Abstract: In one embodiment, a vibration barrel polishing method using a vibration barrel polishing system that includes a polishing tank having a bottom surface therein and a polishing jig capable of holding a workpiece and rotatable around a rotation axis is provided. This method includes a step of supporting the polishing jig in the polishing tank in a state in which a lowermost portion of the polishing jig is separated from the bottom surface, a clearance d between the lowermost portion of the polishing jig and the bottom surface being greater than or equal to a grain diameter of a polishing medium, a step of causing the polishing medium to flow in the polishing tank, and a step of rotating the polishing jig around the rotation axis in the state in which the lowermost portion of the polishing jig is separated from the bottom surface.

Abstract: A process for removing support material from a part made by an additive manufacturing process is disclosed. The part may be arranged in a media filled tank. Ultrasonic waves are directed for the part and/or support material. Ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic transducer are applied to a part or support material and cause the part to vibrate. The frequency of the ultrasonic energy may be tuned to cause the part and/or the support material to vibrate at its resonant frequency. The support material may have different properties, such as density, geometry, material, or porosity. Such differences may allow the support material to resonate in response to the applied ultrasonic energy waves at a different ultrasonic frequency than, the part itself.

Abstract: A system comprises a tank, a number of actuators, and an index table. The tank is configured to hold a fluid. The tank has a bottom, a number of walls, and an open top end. The number of actuators is configured to move the tank in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the tank. The index table is configured to hold a workpiece above the open top end such that movement of the tank in the direction perpendicular to the bottom of the tank moves the tank towards or away from the workpiece.

Abstract: A 3D magnetorheological polishing device and a magnetorheological polishing fluid are provided. The 3D magnetorheological polishing device includes a container and a magnetic field generator. The container is disposed with an accommodation space to accommodate a polishing fluid and a workpiece that is to be polished. The container is disposed on the magnetic field generator and rotates synchronously with the magnetic field generator. The container and the magnetic field generator are capable of rotating in conjunction at a predetermined speed, such that the polishing efficiency is improved.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a distal tip of an endoscope includes a driver configured to be mounted over a shaft of the endoscope, the driver adapted for generating transverse waves along a length of the shaft. The apparatus may be provided as a retrofit to existing equipment, or as a feature of new equipment. Methods of operation are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for treating a substrate. The method includes supplying cleaning particles to the substrate to clean the substrate. The cleaning particles are solid particles. The solid particles provide a shock wave to the substrate.

Abstract: Provided is a self-sharpening polishing device with magnetorheological flexible polishing pad formed by dynamic magnetic field and polishing method thereof. The device includes a polishing disc revolution mechanism and a multi-magnetic-pole synchronous rotary drive mechanism, the polishing disc revolution mechanism including a transmission shaft motor, a transmission shaft, a transfer disc, an eccentric shaft fixing disc, a cup-shaped polishing disc and a transmission shaft transmission mechanism, the multi-magnetic-pole synchronous rotary drive mechanism including an eccentric spindle, a synchronous rotary drive disc, flexible eccentric rotating shafts, eccentric sleeves, magnetic poles, the eccentric shaft fixing disc, and a spindle motor, etc. The device does not need a circulating device to renew magnetorheological fluid and does not need to renew the magnetorheological fluid during the finishing process; in fact the entire process from rough polishing to precise polishing can be done at one time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a metallic workpiece with defined edges (e.g., a gear) comprises media blasting of the workpiece by directing a first media against exposed surfaces on the workpiece to increase the root strength of the gear, the blasting causing the defined edges to be radiused or mushroomed, ceasing the media blasting, loading the workpiece into a finishing apparatus, and subjecting the workpiece to a finishing process with a second media, the exposed surfaces on the workpiece being subjected to the finishing process to reduce the radiused edges on the workpiece created from the media blasting. The process of moving the workpiece to the spindle-finishing apparatus from the media blasting may be performed automatically by a machine. Once the workpiece has been subjected to the finishing process with the second media, it may be removed from the spindle-finishing machine, washed, and rinsed with rust inhibitor whereby wear properties of the workpiece are enhanced.

