Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, an abrasive endless belt is rotated in tension along a neutral plane between spaced apart first and second rollers. A guide assembly has spaced apart first and second guide surfaces which collectively converge to an intervening base surface to form a guide channel. Upon insertion of a blade of a cutting tool into the guide channel, a selected side of the blade contactingly slides against at least a selected one of the first or second guide surfaces and a first portion of a cutting edge of the blade contactingly engages the base surface to serve as a plunge depth limit stop for the blade. The endless belt is contactingly deflected by a second portion of the cutting edge away from the neutral plane to sharpen the second portion while the first portion remains in contact with the base surface.

Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, an abrasive endless belt is rotated in tension along a neutral plane between spaced apart first and second rollers. A guide assembly has spaced apart first and second guide surfaces which collectively converge to an intervening base surface to form a guide channel. Upon insertion of a blade of a cutting tool into the guide channel, a selected side of the blade contactingly slides against at least a selected one of the first or second guide surfaces and a first portion of a cutting edge of the blade contactingly engages the base surface to serve as a plunge depth limit stop for the blade. The endless belt is contactingly deflected by a second portion of the cutting edge away from the neutral plane to sharpen the second portion while the first portion remains in contact with the base surface.

Apparatus, systems, and/or methods for adjusting belt tension in a material removal machine are disclosed. In some examples, the material removal machine includes a material removal tool secured on a spindle. A spindle pulley may be secured to the spindle, such that rotation of the spindle pulley causes the material removal tool to be rotated via the spindle. The material removal machine may further include a movable hub that retains the spindle, such that movement of the hub translated into movement of the spindle. Because the spindle pulley is securely attached to the spindle, movement of the hub may translate into movement of the spindle pulley. This movement of the spindle pulley may change a distance between the spindle pulley and an actuator pulley, thereby changing the tension in a belt connecting the spindle pulley and the actuator pulley.

Apparatus, systems, and/or methods for adjusting belt tension in a material removal machine are disclosed. In some examples, the material removal machine includes a material removal tool secured on a spindle. A spindle pulley may be secured to the spindle, such that rotation of the spindle pulley causes the material removal tool to be rotated via the spindle. The material removal machine may further include a movable hub that retains the spindle, such that movement of the hub translated into movement of the spindle. Because the spindle pulley is securely attached to the spindle, movement of the hub may translate into movement of the spindle pulley. This movement of the spindle pulley may change a distance between the spindle pulley and an actuator pulley, thereby changing the tension in a belt connecting the spindle pulley and the actuator pulley.

An endless abrasive belt for a sanding machine includes a flexible support structure, on an upper side of the support structure, an active layer with a binder and abrasive grains held in the binder. A transponder device is affixed to an underside of the endless abrasive belt, the transponder device including an attachment region and a flag, the attachment region being glued onto the underside by an adhesive layer, the flag being held by the attachment region and projecting laterally away from the endless abrasive belt, and a transponder including a transponder chip and an aerial for a wireless data connection with the sanding machine is arranged in the flag.

An endless abrasive belt for a sanding machine includes a flexible support structure, on an upper side of the support structure, an active layer with a binder and abrasive grains held in the binder. A transponder device is affixed to an underside of the endless abrasive belt, the transponder device including an attachment region and a flag, the attachment region being glued onto the underside by an adhesive layer, the flag being held by the attachment region and projecting laterally away from the endless abrasive belt, and a transponder including a transponder chip and an aerial for a wireless data connection with the sanding machine is arranged in the flag.

A polishing apparatus capable of forming a step-shaped recess having a right-angled cross section in an edge portion of a substrate, such as a wafer, is disclosed. The polishing apparatus includes: a substrate rotating device configured to rotate the substrate about a rotation axis; a first roller having a first circumferential surface configured to press a polishing tape against the edge portion of the substrate; and a second roller having a second circumferential surface in contact with the first circumferential surface. The second roller has a tape stopper surface that restricts movement of the polishing tape in a direction away from the rotation axis. The tape stopper surface is located radially outward of the first circumferential surface.

A polishing apparatus capable of forming a step-shaped recess having a right-angled cross section in an edge portion of a substrate, such as a wafer, is disclosed. The polishing apparatus includes: a substrate rotating device configured to rotate the substrate about a rotation axis; a first roller having a first circumferential surface configured to press a polishing tape against the edge portion of the substrate; and a second roller having a second circumferential surface in contact with the first circumferential surface. The second roller has a tape stopper surface that restricts movement of the polishing tape in a direction away from the rotation axis. The tape stopper surface is located radially outward of the first circumferential surface.

A tool sharpener has first and second guide surfaces to respectively support a cutting tool adjacent first and second abrasive surfaces. A drive assembly moves the first and second abrasive surfaces with respect to the first and second guide surfaces. A control circuit directs a user to place the cutting tool against the first abrasive surface using the first guide surface to sharpen a cutting edge of the tool during a first sharpening operation. The control circuit activates an indicator mechanism at a conclusion of the first sharpening operation to direct the user to perform a second sharpening operation in which the user presents the cutting tool against the second abrasive surface using the second guide surface to sharpen the cutting edge.

A tool sharpener has first and second guide surfaces to respectively support a cutting tool adjacent first and second abrasive surfaces. A drive assembly moves the first and second abrasive surfaces with respect to the first and second guide surfaces. A control circuit directs a user to place the cutting tool against the first abrasive surface using the first guide surface to sharpen a cutting edge of the tool during a first sharpening operation. The control circuit activates an indicator mechanism at a conclusion of the first sharpening operation to direct the user to perform a second sharpening operation in which the user presents the cutting tool against the second abrasive surface using the second guide surface to sharpen the cutting edge.