US20050136812A1 - Precision surface polishing equipment - Google Patents
Precision surface polishing equipment Download PDFInfo
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- US20050136812A1 US20050136812A1 US10/742,498 US74249803A US2005136812A1 US 20050136812 A1 US20050136812 A1 US 20050136812A1 US 74249803 A US74249803 A US 74249803A US 2005136812 A1 US2005136812 A1 US 2005136812A1
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- Prior art keywords
- polishing
- compliant
- polished
- fluid
- spaced
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
- B24B—MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING; DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS
- B24B13/00—Machines or devices designed for grinding or polishing optical surfaces on lenses or surfaces of similar shape on other work; Accessories therefor
- B24B13/01—Specific tools, e.g. bowl-like; Production, dressing or fastening of these tools
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
- B24B—MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING; DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS
- B24B29/00—Machines or devices for polishing surfaces on work by means of tools made of soft or flexible material with or without the application of solid or liquid polishing agents
Definitions
- the invention relates generally to the field of precision surface polishing, and in particular to polishing of general surfaces. More specifically, the invention relates to a tool for polishing precision surfaces.
- polishing general surfaces such as aspheric optical surfaces
- existing polishing devices and systems have proven woefully inadequate.
- the contact between the polishing tool and the surface must be much smaller than the pads used for planar or spherical surfaces, because the local radius of curvature varies across the surface.
- polishing pads that are entirely sufficient for polishing planar or spherical surfaces are not sufficiently compliant to accommodate the variations in curvature radius inherent in aspheric surfaces to be polished.
- precision surface polishing equipment has a rigid frame and a polishing element mounted for rotation in the rigid frame.
- the polishing element has a substantially rigid support member cooperatively associated with a compliant polishing member fixedly attached thereto.
- the compliant polishing member has a plurality of spaced polishing portions for engaging a surface to be polished, each one of the plurality of spaced polishing portions being projected radially outwardly from the substantially rigid support member. Nearest adjacent of the plurality of spaced polishing portions form a fluid transport region therebetween when the compliant polishing member is in compressive contact with the surface to be polished.
- Means associated with the rigid frame is provided for rotating the polishing element. Further, a polishing fluid is applied to the surface with an appropriate means such as a reservoir connected to a fluid nozzle. The layer of polishing fluid is substantially evenly applied onto the surface to be polished when disposed in the fluid transport region of the polishing element.
- the polishing device can polish aspheric surfaces.
- the polishing device of the invention is not complicated to manufacture and is easy to use.
- FIG. 1A is an elevated, slightly tilted side view of the polishing device of the invention
- FIG. 1B is an elevated side view of the polishing device of FIG. 1A partially sectioned and exploded to show the lobes of the polishing member;
- FIG. 2 is a schematic of the polishing tool of the invention during polishing
- FIG. 3A is an elevated side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 3B is an elevated side view of the embodiment of FIG. 3A partially sectioned and exploded to show the features of the polishing member;
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the compliant polishing member used in the embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B ;
- FIGS. 5A-5F are top plan views of several exemplary compliant polishing members used in the invention.
- FIG. 6A is an elevated side view of another alternative embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 6B is an elevated side view of the embodiment of FIG. 6A partially sectioned and exploded to show the polishing member
- FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the compliant pad illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B ;
- FIG. 8A is an elevated side view of yet another embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 8B is the embodiment of FIG. 8A partially sectioned and exploded to show the polishing member
- FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the compliant pad of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B ;
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a polishing tool containing the polishing element of the invention.
- FIG. 11 is an elevated side view of the polishing tool of FIG. 9 in service polishing a surface
- polishing element 10 of the first embodiment of the invention has a substantially rigid support member 12 with an outer perimeter 14 for cooperatively associating with a tool, such as the exemplary rotary tool shown in FIG. 10 .
- the outer perimeter 14 terminates at one end with a mounting surface 16 provided for affixing a compliant polishing member or pad 18 .
- Compliant polishing member 18 may be affixed to mounting surface 16 in any number of ways including gluing, friction or interference fit, or with a screw.
- the compliant polishing member 18 may be molded to the mounting surface 16 .
- polishing tool 26 comprises a polishing fluid applicator or nozzle 23 and the polishing element 10 (compliant polishing member 18 only illustrated) in a precision surface polishing application, for example, polishing an aspheric optical surface 22 .
