There is described a method, apparatus and shaping tool for shaping a workpiece. The tool comprises a flexible support surface on which are mounted a number of rigid pellets (84) carrying abrasive material. The tool is driven, in contact with the workpiece surface (S), to perform a ductile grinding operation which results in a finished surface of reduced roughness as compared to conventional grinding operations, while achieving significantly higher material removal rates than comparable ultra-precision grinding techniques. A procedure for preparing the tool for operation by conditioning the tool against a conditioning surface is also described. An exemplary application for the method and apparatus is in the preparation of moulds for moulding curved glass components for use in display screens, in which process a silicon carbide mould cavity surface is shaped using the method to produce a mould cavity surface with a smooth surface finish.

There is described a method, apparatus and shaping tool for shaping a workpiece. The tool comprises a flexible support surface on which are mounted a number of rigid pellets (84) carrying abrasive material. The tool is driven, in contact with the workpiece surface (S), to perform a ductile grinding operation which results in a finished surface of reduced roughness as compared to conventional grinding operations, while achieving significantly higher material removal rates than comparable ultra-precision grinding techniques. A procedure for preparing the tool for operation by conditioning the tool against a conditioning surface is also described. An exemplary application for the method and apparatus is in the preparation of moulds for moulding curved glass components for use in display screens, in which process a silicon carbide mould cavity surface is shaped using the method to produce a mould cavity surface with a smooth surface finish.

A device for producing a curved surface (2) of a work piece (1) includes a tool (3) and a tool holder for receiving the tool (3), the tool holder being drivable for rotation about a tool axis (4). At least one work piece holder accommodates a work piece (1). The work piece holder is drivable for rotation about a work piece axis (5). The tool axis (4) and the work piece axis (5) are positionable at an angle relative to one another. The tool axis (4) and the work piece axis (5) are positionable at an angle relative to one another. A work piece holder support (6) receives a plurality of work piece holders, the work piece holders being rotatably drivable relative to the work piece holder support (6). The work piece holder support (6) is rotatably drivable about a work piece holder support axis (7), so that based on superposed rotations of work piece holders and work piece holder support (6) and the rotating tool, the surface (2) of each work piece (1) is curved after end machining, depending on an inclination angle.

A method for finishing a spherically curved surface portion of a workpiece with a finishing tool having a machining surface includes the steps of finishing the surface portion of the workpiece, whereby the finishing tool, with at least one part of the machining surface, is brought into contact with at least one part of the surface portion of the workpiece. The workpiece and the finishing tool are rotatably driven; and dressing the finishing tool with a dressing tool having a curved dressing surface, whereby the dressing tool, with at least one part of the dressing surface, is brought into contact with at least one part of the finishing surface of the finishing tool. The finishing tool and/or the dressing tool are rotatably driven, whereby the dressing surface of the dressing tool has a different curvature than the spherically curved surface portion of the workpiece.

A method for finishing a spherically curved surface portion of a workpiece with a finishing tool having a machining surface includes the steps of finishing the surface portion of the workpiece, whereby the finishing tool, with at least one part of the machining surface, is brought into contact with at least one part of the surface portion of the workpiece. The workpiece and the finishing tool are rotatably driven; and dressing the finishing tool with a dressing tool having a curved dressing surface, whereby the dressing tool, with at least one part of the dressing surface, is brought into contact with at least one part of the finishing surface of the finishing tool. The finishing tool and/or the dressing tool are rotatably driven, whereby the dressing surface of the dressing tool has a different curvature than the spherically curved surface portion of the workpiece.

A method and a blasting material for producing a satinized surface on an aluminum substrate is provided. There is proposed a method for producing a satinized surface on an aluminum substrate, including the steps: providing an aluminum substrate; treating by blasting with a blasting material the surface regions of the aluminum substrate provided that are to be satinized; wherein there is used as the blasting material a mixture of angular and spherical particles having a grain diameter D.sub.90 of 0.3 mm.

A device for producing a curved surface (2) of a work piece (1) includes a tool (3) and a tool holder for receiving the tool (3), the tool holder being drivable for rotation about a tool axis (4). At least one work piece holder accommodates a work piece (1). The work piece holder is drivable for rotation about a work piece axis (5). The tool axis (4) and the work piece axis (5) are positionable at an angle relative to one another. The tool axis (4) and the work piece axis (5) are positionable at an angle relative to one another. A work piece holder support (6) receives a plurality of work piece holders, the work piece holders being rotatably drivable relative to the work piece holder support (6). The work piece holder support (6) is rotatably drivable about a work piece holder support axis (7), so that based on superposed rotations of work piece holders and work piece holder support (6) and the rotating tool, the surface (2) of each work piece (1) is curved after end machining, depending on an inclination angle.

Systems and methods for isolating a membrane during fabrication. The membrane is connected to a substrate wafer using a plurality of magnets of uniform dimensions formed into two or more magnet stack beams. The magnet stack beams provide a gap between the wafer and the membrane. The wafer connected to the membrane by the magnet stack beams is received by a substrate holder so that a space is present between the membrane and the substrate holder. The membrane is rinsed by immersing, soaking, and withdrawing the substrate holder and the wafer connected to the membrane by the magnet stack beams using a rinse bath solution.

A device for restoring the surface of used lacrosse balls. Lacrosse balls are placed inside a chamber that is lined with an abrasive surface. The device can be placed within a typical clothes dryer machine and during the course of a normal drying cycle the surface of the lacrosse balls are restored to a desired characteristic tactile grip. The exterior of the device is cushioned to dampen impact with the inner surface of the clothes dryer and minimize the generation of noise during use.

The present invention provides an apparatus for treating the surface of a radome, comprising: a rotary driving unit; a vacuum suction unit; a vertical driving unit; and a surface treatment unit. The rotary driving unit comprises: a rotary shaft; and a driving motor, installed at a predetermined portion spaced apart from the rotary shaft. The vacuum suction unit comprises: a plurality of first hydraulic cylinders positioned on the rotary shaft in the circumferential direction; and a suction plate equipped at an end of a piston rod of each of the first hydraulic cylinders. The vertical driving unit comprises: a mounting plate having a hole formed in the central portion thereof. The surface treatment unit comprises: a support column vertically installed on a predetermined portion spaced apart from the mounting plate; and a support arm.