Abstract: A prosthetic limb and process to digitally construct a prosthetic limb which includes first, digitally producing a modified mold of a residual limb via 3d scanners and software known to the industry; constructing a test socket from the digitally modified mold and be equipped with an alignable system; for example, a pylon, along with the desired prosthetic foot; accurately scanning the test socket, preferably with a 3D scanner, along with finalized alignment that has been recorded and adjusted by a certified practitioner to provide a 3-D Image of the finalized prosthetic alignment; transferring the finalized digital alignment of the test socket to the finalized digitally modified mold; once the modified model has received the transferred alignment, fabricating the type of hookup in the socket; i.e.

Abstract: A fixture assembly includes an inner diameter wall displaced from a main body by a first end wall with a convex surface and a second end wall with a concave surface. A method of machining a gas turbine engine component with an Abrasive Flow Media (AFM) process includes restricting a flow of media adjacent to an outer sidewall of an outer airfoil to be generally equal between each of a multiple of airfoils of the component.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a system and method of processing a surface using a mixture containing magnetic particles. A mixture is disposed on a workpiece and exposed to a dynamic magnetic field. In response to the dynamic magnetic field, the magnetic particles of the mixture may move along the workpiece. The movement of the magnetic particles creates a pattern of grooves on the surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A deburring device includes a barrel with a granulated polishing member filled therein. The barrel is configured by a case formed with an opening hole, and drop prevention member which is fixed to the case and prevents the polishing member from being dropped from the opening hole. A gap into which a tubular end section of a workpiece is inserted is formed between the opening hole of the case and the drop prevention member.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a system and method of processing a surface using a mixture containing magnetic particles. A mixture is disposed on a workpiece and exposed to a dynamic magnetic field. In response to the dynamic magnetic field, the magnetic particles of the mixture may move along the workpiece. The movement of the magnetic particles creates a pattern of grooves on the surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A system for magnetorheological finishing of a substrate. A spherical wheel meant for carrying a magnetorheological finishing fluid houses a variable-field permanent magnet system having north and south iron pole pieces separated by primary and secondary gaps with a cylindrical cavity bored through the center. A cylindrical permanent magnet magnetized normal to the cylinder axis is rotatably disposed in the cavity. An actuator allows rotation of the permanent magnet to any angle, which rotation changes the distribution of flux in the magnetic circuit through the pole pieces. Thus, one can control field intensity in the gaps by positioning the permanent magnet at whatever angle provides the required field strength. Because the field also passes above the pole pieces, defining a fringing field outside the wheel surface, the variable field extends through a layer of MR fluid on the wheel, thus varying the stiffness of the MR fluid as may be desired for finishing control.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for extending cutting tool life includes a vise, a jig provided in the vise adapted to hold or support a magnetic cutting tool insert, a magnet holder positioned above the jig that can be rotated, a magnet held in proximity to the jig by the magnet holder, and a mixture including abrasive particles that extends between the magnet and the jig, the mixture being supported by a magnetic field generated by the magnet, wherein when the magnet holder rotates, the magnet and the mixture of magnetic and abrasive particles rotate to finish a surface of the tool insert.

Abstract: A method useful for polishing a large number of miniature components such as multi-layer electronic components, within a high speed barrel polishing device, is disclosed. In various embodiments of the present invention, a vertical planetary ball mill or other barrel polishing device is modified to rotate polishing containers having a modified interior cavity structure. This interior cavity provides a smooth, gradually curved interior sidewall that improves circulation within the container during high-speed vertical polishing rotation. The improved circulation results in polishing for a larger number of components placed within the container and in less time than existing polishing container structures. In further embodiments, the containers are rotated around a generally tilted axis positioned at an angle between entirely vertical and horizontal positions. Rotation about a tilted axis further reduces collisions and increases relative polishing movement within the container.

