheel.

Abstract: A printed wiring board having a conductor pattern on which a pre-flux film of a stabilized quality is to be formed using a water-soluble pre-flux liquid. To this end, such an apparatus is used which includes an etching unit 12 for etching lands 5b, 6b formed on the printed wiring board 1, a rinsing unit 13 for rinsing the printed wiring board 1, a bubble removing unit 14 for removing air bubbles 58 attached to the printed wiring board 1 on immersing the printed wiring board 1 in a water-soluble pre-flux liquid 9a in a processing vessel 56, a pre-flux forming unit 15 for forming a pre-flux film 9 on the lands 5b, 6b of the printed wiring board 1 in the pre-flux liquid 9a using an in-liquid spraying unit 61, a liquid removing unit 16 for removing the pre-flux liquid 9a from the printed wiring board 1 transported from the processing vessel 56 and a rinsing unit 17 for rinsing the printed wiring board 1.

Abstract: A grinding apparatus for pointing electrodes for TIG welding including a rotatable grinding disc, a holding device for the electrode, and a feeding device for feeding the electrode toward the grinding disc, the holding device and the grinding disc being adjustable so that a longitudinal direction of the electrode forms a desired angle with the plane of the grinding disc. The feed device includes a drive roller which is adapted to press the electrode laterally toward the grinding disc and an axis of the rotation of the roller forms an angle with the longitudinal axis of the electrode so that the roller by rotation moves the electrode forwards towards the grinding disc.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) cell chamfering apparatus mainly comprises a grinding disc rotatably disposed in a housing, a liftable cover sealed an opening defined in the housing and a vacuum device for creating a vacuum in the housing relative to ambient. The liftable cover is provided with a track device mounted thereon. A slidable V-shaped clamp is mounted on the track device for holding a LCD cell. The corner of the LCD cell is brought into contact with the grinding disc, which is rotating, through an opening defined in the clamp and a slot defined in the cover thereby chamfering the corner of the LCD cell.

Abstract: A method of planarizing a semiconductor wafer having a polishing endpoint layer that includes a ligand is disclosed. One step of the method includes polishing a first side of the wafer in order to remove the ligand from the wafer. Another step of the method includes determining that a chelating agent has bound the ligand due to the polishing step removing the ligand of the polishing endpoint layer. The method also includes the step of terminating the polishing step in response to determining that the chelating agent has bound the ligand. A polishing system is also disclosed which detects a polishing endpoint based upon a chelating agent binding a ligand of a polishing endpoint layer of a semiconductor device.

Abstract: An abrasive machine includes a rotatably driven tool, chucking equipment for holding the work pieces and a feeding device for effecting relative displacement between the work piece and the rotatably driven tool. The machine further includes a tubular cylindrical housing, a shaft provided with a recess, a rotatable outer casing peripherally enclosing the housing, and a lid member connected to the casing and extending radially over a first end of the tubular cylindrical housing such that an inner surface of the lid members faces the first end of the housing. The rotatably driven tool includes abrasive material carried on the inner surface of the lid member. The shaft is arranged such that when the shaft executes an angular displacement, the work piece held by the chucking equipment is caused to approach and contact the abrasive material.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a floating mechanism of a load stage floats positioned wafers in concave parts, and then, the chucks hold the wafers by suction. Therefore, the chucks can easily hold the centered wafers.

Abstract: A versatile ultrahoned sharpener includes a stop assembly which contains an inner hardened structure such as being made from metal or ceramic to serve as a positive limiting stop if the knife being sharpened cuts excessively into the plastic stop assembly of the sharpener. The sharpener also includes a manually actuated abrasive surfaced unit for cleaning or shaping the surface of at least one of the sharpening wheels in the sharpener. The sharpener further includes various bearing structures for effectively mounting the motor driven shaft which rotates the abrasive coated disks of the sharpener.