A method is provided for treating the outer surfaces of a plurality of glass bubbles. That method includes loading a plurality of glass bubbles into a processing vessel having a roughened lining and displacing the processing vessel so that the plurality of glass bubbles move against the roughened lining to thereby roughen the outer surfaces. Alternatively, or in addition, the glass bubbles are subjected to air plasma treatment to increase the surface energy of the glass bubbles.

A slide grinding machine having a turntable and a work container rotated by the turntable has an air pressure operated automatic gap setting feature having a zero gap width reference value to adjust the gap width between the turntable and the work container.

A slide grinding machine having a turntable and a work container rotated by the turntable has an air pressure operated automatic gap setting feature having a zero gap width reference value to adjust the gap width between the turntable and the work container.

An invention is provided for creating smoothed, heat-treated glass fragments. The invention includes placing a plurality of heat-treated glass fragments into a tumbling or vibrating apparatus. Each heat-treated glass fragment is formed from glass that has been heated to a temperature of at least 1000° Fahrenheit and rapidly cooled to a temperature below 800° Fahrenheit. The plurality of glass fragments is then tumbled or vibrated for a predetermined period of time such that surfaces of the heat-treated glass fragments are smoother than prior to tumbling. The glass fragments are thereafter removed from the tumbling apparatus, resulting in smoothed, heat-treated glass fragments that have a slightly rounded, bead like-shape and are suitable for direct handling without hand protection.

An invention is provided for creating smoothed, heat-treated glass fragments. The invention includes placing a plurality of heat-treated glass fragments into a tumbling or vibrating apparatus. Each heat-treated glass fragment is formed from glass that has been heated to a temperature of at least 1000° Fahrenheit and rapidly cooled to a temperature below 800° Fahrenheit. The plurality of glass fragments is then tumbled or vibrated for a predetermined period of time such that surfaces of the heat-treated glass fragments are smoother than prior to tumbling. The glass fragments are thereafter removed from the tumbling apparatus, resulting in smoothed, heat-treated glass fragments that have a slightly rounded, bead like-shape and are suitable for direct handling without hand protection.

The present technology provides a product and process for efficiently separating ammunition casings from polishing media, preferably stainless steel pins, used in a cleaning process. A two stage sifting apparatus has first and second containers capable of nesting together. The upper first container has a bottom surface and sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom to an upper opening. The bottom surface has a plurality of openings smaller than the ammunition casings but larger than the polishing media. Through manipulation of the sifting apparatus, the polishing media escapes through the openings in the bottom surface of the first container and is retained in the second container. The containers are then separable, with the first container holding the casings and the second container holding the polishing media. Thereby, both the casings and the polishing media can be efficiently separated for re-use in the future, saving time and money.

The present technology provides a product and process for efficiently separating ammunition casings from polishing media, preferably stainless steel pins, used in a cleaning process. A two stage sifting apparatus has first and second containers capable of nesting together. The upper first container has a bottom surface and sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom to an upper opening. The bottom surface has a plurality of openings smaller than the ammunition casings but larger than the polishing media. Through manipulation of the sifting apparatus, the polishing media escapes through the openings in the bottom surface of the first container and is retained in the second container. The containers are then separable, with the first container holding the casings and the second container holding the polishing media. Thereby, both the casings and the polishing media can be efficiently separated for re-use in the future, saving time and money.

A method of treating bearing rolling elements or bearing rings after a hardening and temper heat treatment is disclosed. The method may include treating the bearing rolling elements in a tumbling treatment and then in a duplex hardening treatment. The method may include treating the bearing rings in a peening treatment and then in a duplex hardening treatment. The duplex hardening treatment may also include at least one sequential process segment consisting of subjecting the bearing rolling element & rings to a nitriding process to increase the surface hardness and compressive residual stress. The combined two-step process produces a deep surface/sub-surface residual stress greater than the depth of the maximum operating von-Mises shear stress along with an ultra-hard surface with high magnitude of compressive residual stress. In so doing, the bearing ring and rolling elements will have significantly enhanced rolling contact fatigue resistance and resistance to surface imperfections and debris.

A method of treating bearing rolling elements or bearing rings after a hardening and temper heat treatment is disclosed. The method may include treating the bearing rolling elements in a tumbling treatment and then in a duplex hardening treatment. The method may include treating the bearing rings in a peening treatment and then in a duplex hardening treatment. The duplex hardening treatment may also include at least one sequential process segment consisting of subjecting the bearing rolling element & rings to a nitriding process to increase the surface hardness and compressive residual stress. The combined two-step process produces a deep surface/sub-surface residual stress greater than the depth of the maximum operating von-Mises shear stress along with an ultra-hard surface with high magnitude of compressive residual stress. In so doing, the bearing ring and rolling elements will have significantly enhanced rolling contact fatigue resistance and resistance to surface imperfections and debris.

A surface treatment method for metal parts includes a polishing step of supplying and discharging a cleaning liquid into and from a barrel tub while mass including a metal part and a medium is caused to flow in the barrel tub, so that a surface of the metal part is polished. The polishing step is carried out at least once. The polishing step includes a final finish polishing process in which a final finish medium which is free from abrasive grain or which consists of a synthetic resin base material and is free from abrasive grain or which is made by binding abrasive grain of not more than 10 wt % and a synthetic resin binding material together and is free from alumina is used as the medium.