- Compliant polishing member 18 of the invention has a plurality of regularly spaced polishing portions or lobes 20 for spreading polishing fluid 21 across the surface 22 to be polished.
- the recess 24 between nearest adjacent lobes 20 enables a predetermined amount of polishing fluid 21 to be spread in a predictable manner across the surface 22 to be polished.
- the polishing element 10 is structurally mounted into a spindle (not shown) of a rotary device ( FIG. 11 ) via the substantially rigid support member 12 ( FIGS. 1A and 1B ).
- the polishing element 10 is rotated while in compressive contact with the surface 22 to be polished.
- a polishing fluid such as a slurry of abrasive particles, is disposed, typically via nozzle 23 , in an interfacial area between adjacent lobes 20 of the compliant polishing element 10 and the surface 22 to be polished.
- the plurality of spaced polishing portions or lobes 20 traps polishing fluid 21 between the surface 22 to be polished and the nearest of the lobes 20 . This action forces the polishing fluid 21 across the surface 22 to be polished. In the process, it also prevents polishing fluid starvation from any area on the surface 22 to be polished.
- polishing element 30 has a substantially rigid support member 33 and a compliant polishing member 35 mounted on an end portion (not shown) of the support member 33 .
- Compliant polishing member 35 has a plurality of spaced lobes 37 each being connected to a nearest adjacent lobe 37 by a recess 39 .
- a continuous groove 41 passes through each of the lobes 37 about the circumference of the compliant polishing member 35 .
- a portion of each lobe 37 separated by the groove 41 is directed inwardly towards the groove 41 .
- Groove 41 prevents polishing fluid 21 from escaping from between the lobes 37 and surface to be polished 22 (shown in FIG. 2 ) as polishing element 30 rotates.
- continuous groove 41 is clearly shown in a close-up view of the polishing element 30 .
- each of these substantially star-shaped configurations 40 , 50 , 60 , 70 , 80 , 90 may be used in the polishing element 10 of the invention to produce substantially the same result. More particularly, each of the substantially star-shaped configurations 40 , 50 , 60 , 70 , 80 , 90 produces similar favorable fluid dynamics at the interface of the surface 22 and compliant polishing member 18 .
- configuration 40 has typically six lobes 42 having rounded peaks 44 separated by slightly arcuate recesses 46 which form a slightly arcuate angled lobe 42 .
- configuration 50 has a plurality of lobes 52 (typically six) each having a relatively flat and substantially straight peak 54 separated from the nearest adjacent lobe 52 by a slightly curved recess 56 to form a flat, substantially straight lobe 52 .
- configuration 60 has a plurality of lobes 62 (typically six) each having a relatively narrow and slightly rounded peak 64 separated by a slightly curved recess 66 to form a substantially straight lobe 62 .
- FIG. 5B configuration 50 has a plurality of lobes 52 (typically six) each having a relatively flat and substantially straight peak 54 separated from the nearest adjacent lobe 52 by a slightly curved recess 56 to form a flat, substantially straight lobe 52 .
- configuration 60 has a plurality of lobes 62 (typically six) each having a relatively narrow and slightly rounded peak 64 separated by a slightly curved recess 66 to form a substantially straight lobe 62 .
- configuration 70 has a plurality of lobes 72 (typically six) each having a relatively narrow and round peak 74 separated from the nearest adjacent lobe 72 by substantially curved recess 76 to form a narrow, substantially arcuate shaped lobe 72 .
- configuration 80 has a plurality of lobes 82 each having a narrow rounded peak 84 separated from the nearest adjacent peak 84 by substantially wide, arcuate shaped recess 86 to form a substantially wide arcuate lobe 82 .
- configuration 90 has a plurality of lobes 92 each having a narrow, very round peak 94 separated from the nearest adjacent narrow, very round peak 94 by a very arcuate shaped recess 96 to form a narrow, very arcuate lobe 92 .
- compliant polishing element 100 has a substantially disk-shaped polishing member 102 supported on substantially rigid support 104 .
- a central opening 106 passes through the compliant polishing member 102 for locating onto the substantially rigid support 104 .
- substantially rigid support 104 cooperates with a rotary tool for polishing a work piece (Shown in FIG. 10 ).
