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.

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.

A power tool that includes a tool body housing, a drive system, a tool head and a connection system. The drive system is housed in the tool body housing. The tool head, which is configured to perform work on a work piece, includes a tool head housing and an input member that is driven by the drive system when the tool head is coupled to the tool body housing. The tool head can be engaged to the tool body housing in at least two pre-defined and distinct orientations. The connection system secures the tool head to the tool body housing in each of the at least two pre-defined and distinct orientations.

A power tool that includes a tool body housing, a drive system, a tool head and a connection system. The drive system is housed in the tool body housing. The tool head, which is configured to perform work on a work piece, includes a tool head housing and an input member that is driven by the drive system when the tool head is coupled to the tool body housing. The tool head can be engaged to the tool body housing in at least two pre-defined and distinct orientations. The connection system secures the tool head to the tool body housing in each of the at least two pre-defined and distinct orientations.

Provided is a method for filtering an additive-containing liquid that can achieve a polishing composition exhibiting excellent defect reducing capability while maintaining a practical filter life. The method for filtering a polishing additive-containing liquid provided by the present invention includes the step of: filtering the polishing additive-containing liquid with a filter that satisfies the following conditions (1) and (2). (1) The average pore diameter P measured by a palm porometer is 0.15 μm or less. (2) The pore diameter gradient (S.sub.in/S.sub.out), which is the ratio of the inlet-side average pore diameter (SO to the outlet-side average pore diameter (S.sub.out), both diameters being measured through observation with an SEM, is 3 or less.

In a machine and in a method for processing lateral edges of glass plates, plates of stone material, and plates of synthetic material, there is a group of gripping members of the plate configured to hold a plate in a horizontal position. The plate is caused to advance in a conveying longitudinal direction, in such a way as to bring a lateral edge of the plate to engage in succession an aligned series of grinding tools forming part of a stationary machining unit. In one example, the group of gripping members of the plate is rotatably carried around a vertical axis by a carriage, which is movable in the conveying longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The gripping members are carried by the carriage in such a way as to be adjustable in position, by means of electronically-controlled actuator devices, with respect to the carriage and relative to each other.

Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to a device for shaping and/or adjusting the shape and/or height of a guitar saddle. The present invention allows for the radius and/or height of the guitar saddle to be shaped and adjusted accurately using dial indicators coupled to mechanical positioning apparatus that provide for positioning of a saddle or saddle material for removal of a prescribed amount of material from the top of the guitar saddle while maintaining the radius.

Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to a device for shaping and/or adjusting the shape and/or height of a guitar saddle. The present invention allows for the radius and/or height of the guitar saddle to be shaped and adjusted accurately using dial indicators coupled to mechanical positioning apparatus that provide for positioning of a saddle or saddle material for removal of a prescribed amount of material from the top of the guitar saddle while maintaining the radius.

Method for compensating temperature-induced deviations in a grinding machine includes controlling the movements of the dressing tool relative to the grinding tool in order to relatively move the dressing tool towards the grinding tool; checking whether a first-cut detection signalizes a contact of the grinding tool and the dressing tool; repeating the controlling and checking steps until a contact between the grinding tool and the dressing tool is detected, and when the contact is detected, then (i) recording the Current Position, and (ii) carrying out a compensation calculation using the Current Position and a reference position.

A sanding machine, in particular for processing wood surfaces, includes a support and transport plane for the forwarding of the workpieces to be processed; and a belt sanding unit with a transverse abrasive belt inside which a pressure pad is arranged obliquely. The pressure pad is divided into a plurality of pressure elements which can be actuated individually and are controlled by respective sensors that constitute a control beam, Methods are described for compensating the different distances between sensor and respective pressure elements that avoid adaptations of the position of the workpiece to be processed, in particular if the machine contains further non inclined processing units. The sanding machine is particularly suitable even for the processing of large workpieces.