Abstract: A machine for the flow finishing of mechanical pieces is described. The machine has a rotary vat for containing finishing media and a unit for moving pieces having at least one mechanical arm for moving the pieces being machined, said mechanical arm being associated to means for rotating the pieces within the rotary vat, the rotary vat has at least two separate sections formed by concentric circular crowns.

Abstract: A system, fixture and method for media finishing a cluster of airfoils are provided. The fixture may include a base having a first end and a second end, a receptacle disposed on the base and configured to receive the stator cluster, and at least one mock airfoil disposed at each of the first and second ends of the base in alignment with the airfoils of the cluster.

Abstract: A finisher arrangement for surface finishing of parts, including a bowl-type centrifugal finishing device for agitating a mixture of parts and treating media within the bowl, and a handler for loading and unloading the parts/media to and from the bowl, respectively. The finishing device and handler are positioned sidewardly adjacent but on opposite sides of a rotary drive unit which defines a transfer horizontal drive axis. Arm linkages couple each of the finishing device and handler to the drive unit so that each is independently vertically swingable about the drive axis into respective loading and unloading positions.

Abstract: A subtle vortex polishing apparatus includes a receiving unit; a stirring unit, movably provided in the receiving unit; and a transmission unit, connected to the stirring unit. The workpiece to be polished and the fluid abrasive are placed in the in the receiving unit. The stirring unit is driven by the transmission unit so that the fluid abrasive in the receiving unit forms the eddy friction for polishing the workpiece and the deburring, polishing, chamfering for the workpiece can be finished in one time. Thereby, the grinding effect of the inner and outer surfaces of the workpiece enhances, and this invention can be thus used in processing small, bored, cracked, cambered complex surfaces, achieving the effects of easy operation, single-sided or multi-surface processing at the same time, increase in the processing rate, significant reduce in labor intensity, reduced processing costs and improved productivity.

Abstract: A surface treatment device and a surface treatment method for a long wirelike article, capable of grinding the surface of the long wirelike article efficiently with powder by cyclically repeating pressing and release of an elastic tube filled with the powder. At least one surface treatment unit includes a tube filled with powder which can be supplied to and discharged from the tube, and having a long wirelike article movably passing through the powder, a pressing mechanism for cyclically pressing and releasing the tube, and a feed mechanism for moving the long wirelike article passing through the powder.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of cleaning tanks configured to store a cleaning liquid, an object-to-be-processed holder capable of being inserted into each cleaning tank, the object-to-be-processed holder being configured to hold an object to be processed and to immerse the object to be processed into the cleaning liquid, a vibrator disposed on each cleaning tank, a single ultrasonic oscillator configured to make each vibrator ultrasonically vibrate, an output switch interposed between the ultrasonic oscillator and the vibrator of each respective cleaning tank, the output switch being configured to switch the vibrator that is connected to the ultrasonic oscillator, and a control device configured to control the ultrasonic oscillator and the output switch, wherein the control device controls the ultrasonic oscillator and the output switch such that a timing at which the vibrator of one of the cleaning tanks is made to ultrasonically vibrate, and a tim

Abstract: An abrasive element consisting substantially of a glass material that is at least partially devitrified.

Abstract: A device for polishing centrifugal impellers for a turbomachine including a vat configured to be filled with a polishing agent, and an impeller support configured to make the impeller rotate around its axis and move it along its axis such that all of points of the impeller have a helical movement whereof the pitch is close to that of the helix from which the general shape of the airflow channels of the impeller comes, delimited by the blades of the impeller.

Abstract: A system for magnetorheological finishing of a substrate. An integrated fluid management module (IFMM) provides dynamic control of the rheological fluid properties of the MR fluid on a conventional MR finishing apparatus, and dispensing of the fluid to the wheel. A magnetically shielded chamber charged with MR fluid is in contact with the carrier wheel. A transverse line removes the spent MR fluid from the wheel as the ribbon leaves the work zone. Replenishment fluid is added to the chamber via a dripper, and preferably an electric mixer agitates MR fluid in the chamber. A grooved magnetically-shielded insert at the exit of the chamber forms a polishing ribbon on the carrier wheel as the wheel is turned. A sensor sensitive to concentration of magnetic particles provides a signal for control of MR fluid properties, particularly, water content in the MR fluid. Means is provided for cooling fluid within the chamber.