- compliant polishing element 100 is characterized by a plurality of spaced depressions 108 arranged in the circumference 110 of the compliant polishing member 102 .
- the portions of the circumference 110 between the depressions 108 form the compliant polishing portions 112 .
- the spaced depressions 108 trap the polishing fluid between the surface 22 to be polished and the compliant polishing member 102 during polishing. Further, spaced depressions 108 assure that the polishing fluid will spread across the surface without leaving voids. Depressions 108 may be formed in the circumference of compliant polishing member 102 in a number of ways, including cutting or forming during a molding process.
- the compliant polishing element 120 has a substantially rigid support 122 and a compliant polishing member 124 attached to one end of the rigid support 122 .
- compliant polishing member 124 has a plurality of spaced compliant polishing portions 126 each having a surface shape generally in the form of a torus, as best seen in FIG. 9 .
- the compliant polishing portions surround recessed portions 128 .
- the substantially torus-shaped compliant polishing member 124 traps polishing fluid between the interface of the surface 22 to be polished and the recessed portions 128 of the compliant polishing member 124 .
- Compliant polishing member 124 further provides means for distributing the polishing fluid across the surface area of the surface 22 to be polished.
- polishing equipment 200 for precision polishing a general surface, for instance an aspheric optical surface
- FIG. 11 a partial schematic of polishing element 220 of polishing equipment 200 is shown polishing an aspheric surface 240 ( FIG. 11 ).
- polishing equipment 200 comprises a movable work piece holder 210 for precise engagement by compliant polishing member 230 of polishing element 220 .
- Polishing element 220 comprises compliant polishing member 230 affixed to substantially rigid support member or frame 250 .
- polishing element 220 is slightly angled from the polishing surface normal ( FIG. 11 ).
- Means, such as a nozzle (described above) is provided for applying a layer of polishing fluid onto the surface to be polished. The polishing fluid is not shown. This configuration allows polishing of flat surfaces and concavities using a uniform contact condition.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Grinding And Polishing Of Tertiary Curved Surfaces And Surfaces With Complex Shapes (AREA)
Abstract
Precision polishing equipment polishes a general surface, such as an aspheric optical surface. A polishing element is rotatably mounted in a frame of the equipment. Polishing element has a compliant polishing member fixedly mounted to a substantially rigid support member. Compliant polishing member has plurality of spaced polishing portions for engaging the surface to be polished and trapping polishing fluid between the interface of the surface to be polished and nearest polishing portion in contact with the surface. Important advantages derived from the polishing equipment of the invention are that it can efficiently polish a general surface, such as an aspheric optical surface, and it enables the polishing fluid to evenly flow across the surface to be polished.
Description
- The present application is related to U.S. Ser. No. 10/645,692 filed Aug. 21, 2003 of Randolph C. Brost, entitled “Compliant Polishing Element And Method Of Manufacturing The Same”, Atty. Docket No. 85078/CEB.
- The invention relates generally to the field of precision surface polishing, and in particular to polishing of general surfaces. More specifically, the invention relates to a tool for polishing precision surfaces.
- It is well known in the art that precision surface polishing is often performed by large pads that execute planar or spherical motions relative to the surface to be polished. These large pads are either flat or spherical, depending on the shape of the surface to be polished. Because the pad shape and motion both match the surface, a large pad can contact the surface over a large area, and repetitive polishing motions can produce a precise surface by averaging effects.
- However, for polishing general surfaces, such as aspheric optical surfaces, existing polishing devices and systems have proven woefully inadequate. For these surfaces, the contact between the polishing tool and the surface must be much smaller than the pads used for planar or spherical surfaces, because the local radius of curvature varies across the surface. Further, polishing pads that are entirely sufficient for polishing planar or spherical surfaces are not sufficiently compliant to accommodate the variations in curvature radius inherent in aspheric surfaces to be polished.
