A pressure shoe (1) includes a press surface (2) for directly pressing finishing tape onto a radial circumferential surface (3) of a rotating workpiece section (4) during a finishing process. A plurality of expansion elements (5) is formed in the pressure shoe (1). Each of expansion elements (5) are expandable individually and independently of one another radially while deforming the press surface (2) in a direction of the circumferential surface (3) of the workpiece section (4), so that during the finishing process, the shape of the circumferential surface (3) of the workpiece section can be influenced in a targeted manner via different expansion of the expansion elements (5) distributed over the press surface (2).

A pressure shoe (1) includes a press surface (2) for directly pressing finishing tape onto a radial circumferential surface (3) of a rotating workpiece section (4) during a finishing process. A plurality of expansion elements (5) is formed in the pressure shoe (1). Each of expansion elements (5) are expandable individually and independently of one another radially while deforming the press surface (2) in a direction of the circumferential surface (3) of the workpiece section (4), so that during the finishing process, the shape of the circumferential surface (3) of the workpiece section can be influenced in a targeted manner via different expansion of the expansion elements (5) distributed over the press surface (2).

A masking tool system includes a first masking body and a second masking body. The first masking body includes a bore passing through a portion of the first masking body and a first sealing element disposed on a first end of the first masking body. The second masking body includes a bore passing through the second masking body and a second sealing element disposed on a first end of the second masking body. The system may also include a rod configured to pass through the bores of the first and second masking bodies and to secure the first and second masking bodies to a metallic article placed therebetween. A diagonal length of the masking tool system induces a wobbling rotation during processing.

An apparatus can comprise a body and a first portion. The first portion can be coupled to the body and moveable therewith. The first portion can comprise a rigidifying material and a layer. The rigidifying material can be positioned in a chamber defined by an envelope formed of a gas-impermeable material. A pressure within the chamber can be variable between at least a lower pressure state and a higher pressure state. In the higher pressure state the material is relatively flexible, and in the lower pressure state the material can be relatively less flexible than in the higher pressure state. The layer can be manipulatable by the rigidifying material. More particularly, the layer can have a first state when the pressure within the chamber is in the higher pressure state. In the first state, the layer can be formable by the target surface to take on a desired shape that can be substantially a match of the target surface. The layer can have a second state when the pressure within the chamber is in the lower pressure state. In the second state, the layer can maintain the desired shape and can be substantially less formable than in the first state.

A multiple polishing head (10), especially suitable for working on stone materials to carry out roughing or surface finishing operations on the same and arranged to be combined with a robotic manipulator (20) with multiple degrees of freedom, comprises at least two electrospindles (24), to the front face of which as many tools or machining tools are combined. The polishing head (10) is connected to the wrist (16) of the arm (14) of said manipulator by means of a flange (12), fixed to an inclined plane (18) defining the upper part of a frame (22). The electrospindles (24), preferably three, are connected to the lower face, consisting of a plate (26), of the frame base (22).

A multiple polishing head (10), especially suitable for working on stone materials to carry out roughing or surface finishing operations on the same and arranged to be combined with a robotic manipulator (20) with multiple degrees of freedom, comprises at least two electrospindles (24), to the front face of which as many tools or machining tools are combined. The polishing head (10) is connected to the wrist (16) of the arm (14) of said manipulator by means of a flange (12), fixed to an inclined plane (18) defining the upper part of a frame (22). The electrospindles (24), preferably three, are connected to the lower face, consisting of a plate (26), of the frame base (22).

A machine for machining workpieces includes a movably mounted table (1) and at least one clamp (2). Each clamp is engageable with a workpiece and can be rotatably driven relative to the table. Each workpiece is transportable by movement of the table to a first workstation (3). Workstation 3 includes a toolholder (4) that holds a tool that is operative to machine a surface of the workpiece. The toolholder is movable in engagement with the workpiece by a feed unit (5) and the orientation of the tool holder relative to the workpiece is changeable by movement of an alignment unit (6). A second workstation to which the workpiece is moved after machining includes a cleaning device (8). A third workstation to which the workpiece is moved after cleaning includes a measuring device (10) that optically determines at least one surface property of the machined surface. The measuring device is in connection with an evaluation unit (14). The evaluation unit evaluates the at least one surface property and determines a direction and an order of magnitude that the alignment unit must be adjusted so at least one subsequently machined workpiece meets required tolerance specifications.

A machine for machining workpieces includes a movably mounted table (1) and at least one clamp (2). Each clamp is engageable with a workpiece and can be rotatably driven relative to the table. Each workpiece is transportable by movement of the table to a first workstation (3). Workstation 3 includes a toolholder (4) that holds a tool that is operative to machine a surface of the workpiece. The toolholder is movable in engagement with the workpiece by a feed unit (5) and the orientation of the tool holder relative to the workpiece is changeable by movement of an alignment unit (6). A second workstation to which the workpiece is moved after machining includes a cleaning device (8). A third workstation to which the workpiece is moved after cleaning includes a measuring device (10) that optically determines at least one surface property of the machined surface. The measuring device is in connection with an evaluation unit (14). The evaluation unit evaluates the at least one surface property and determines a direction and an order of magnitude that the alignment unit must be adjusted so at least one subsequently machined workpiece meets required tolerance specifications.

A method of grinding a surface of a crankshaft is provided. The method includes grinding the surface of the crankshaft by a grinding wheel, and polishing the surface of the crankshaft ground by the grinding wheel by oscillating a polishing wheel in a transverse direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the crankshaft.

A pressing device (1) for pressing finishing tape against circumferential surfaces (2) of substantially cylindrical work piece sections (3) in a finishing process includes at least one elastically bendable pressing element (5) that is substantially inelastic in the longitudinal direction. A support element (6) has two bearings (7), which are arranged at a distance from each other. The pressing element (5) is fastened to the two bearings, and the two bearings are arranged in such a manner that finishing tape is pressed against a circumferential surface (2) by the pressing element (5) across a contact angle (4) using a pressing force. The pressing device (1) is adjustable in order to process work piece sections (3) of different diameters. The pressing element may be a toothed belt (5) having tooth-like ribs (8), and the toothed belt (5) is interlockingly mounted in the support element (6) using the tooth-like ribs (8).