Abstract: A vibratory finishing medium element having at least a portion comprising a devitrified material.

Abstract: There are disclosed a polishing method and a polishing device in which cleaning of a glass substrate surface can be achieved to a high level. A glass substrate (MD substrate 1) in the shape of a circular disc having a circular hole in a center portion is polished with an abrasive liquid 50 containing free abrasive grains being supplied, and an inner peripheral end surface of the glass substrate is polished using the abrasive liquid containing the free abrasive grains by rotating a rotary brush 4 or a polishing pad in contact with the inner peripheral end surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polishing apparatus including a shell, a magnetic controller, an axle, a pusher, a ring, posts, and a stirring element. The shell includes a roof, a floor and a wall between the roof and the floor. Abrasive solution is filled in the shell. The abrasive solution includes abrasive grains and magnetic material. The magnetic controller is located around the wall. The axle can be engaged with a rotary element of a machine. The pusher is connected to the axle and inserted through the roof. A ring is located between the pusher and the wall. Posts are located between the ring and the floor. The stirring element is located on the floor.

Abstract: A device for polishing centrifugal impellers for a turbomachine including a vat configured to be filled with a polishing agent, and an impeller support configured to make the impeller rotate around its axis and move it along its axis such that all of points of the impeller have a helical movement whereof the pitch is close to that of the helix from which the general shape of the airflow channels of the impeller comes, delimited by the blades of the impeller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for spiral polishing with electromagnetic abrasive has adopted the principle of electromagnetic and magnetic abrasive along with a lead screw to polish the inner or outer surface of a precise screw or a complicated part. The apparatus includes a clamp, a lead screw, a first electromagnet, and a second electromagnet assembled in an airtight space, wherein the airtight space is filled with magnetic abrasive which is driven by the rotation of the lead screw and the electromagnetic function to polish a processed part in a regular shape or in an irregular shape.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for spiral polishing with electromagnetic abrasive has adopted the principle of electromagnetic and magnetic abrasive along with a lead screw to polish the inner or outer surface of a precise screw or a complicated part. The apparatus includes a clamp, a lead screw, a first electromagnet, and a second electromagnet assembled in an airtight space, wherein the airtight space is filled with magnetic abrasive which is driven by the rotation of the lead screw and the electromagnetic function to polish a processed part in a regular shape or in an irregular shape.

Abstract: A method for cleaning anode media, the method comprising removing the anode media from an electroplating system, and removing scale coatings from substrates of the anode media by vibrational polishing the anode media with abrasive particles.

Abstract: A vibrating lap polishing system for flat items, comprising a polish pan with flexible bottom mounted on a base having three or more round-head bolts of equal height extending vertically above the base surface and positioned at one hundred twenty degree spacing on a circle about the base center; a center bolt attached to and extending below the pan center into a nut rotated by horizontally positioned gears, a center gear which rotates the nut and an outer meshed gear available from the outside work area to raise and lower the workpiece during operation. Means, which put no holes in the polish pan, are provided to pull the polish pan down onto the round-head bolts which create raised areas in the flexible pan-bottom. A flat-bottomed multi-item workpiece is circulated and rotated in an unsynchronized manner over the raised areas which creates a complete polish of the workpiece after sufficient cycles.