- While there have been numerous attempts in the prior art to address the challenges presented when polishing aspheric surfaces, there has been limited success in overcoming the aforementioned problems. As an example, in one known device for polishing an aspheric surface, a small contact patch is used to contact the surface. In another instance, a large wheel device is used that achieves a small contact patch by exploiting magneto-rheological fluids. Further, other polishing systems that have attempted to solve the aforementioned problem have used a convex pad to polish the surface, sometimes with a pressing motion. One shortcoming with all of the above-mentioned polishing systems is that the polishing tool is large relative to the contact patch, which makes it impossible to use for surfaces with small, deep concavities. There is one prior art attempt that seeks to overcome this latter problem disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/318,787, filed Dec. 13, 2002 by Stephen C. Meissner, titled “Sub-Aperture Compliant Toroidal Polishing Element,” hereby incorporated herein by reference. The compliant polishing tool in U.S. Ser. No. 10/318,787 uses a very small toroidal compliant tool to achieve a small polishing contact patch that can reach into small concavities.
- One problem that is known to occur with the above and all of the existing compliant polishing tools is that a deficiency in polishing fluid coverage on the surface to be polished results as contact pressure is increased between the polishing member and the surface. It is our experience that this deficiency arises because polishing fluid is forced away from the center of the contact region of the polishing member and surface to be polished, leaving a region deficient in fluid coverage for effective polishing. As a result, it is well known that prior art polishing devices limit the contact pressures that may be applied by the polishing member on the surface to be polished, which in turn limits material removal rates. Consequently these compliant tools cannot achieve the polishing productivity and efficiency that might be attained if positive fluid flow throughout the contact was assured.
- Therefore, there remains a need for a compliant polishing element for polishing surfaces, particularly aspheric surfaces, that provides a small contact patch that can reach into deep concavities, while maintaining fluid flow throughout the contact even while significant contact pressure is applied by the polishing member.
- The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, precision surface polishing equipment has a rigid frame and a polishing element mounted for rotation in the rigid frame. The polishing element has a substantially rigid support member cooperatively associated with a compliant polishing member fixedly attached thereto. The compliant polishing member has a plurality of spaced polishing portions for engaging a surface to be polished, each one of the plurality of spaced polishing portions being projected radially outwardly from the substantially rigid support member. Nearest adjacent of the plurality of spaced polishing portions form a fluid transport region therebetween when the compliant polishing member is in compressive contact with the surface to be polished. Means associated with the rigid frame is provided for rotating the polishing element. Further, a polishing fluid is applied to the surface with an appropriate means such as a reservoir connected to a fluid nozzle. The layer of polishing fluid is substantially evenly applied onto the surface to be polished when disposed in the fluid transport region of the polishing element.
- The present invention has numerous advantages over prior art developments. For instance, the polishing device can polish aspheric surfaces. Moreover, the polishing device of the invention is not complicated to manufacture and is easy to use.
- The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the following description and drawings wherein identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical features that are common to the figures, and wherein:
-
FIG. 1A is an elevated, slightly tilted side view of the polishing device of the invention; -
FIG. 1B is an elevated side view of the polishing device ofFIG. 1A partially sectioned and exploded to show the lobes of the polishing member; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic of the polishing tool of the invention during polishing; -
FIG. 3A is an elevated side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 3B is an elevated side view of the embodiment ofFIG. 3A partially sectioned and exploded to show the features of the polishing member; -
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the compliant polishing member used in the embodiment ofFIGS. 3A and 3B ; -
FIGS. 5A-5F are top plan views of several exemplary compliant polishing members used in the invention; -
FIG. 6A is an elevated side view of another alternative embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 6B is an elevated side view of the embodiment ofFIG. 6A partially sectioned and exploded to show the polishing member; -
FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the compliant pad illustrated inFIGS. 6A and 6B ; -
FIG. 8A is an elevated side view of yet another embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 8B is the embodiment ofFIG. 8A partially sectioned and exploded to show the polishing member; -
FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the compliant pad of the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 8A and 8B ; -
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a polishing tool containing the polishing element of the invention; and, -
FIG. 11 is an elevated side view of the polishing tool ofFIG. 9 in service polishing a surface; - Turning now to the drawings, and more particularly to
FIGS. 1A and 1B , polishingelement 10 of the first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. According toFIGS. 1A and 1B , polishingelement 10 has a substantiallyrigid support member 12 with anouter perimeter 14 for cooperatively associating with a tool, such as the exemplary rotary tool shown inFIG. 10 . Theouter perimeter 14 terminates at one end with a mountingsurface 16 provided for affixing a compliant polishing member orpad 18. Compliant polishingmember 18 may be affixed to mountingsurface 16 in any number of ways including gluing, friction or interference fit, or with a screw. Moreover, the compliant polishingmember 18 may be molded to the mountingsurface 16. - Referring to
FIGS. 1A, 1B , and 2, polishingtool 26 comprises a polishing fluid applicator ornozzle 23 and the polishing element 10 (compliant polishingmember 18 only illustrated) in a precision surface polishing application, for example, polishing an asphericoptical surface 22. Compliant polishingmember 18 of the invention has a plurality of regularly spaced polishing portions orlobes 20 for spreading polishingfluid 21 across thesurface 22 to be polished. Therecess 24 between nearestadjacent lobes 20 enables a predetermined amount of polishingfluid 21 to be spread in a predictable manner across thesurface 22 to be polished. During a precision polishing application, the polishingelement 10 is structurally mounted into a spindle (not shown) of a rotary device (FIG. 11 ) via the substantially rigid support member 12 (FIGS. 1A and 1B ). The polishingelement 10 is rotated while in compressive contact with thesurface 22 to be polished. A polishing fluid, such as a slurry of abrasive particles, is disposed, typically vianozzle 23, in an interfacial area betweenadjacent lobes 20 of the compliant polishingelement 10 and thesurface 22 to be polished. As the polishingelement 10 is rotated by the rotary device, the plurality of spaced polishing portions orlobes 20traps polishing fluid 21 between thesurface 22 to be polished and the nearest of thelobes 20. This action forces the polishingfluid 21 across thesurface 22 to be polished. In the process, it also prevents polishing fluid starvation from any area on thesurface 22 to be polished. - Referring to
FIGS. 3A, 3B , and 4, in a second embodiment of the invention, polishingelement 30 has a substantiallyrigid support member 33 and a compliant polishingmember 35 mounted on an end portion (not shown) of thesupport member 33. Compliant polishingmember 35 has a plurality of spacedlobes 37 each being connected to a nearestadjacent lobe 37 by arecess 39. Acontinuous groove 41 passes through each of thelobes 37 about the circumference of the compliant polishingmember 35. A portion of eachlobe 37 separated by thegroove 41 is directed inwardly towards thegroove 41.Groove 41 prevents polishingfluid 21 from escaping from between thelobes 37 and surface to be polished 22 (shown inFIG. 2 ) as polishingelement 30 rotates. According to FIG. 4,continuous groove 41 is clearly shown in a close-up view of the polishingelement 30. - Referring now to
FIGS. 5A-5F , illustrated are several substantially star-shapedconfigurations member 18 or pads. Each of these substantially star-shapedconfigurations element 10 of the invention to produce substantially the same result. More particularly, each of the substantially star-shapedconfigurations surface 22 and compliant polishingmember 18. According toFIG. 5A ,configuration 40 has typically sixlobes 42 having roundedpeaks 44 separated by slightlyarcuate recesses 46 which form a slightly arcuate angledlobe 42. According toFIG. 5B ,configuration 50 has a plurality of lobes 52 (typically six) each having a relatively flat and substantiallystraight peak 54 separated from the nearestadjacent lobe 52 by a slightlycurved recess 56 to form a flat, substantiallystraight lobe 52. According toFIG. 5C ,configuration 60 has a plurality of lobes 62 (typically six) each having a relatively narrow and slightly roundedpeak 64 separated by a slightlycurved recess 66 to form a substantiallystraight lobe 62. According toFIG. 5D ,configuration 70 has a plurality of lobes 72 (typically six) each having a relatively narrow andround peak 74 separated from the nearestadjacent lobe 72 by substantiallycurved recess 76 to form a narrow, substantially arcuate shapedlobe 72. According toFIG. 5E ,configuration 80 has a plurality oflobes 82 each having a narrow roundedpeak 84 separated from the nearestadjacent peak 84 by substantially wide, arcuate shapedrecess 86 to form a substantially widearcuate lobe 82. Finally, according toFIG. 5F ,configuration 90 has a plurality oflobes 92 each having a narrow, veryround peak 94 separated from the nearest adjacent narrow, veryround peak 94 by a very arcuate shapedrecess 96 to form a narrow, veryarcuate lobe 92. - Turning now to
