Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus removes foreign substances from a substrate at high removal efficiency. The substrate processing apparatus includes: a scrubber to perform surface processing of the substrate by bringing a scrubbing member into sliding contact with a first surface of the substrate, a hydrostatic support mechanism for supporting a second surface of the substrate via fluid pressure without contacting the substrate, the second surface being an opposite surface of the first surface, a cleaner to clean the processed substrate, and a dryer to dry the cleaned substrate. The scrubber brings the scrubbing member into sliding contact with the first surface while rotating the scrubbing member about a central axis of the scrubber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method of making a lubricant composition for lapping a ceramic material. The method includes mixing a base lubricant component and a powdered wax composition component to form the lubricant composition. The powdered wax composition component includes a powdered wax dispersion or a powdered wax emulsion. The amount of powdered wax composition component mixed with the base lubricant component is from 0.01 to 10 percent by weight of the lubricant composition. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of related lubricant compositions and/or methods of using the lubricant to lap a ceramic substrate (e.g., one or more bars of sliders).

Abstract: A golf ball kit having an abrasive material adapted for imparting enhanced micro surface roughness to an exterior surface of a golf ball. The enhanced micro surface roughening affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness. The kit includes an instruction device having a plurality of correlations between at least one performance parameter and micro surface roughness for at least a first golf ball.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a hose and wand assembly onto which a floor tool may be attached. The wand includes a plurality of telescoping tubes which can slide between retracted and extended positions. In order to be able to transmit power and signals from the vacuum cleaner to the end of the wand assembly, conductors are provided in a channel in the hose. The hose is connected to the interior of the wand, just beyond the last telescoping joint, with the conductors extending beyond the end of the hose to a connector at the far end of the wand. This arrangement automatically provides a reliable electrical connection down the wand. Previously, electrical conductors were not employed with this type of wand as it was not straightforward to provide electrical connections across the telescoping parts.

Abstract: An apparatus for deburring boards includes a platform, on which first and second guiding rail units perpendicular to each other are fixed, a deburring unit mounted on the first guiding rail unit, a carrying unit adapted for carrying the boards and mounted movably on the second guiding rail unit perpendicular to the first guiding rail unit, and a driving unit disposed on the platform and operable to drive the carrying unit to move between a loading/unloading zone, where the carrying unit is spaced apart from the deburring unit, and a processing zone, where the carrying unit is disposed between opposite deburring members of the deburring unit so that opposite deburred edges of each board contact respectively the deburring members. The driving unit further drives the carrying unit to move back and forth within the processing zone a predetermined number of times, thereby deburring the boards.

Abstract: A fiber grinding process includes: contacting an end of the optical fiber with a grinding surface in such a manner that a central axis of the optical fiber at the end is inclined to the grinding surface; rotating the optical fiber about the central axis; and changing a contact pressure between the end of the optical fiber and the grinding surface by applying a variable torque while rotating the optical fiber. A substantially cone-shaped end face with a substantially elliptic cross-section may be produced. A fiber grinding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for lapping a slider comprises a lapping head for supporting elements while pressing the elements against a rotating lapping plate, the elements that are to be formed into sliders, a holding mechanism for supporting the lapping head, the holding mechanism having a first engaging member that extends in a vertical direction, a base for supporting the holding mechanism, the base having a second engaging member that extends in the vertical direction, wherein the second engaging member is engaged with the first engaging member to form an internal space therebetween, and a decompressing mechanism for decompressing the internal space. The holding mechanism is subjected to vertically upward force from the decompressed internal space in order to be movably supported by the base in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A cleaning sheet has a disc-shaped substrate. First and second polishing layers are disposed over the substrate. The first polishing layer has a surface formed in a surface-roughened fashion to polish a tip section of each probe needle and has the function of removing adherents leading to inhibition of electrical conduction, which have been adhered to the tip of the needle in a coating or film form. The second polishing layer is a layer in which a large number of polishing grains are mixed into an elastic member and has the function of sticking the tip of the probe needle into the elastic member to remove foreign substances. The height of the surface of the second polishing layer is set so as to become identical to or slightly higher than that of the surface of the first polishing layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed wherein, while holding an optical fiber 1 by an optical fiber holder section 4 so as to serve a distal end 1a of the optical fiber 1 as a free end and holding the distal end 1a of the optical fiber 1 in contact with a grinding flat portion 5b to cause the distal end 1a of the optical fiber 1 to be flexed on the grinding flat portion 5b, reciprocating movement for causing the distal end 1a of the optical fiber 1 to slide on the grinding flat portion 5b in a first sliding direction and an oppositely orientated second sliding direction is relatively implemented a plural number of times between the grinding flat portion 5b and the distal end 1a of the optical fiber 1.