Abstract: Fluid jet polishing (FJP) is a method of contouring and polishing a surface of a component by aiming a jet of a slurry of working fluid from a nozzle at the component and eroding the surface to create a desired shape. During erosion, the end of the nozzle and the component are submerged within the working fluid, whereby air is not introduced into the closed loop of working fluid slurry. Any bubbles that are present in the system simply bubble to an air pocket at the top of the erosion chamber and are not re-circulated, thereby producing surfaces with very smooth surface finishes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polishing apparatus including a shell, a magnetic controller, an axle, a pusher, a ring, posts, and a stirring element. The shell includes a roof, a floor and a wall between the roof and the floor. Abrasive solution is filled in the shell. The abrasive solution includes abrasive grains and magnetic material. The magnetic controller is located around the wall. The axle can be engaged with a rotary element of a machine. The pusher is connected to the axle and inserted through the roof. A ring is located between the pusher and the wall. Posts are located between the ring and the floor. The stirring element is located on the floor.

Abstract: A positioning member is used to position the movable jaw to the sliding groove of the adjustable wrench and the adjustable wrench together with the positioning member are applied by vibrate grinding technology so as to make the outer surface of the movable jaw to be a mirror surface and the rod of the movable jaw is kept as the surface condition after being machine. The tolerance between the rod and the sliding groove is controlled within expected range.

Abstract: A hand held machine for polishing submerged surfaces, i.e. a pool powered by pressurized water with only one rotating element enclosed in a two part casing, feeded through a pressure connector, and using standard commercial polishing disks that uses pressurized water as power source.

Abstract: The invention relates to fluid jet polishing machine including a pump that maintains a constant pressure in the polishing fluid during each pass of a nozzle over a component. Fluid actuated diaphragms expand and contract the volume of a pair of pump chambers, thereby eliminating the need for high-speed shafts or components in contact with the abrasive slurry.

Abstract: A fluid barrel-polishing device comprises a cylindrical fixed tank (1) and a turntable (2) that is located at the bottom of the tank (1) with a gap (3) that allows it to rotate horizontally, and wherein when workpieces and media are thrown in the fixed tank (1) and the turntable (2) is rotated horizontally, the workpieces and the media circulate and form themselves into a mass (M) and thereby the workpieces are polished, wherein an inner cylinder (4) is rotatably or fixedly placed coaxially on the center of the rotation of the turntable (2) and it allows the workpieces in the mass (M) to be polished with the inside of the mass (M) contacting the wall of the inner cylinder (4) and with its outside contacting the wall of the fixed tank (1).

Abstract: A linear motion apparatus has a guide shaft including a spiral-shaped or linear-shaped rolling element rolling groove, a movable body including a spiral-shaped or linear-shaped rolling element rolling groove opposed to the rolling element rolling groove of the guide shaft, a large number of rolling elements rollably moving along a rolling element rolling passage formed between the rolling element rolling grooves of the guide shaft and movable body and, a rolling element return passage communicating with the rolling element rolling passage, wherein, in the portion of the rolling element rolling groove of the movable body that is adjacent to an open end of a rolling element return passage, an escape portion is formed by abrasive flow machining in such a manner that the grinding depth thereof increases gradually toward the open end of the rolling element return passage.

Abstract: The present invention is applied in the fields of precise transmission devices, bio-medical devices and military-use devices to polish a surface of an object by an abrasive carried by the rotating of a screw.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for forming a spherical component using a centrifugal processing machine. The process includes the steps of providing a component having an initial shape with at least a portion that is non-spherical, placing the component into a container in the centrifugal processor, adding a first stage abrasive media into the container, and rotating the container so as to produce centrifugal and rotational motion of the abrasive within the container. The motion of the abrasive causes the component shape to change from the initial shape to a substantially spherical shape through the repeated contacting of the component's surface by the abrasive. In one embodiment, the components are further processed in a second stage using a different media to polish the surface of the component.

Abstract: A method of polishing an object is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of creating a polishing zone within a magnetorheological fluid; determining the characteristics of the contact between the object and the polishing zone necessary to polish the object; controlling the consistency of the fluid in the polishing zone; bringing the object into contact with the polishing zone of the fluid; and moving at least one of said object and said fluid with respect to the other. Also disclosed is a polishing device.