FIGS. 6A, 6B , and 7, a third embodiment of thecompliant polishing element 100 is illustrated. According ofFIGS. 6A, 6B , and 7, compliant polishingelement 100 has a substantially disk-shapedpolishing member 102 supported on substantiallyrigid support 104. Acentral opening 106 passes through the compliant polishingmember 102 for locating onto the substantiallyrigid support 104. As indicated above, substantiallyrigid support 104 cooperates with a rotary tool for polishing a work piece (Shown inFIG. 10 ). In this embodiment, compliant polishingelement 100 is characterized by a plurality of spaceddepressions 108 arranged in thecircumference 110 of the compliant polishingmember 102. the portions of thecircumference 110 between thedepressions 108 form the compliant polishingportions 112. As in the previous embodiments, the spaceddepressions 108 trap the polishing fluid between thesurface 22 to be polished and the compliant polishingmember 102 during polishing. Further, spaceddepressions 108 assure that the polishing fluid will spread across the surface without leaving voids.Depressions 108 may be formed in the circumference of compliant polishingmember 102 in a number of ways, including cutting or forming during a molding process. - Referring now to
FIGS. 8A, 8B , and 9, a fourth embodiment of thecompliant polishing element 120 is illustrated. In this embodiment, thecompliant polishing element 120 has a substantiallyrigid support 122 and acompliant polishing member 124 attached to one end of therigid support 122. Important to the invention, compliant polishingmember 124 has a plurality of spaced compliant polishingportions 126 each having a surface shape generally in the form of a torus, as best seen inFIG. 9 . The compliant polishing portions surround recessedportions 128. As in previous embodiments, the substantially torus-shaped compliant polishingmember 124 traps polishing fluid between the interface of thesurface 22 to be polished and the recessedportions 128 of the compliant polishingmember 124. Compliant polishingmember 124 further provides means for distributing the polishing fluid across the surface area of thesurface 22 to be polished. - Referring now to
FIGS. 10 and 11 , precision surface polishing equipment, such as tool, 200 for precision polishing a general surface, for instance an aspheric optical surface, is shown. InFIG. 11 , a partial schematic of polishingelement 220 of polishingequipment 200 is shown polishing an aspheric surface 240 (FIG. 11 ). According toFIG. 10 , polishingequipment 200 comprises a movablework piece holder 210 for precise engagement by compliant polishingmember 230 of polishingelement 220.Polishing element 220 comprises compliant polishingmember 230 affixed to substantially rigid support member orframe 250. In the preferred embodiment, polishingelement 220 is slightly angled from the polishing surface normal (FIG. 11 ). Means, such as a nozzle (described above) is provided for applying a layer of polishing fluid onto the surface to be polished. The polishing fluid is not shown. This configuration allows polishing of flat surfaces and concavities using a uniform contact condition. - The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.
-
- 10 first embodiment of polishing element
- 12 substantially rigid support member
- 14 outer perimeter of
support member 12 - 16 mounting surface
- 18 compliant polishing member of first embodiment
- 20 lobes
- 21 polishing fluid
- 22 surface to be polished
- 23 nozzle
- 24 recess between nearest
adjacent lobes 20 - 26 partial polishing tool
- 30 second embodiment of polishing element
- 33 substantially rigid support member of second embodiment
- 35 compliant polishing member of second embodiment
- 37 lobes of second embodiment
- 39 recess separating nearest
adjacent lobes 37 - 40 first configuration of compliant polishing
member 18 - 41 continuous groove
- 42 lobes of first configuration
- 44 rounded peaks of
lobes 42 - 46 slightly arcuate recess
- 50 second configuration of compliant polishing
member 18 - 52 lobes of second configuration
- 54 substantially straight peak of
lobe 52 - 56 slightly curved recesses between nearest
adjacent lobes 52 - 62 third configuration of compliant polishing
member 18 - 64 lobes of third configuration
- 66 slightly rounded peak of
lobes 62 - 70 slightly curved recess between nearest
adjacent lobes 62 - 72 fourth configuration of compliant polishing
member 18 - 72 lobes of fourth configuration
- 74 round peak of
lobes 72 - 76 substantially curved recesses between nearest
