An apparatus, system, and a method for sharpening a cutting tool. The system sharpens cutting tools by manipulating the tool, measuring the three dimensional profile of the tool, and then grinding the tool. The apparatus consists of a robot capable of six degrees of motion, a gripping mechanism, a force-torque sensor capable of at least two directions of force and/or torque, a three dimensional scanning subsystem, a loading subsystem, a user interface, an initial orientation scan subsystem, a data processing and robot control subsystem, and at least one grinding system comprising two counter-rotating grinding wheels. The method automates the grinding process so that dull cutting tools can be placed into the loading system, sharpened by the system, and then ejected fully honed.

A method for dressing a grinding worm using a dressing roll that engages the grinding worm to profile its helical grinding profile. The dressing roll is produced by: a) producing a disk-shaped base body a profiled surface for receiving a layer of abrasive particles, wherein the surface is at least partially tooth-shaped in a radial cross section, b) positioning the abrasive particles on the profiled surface, c) profiling the base body provided with abrasive particles by removing outer sections of the abrasive particles with a profiling tool so that the abrasive profile of the dressing roll is created. Production of the profiled surface takes place in step a) so that the distance between the profiled surface and the abrasive profile changes during advancing from the root region to the tip region at a flank of the tooth-shaped surface, measured in the radial cross section perpendicular to the profiled surface.

A method for dressing a grinding worm using a dressing roll that engages the grinding worm to profile its helical grinding profile. The dressing roll is produced by: a) producing a disk-shaped base body a profiled surface for receiving a layer of abrasive particles, wherein the surface is at least partially tooth-shaped in a radial cross section, b) positioning the abrasive particles on the profiled surface, c) profiling the base body provided with abrasive particles by removing outer sections of the abrasive particles with a profiling tool so that the abrasive profile of the dressing roll is created. Production of the profiled surface takes place in step a) so that the distance between the profiled surface and the abrasive profile changes during advancing from the root region to the tip region at a flank of the tooth-shaped surface, measured in the radial cross section perpendicular to the profiled surface.

A method for dressing a grinding worm using a dressing roll that engages the grinding worm to profile its helical grinding profile. The abrasive profile of the dressing roll is at least partially tooth-shaped in a radial cross section and extends radially from a root region to a tip region. The dressing roll is produced by: a) producing a counterpart having an inner surface; b) positioning and fixing a layer of abrasive particles on the tooth-shaped surface; c) producing a disk-shaped base body of the dressing roll and connecting the base body with a carrier layer for the abrasive particles; d) demolding the base body; e) profiling the base body. Step a) includes providing the counterpart with the surface so that the distance between the profiled surface and the abrasive profile changes during advancing from the root region to the tip region at least at one flank of the surface, measured in the radial cross section perpendicular to the profiled surface.

A method for dressing a grinding worm using a dressing roll that engages the grinding worm to profile its helical grinding profile. The abrasive profile of the dressing roll is at least partially tooth-shaped in a radial cross section and extends radially from a root region to a tip region. The dressing roll is produced by: a) producing a counterpart having an inner surface; b) positioning and fixing a layer of abrasive particles on the tooth-shaped surface; c) producing a disk-shaped base body of the dressing roll and connecting the base body with a carrier layer for the abrasive particles; d) demolding the base body; e) profiling the base body. Step a) includes providing the counterpart with the surface so that the distance between the profiled surface and the abrasive profile changes during advancing from the root region to the tip region at least at one flank of the surface, measured in the radial cross section perpendicular to the profiled surface.

A grinding worm being a dressable grinding worm, wherein a first section of the grinding worm has a first abrasive grain which is incorporated in a matrix material and wherein a second section of the grinding worm has second abrasive grain which is incorporated in the matrix material. The first abrasive grain and the second abrasive grain differ from one another in terms of grain size and/or grain material. A transition section is formed between the first section and the second section, in which both the first abrasive grin and the second abrasive grain are incorporated in fie matrix material, wherein the first section, the second section and the transition section have the same matrix material and wherein an intermixing of the first abrasive grain and the second abrasive grain is formed at least in sections in the transition section.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for adding surface features to grinding wheels. A laser may be directed substantially perpendicular to a grinding surface of a grinding wheel. The laser may be pulsed and may ablate material from the grinding surface. The laser may move relative to the grinding wheel in order to ablate shaped surface features into the grinding surface.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for adding surface features to grinding wheels. A laser may be directed substantially perpendicular to a grinding surface of a grinding wheel. The laser may be pulsed and may ablate material from the grinding surface. The laser may move relative to the grinding wheel in order to ablate shaped surface features into the grinding surface.

A method for dressing a honing tool using a dressing tool which during the dressing operation rolls at an axial intersection angle with the honing tool. The teeth thereof which move into engagement with the teeth of the dressing tool each have an upper face which is to be dressed and tooth flanks which are also to be dressed.

A method for dressing a honing tool using a dressing tool which during the dressing operation rolls at an axial intersection angle with the honing tool. The teeth thereof which move into engagement with the teeth of the dressing tool each have an upper face which is to be dressed and tooth flanks which are also to be dressed.