Abstract: An abrasive flow apparatus for polishing a workpiece wherein a horizontal machine tool is adapted such that a workpiece may be secured to first shaft rotatable about a first longitudinal axis. A conjugate form to the workpiece may be secured to a second shaft which is rotatable about a second longitudinal axis. The workpiece and conjugate form are secured to each shaft in a manner such that they are facing one another and slightly set apart to define a gap. A flowable abrasive media is introduced within this gap. The centerlines of the workpiece and the conjugate form are offset from one another such that rotation of the shafts in the same direction and at the same rotational speed produces relative motion between the workpiece and the conjugate form thereby polishing the workpiece. A slide may be used for axially positioning the first shaft and the second shaft a predetermined distance to define the size of the gap.

Abstract: An arcuate, preferably cylindrical, magnetic shunt bar supports a plurality of pin magnets having alternate north and south orientations, defining a ring-shaped array of magnets of alternating orientation. The magnet free ends opposite the shunt bar are positioned to conform closely to the shape of a surface to be sealed, forming a narrow gap therebetween containing a multi-polar magnetic field extending beyond the free ends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface. The axes of the magnets may be disposed at any desired angular orientation to the surface. Magnetorheological fluid (MRF) in the gap is magnetically stiffened and held as a dynamic seal. The arrangement is useful as a shaft seal, wherein the seal surface passes axially through the array, and also as a wiper for MRF from a carrier surface wherein the surface passes by the array.

Abstract: A surface of the gas turbine blade is smoothed by way of a drag finish process. A first ring-shaped container is filled with a liquid abrasive medium. A second container which is arranged next to the first container is filled with a second liquid abrasive medium. A pivoting arm is arranged between and above the containers and can be pivoted along a pivoting direction. A drag device is arranged on the pivoting arm. The drag device leads a gas turbine blade on a carrier arm through the abrasive medium.

Abstract: An abrasive device may include first ring-shaped container filled with a liquid abrasive medium. A second container may be arranged next to the first container and filled with a second liquid abrasive medium. A pivoting arm may be arranged between and above the containers and can be pivoted along a pivoting direction. A drag device may be arranged on the pivoting arm. The drag device may lead a gas turbine blade on a carrier arm through the abrasive medium.

Abstract: An electroetching process of the present invention uses a multiphase environment for planarizing a wafer with conductive surface having a non-uniform topography. The multiphase environment includes a high resistance phase and an etching solution phase. The conductive surface to be planarized is placed in the high resistance phase and adjacent a phase interface between the high resistance phase and the etching solution phase. A wiper is used to mechanically move the thin high resistance phase covering the conductive surface so that the raised regions of the non-planar conductive surface is briefly exposed to etching solution phase. The mechanical action of the wiper does not disturb the high resistivity phase filling the rescessed regions of the surface. As the raised surface locations are exposed, the etching solution phase contacts and electroetch the exposed regions of the raised regions until the surface planarized.

Abstract: There are disclosed a polishing method and a polishing device in which cleaning of a glass substrate surface can be achieved to a high level. A glass substrate (MD substrate 1) in the shape of a circular disc having a circular hole in a center portion is polished with an abrasive liquid 50 containing free abrasive grains being supplied, and an inner peripheral end surface of the glass substrate is polished using the abrasive liquid containing the free abrasive grains by rotating a rotary brush 4 or a polishing pad in contact with the inner peripheral end surface.

Abstract: An internal magnetic-force polishing system is disclosed for finishing a interior metal surface of a material. The system comprises a magnetic electrolysis-polishing which is adapted for finishing the interior metal surface of the material. A cathode terminal is provided for contacting pre-finished material and a transfer unit is also provided for transferring material from the cathode terminal to the magnetic electrolysis-polishing unit. The system has an electrolyte feeding unit which stores electrolytes and supplies the electrolyte to the magnetic electrolysis-polishing unit. A control unit is provided for controlling the transfer unit, the magnetic electrolysis-polishing unit and the electrolyte feeding unit.