adjacent lobes 72 - 80 fifth configuration of compliant polishing
member 18 - 82 lobes of fifth configurations
- 84 narrow rounded peaks of
lobes 82 - 86 substantially wide, arcuate shaped recess between nearest adjacent lobes
- 90 sixth configuration of compliant polishing
member 18 - 92 lobes of sixth configuration
- 94 very round peaks of
lobes 92 - 96 very arcuate shaped recess between nearest
adjacent lobes 92 - 100 third embodiment of compliant polishing element
- 102 disk shaped polishing member of third embodiment
- 104 rigid support of third embodiment
- 106 central opening passing through
member 102 - 108 spaced depressions in compliant polishing
member 102 - 110 circumference of compliant polishing
member 102 - 112 compliant polishing portions of polishing
member 102 - 120 fourth embodiment of compliant polishing element
- 122 rigid support of
compliant polishing element 120 - 124 compliant polishing member of fourth embodiment
- 126 spaced polishing portions
- 128 recessed portion
- 200 tool for precision polishing
- 210 movable work piece holder
- 220 polishing element of
tool 200 - 230 compliant polishing member of
element 220 - 240 aspheric surface
- 250 substantially rigid support member of
element 220
Claims (5)
1. Precision surface polishing equipment, comprising:
a rigid frame;
a polishing element mounted for rotation in said rigid frame, said polishing element having a substantially rigid support member cooperatively associated with a compliant polishing member fixedly attached thereto, said compliant polishing member having a plurality of spaced polishing portions for engaging a surface to be polished, each one of said plurality of spaced polishing portions being projected radially outwardly from said substantially rigid support member, and wherein nearest adjacent of said each one of said plurality of spaced polishing portions form a fluid transport region therebetween when said compliant polishing member is in compressive contact with said surface to be polished;
means associated with said rigid frame for rotating said polishing element; and,
means for applying a layer of polishing fluid onto said surface to be polished, said layer of polishing fluid being substantially evenly applied onto said surface to be polished when disposed in said fluid transport region of said polishing element.
2. The precision polishing equipment recited in claim 1 wherein each one of said plurality of spaced polishing portions is configured to trap polishing fluid between the surface to be polished and a nearest one of said plurality of spaced polishing portions.
3. The precision polishing equipment recited in claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of spaced polishing portions is substantially torus shaped.
4. The precision polishing equipment recited in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating is a motor.
5. The precision polishing equipment recited in claim 1 wherein said means for applying a polishing fluid comprises a fluid reservoir in fluid communications with a nozzle, said nozzle being directed at said surface to be polished.
Priority Applications (1)
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US10/742,498 US20050136812A1 (en) | 2003-12-19 | 2003-12-19 | Precision surface polishing equipment |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/742,498 US20050136812A1 (en) | 2003-12-19 | 2003-12-19 | Precision surface polishing equipment |
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US20050136812A1 true US20050136812A1 (en) | 2005-06-23 |
Family
ID=34678464
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US10/742,498 Abandoned US20050136812A1 (en) | 2003-12-19 | 2003-12-19 | Precision surface polishing equipment |
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US (1) | US20050136812A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
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US20110003535A1 (en) * | 2009-07-03 | 2011-01-06 | Snecma | Method and device for machining a part by abrasion |
CN103495917A (en) * | 2013-10-17 | 2014-01-08 | 上海理工大学 | Magnetic suspending liquid polishing device for optical aspheric surface machining |
DE102017202098A1 (en) | 2017-02-09 | 2018-08-09 | Gebr. Brasseler Gmbh & Co. Kg | Rotatable dental polishing instrument |
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Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20110003535A1 (en) * | 2009-07-03 | 2011-01-06 | Snecma | Method and device for machining a part by abrasion |
CN103495917A (en) * | 2013-10-17 | 2014-01-08 | 上海理工大学 | Magnetic suspending liquid polishing device for optical aspheric surface machining |
DE102017202098A1 (en) | 2017-02-09 | 2018-08-09 | Gebr. Brasseler Gmbh & Co. Kg | Rotatable dental polishing instrument |
EP3360505A1 (en) * | 2017-02-09 | 2018-08-15 | Gebr. Brasseler GmbH & Co. KG | Rotatable dental polishing instrument |
DE102017202098B4 (en) | 2017-02-09 | 2019-01-17 | Gebr. Brasseler Gmbh & Co. Kg | Rotatable dental polishing instrument |
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