Abstract: A polishing method with a polishing apparatus includes an electrode constituted as a plurality of electrode elements, a device of driving the electrode, and dielectric abrasive particles disposed between the electrode and a workpiece. Polishing pressure is applied to the particles by a Coulomb force generated when an alternating-current voltage is applied to the electrode.

Abstract: A tool for sizing an O.D. surface of a cylindrical workpiece includes a rotatable substantially cylindrical member having an inner work-engaging surface adapted for finishing the O.D. surface of the cylindrical workpiece. The inner work-engaging surface includes abrasive particles thereon and defines a bore to receive the workpiece. The substantially cylindrical member includes at least one longitudinal split permitting radial expansion and contraction of at least part of the cylindrical portion for workpiece O.D. size adjustment.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to prevent a lapping member from being cut by an edge of a slider when the edge is chamfered by lapping it with the lapping member. A slider held by a slider holding jig according to the invention is put in contact with a diamond lapping sheet. A load applying portion moves weights provided in the form of a plurality of stages downward from a state in which the lower end of a shaft portion of the weight at the bottom stage is located above the slider holding jig without contacting the slider holding jig, thereby loading the slider holding jig with the weights sequentially from the bottom stage.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to prevent a lapping member from being cut by an edge of a slider when the edge is chamfered by lapping it with the lapping member. A slider held by a slider holding jig according to the invention is put in contact with a diamond lapping sheet. A load applying portion moves weights provided in the form of a plurality of stages downward from a state in which the lower end of a shaft portion of the weight at the bottom stage is located above the slider holding jig without contacting the slider holding jig, thereby loading the slider holding jig with the weights sequentially from the bottom stage.

Abstract: Midspan access to selected optical fibers which are encapsulated in an optical ribbon or tube is achieved by placing the desired span of the encapsulated fibers to be accessed between opposing abrasive layers and controllably urging at least one of the abrasive layers in the direction of the opposing abrasive layer to cause both abrasive layers to contact the encapsulant which covers the fibers. The amount of force applied to the at least one abrasive layer is limited by the structure of a resilient element which is coupled to the abrasive surface. Stress concentrators are created in the encapsulant and the encapsulant is removed from the span portion by relative movement of the encapsulated fibers and the abrasive layers. A minimum separation distance between the opposing abrasive layers can be defined, according to the thickness of the specific encapsulated fiber medium undergoing fiber separation, to avoid contact between the abrasive surfaces and the fibers within the medium.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for applying a controlled load to a specimen being polishing in an automatic polishing machine including a tension spring for exerting a downward load which is transmitted to the specimen to press the same against an abrasive polishing member, and a stepper motor connected by a plurality of mechanical elements to one end of the tension spring whereby through use of a microprocessor the stepper motor may be operated to control the load applied to the specimen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for lapping the air bearing surfaces of hard disk head sliders including the steps of installing a lapping plate charged with lapping abrasive onto a lapping contour plate, applying a negative pressure to a cavity of the lapping contour plate communicating with the charged lapping plate to deform the lapping plate into conformance with a contour of the lapping contour plate, applying a lapping force to a slider in contact with the lapping plate, and moving the slider relative to the lapping plate to form an air bearing contour following the contour of the lapping contour plate.

Abstract: An outside diameter finishing tool (10) has an outer shell (16) and an inner annular abrasive layer (22) for precision finishing the outer surfaces of generally cylindrical workpieces. The inner layer (22) of the tool (10) is made of superabrasives and defines the cutting size of the tool (10). The inner layer (22) cuts simultaneously around the full periphery of a cylindrical workpiece rotated within the tool (10). A slot (14) is provided through the tool (10) to allow for radial adjustment of the cutting size of the tool (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for polishing semiconductor wafers and, in particular, one in which the polishing pads are linear, that is, the polishing pads have a long linear dimension relative to their width and have a uniform cross-section along this linear dimension. In addition, the wafer holder travels in a straight line parallel to the long linear dimension of the polishing pads.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for polishing the end face of an optical fiber encapsulated within a ferrule portion of a fiber optic connector device which terminates the optical fiber. The end of the optical fiber projects from the ferrule portion. A mounting plate has a forward surface and a receptacle for mounting the connector device, with the end of the optical fiber projecting from the forward surface, to permit the end face to be polished by moving the mounting plate over an appropriate polishing surface. A polishing plate forms a substrate having a recess in a forward surface thereof. A polishing film is adhered to the substrate, spanning the recess, to define an air space beneath the film in the recess.