A method for modifying the mechanical and surface properties of a component. The method involves: removably attaching a component to at least one component support that is located within a vibratory trough of a component treatment apparatus, the at least one component support being a support shaft upon which the component is removably mountable within the vibratory trough; supplying the vibratory trough with treatment media; moving the component support or the vibratory trough so that the component is immersed into the treatment media; vibrating the vibratory trough to provide a substantially uniform surface treatment of the component, the vibratory trough being movable by at least one trough vibrating mechanism whose actuation is controlled by a controller in response to signals received from at least one sensor located on or within the vibratory trough; removing the component from the treatment media; and detaching the component from the component support.

A pressure shoe (1) includes a press surface (2) for directly pressing finishing tape onto a radial circumferential surface (3) of a rotating workpiece section (4) during a finishing process. A plurality of expansion elements (5) is formed in the pressure shoe (1). Each of expansion elements (5) are expandable individually and independently of one another radially while deforming the press surface (2) in a direction of the circumferential surface (3) of the workpiece section (4), so that during the finishing process, the shape of the circumferential surface (3) of the workpiece section can be influenced in a targeted manner via different expansion of the expansion elements (5) distributed over the press surface (2).

A pressure shoe (1) includes a press surface (2) for directly pressing finishing tape onto a radial circumferential surface (3) of a rotating workpiece section (4) during a finishing process. A plurality of expansion elements (5) is formed in the pressure shoe (1). Each of expansion elements (5) are expandable individually and independently of one another radially while deforming the press surface (2) in a direction of the circumferential surface (3) of the workpiece section (4), so that during the finishing process, the shape of the circumferential surface (3) of the workpiece section can be influenced in a targeted manner via different expansion of the expansion elements (5) distributed over the press surface (2).

A surface treatment system using motors that drive abrasive pads to treat a surface has structure that applies a force on the abrasive pad that provides a non-uniform contact pressure between the abrasive pad and the treated surface. This allows the system to treat the surface more quickly. Several structures are disclosed for applying the necessary force to the abrasive pad. In preferred embodiments, the non-uniform contact pressure results from application of torque to a motor that drives the abrasive pad.

A surface treatment system using motors that drive abrasive pads to treat a surface has structure that applies a force on the abrasive pad that provides a non-uniform contact pressure between the abrasive pad and the treated surface. This allows the system to treat the surface more quickly. Several structures are disclosed for applying the necessary force to the abrasive pad. In preferred embodiments, the non-uniform contact pressure results from application of torque to a motor that drives the abrasive pad.

A grinding apparatus includes a holding unit including a holding table having a holder for holding a workpiece and a grinding water suction part for drawing in grinding water outside of the holder, a rotational shaft having an end fixed centrally to a bottom surface of the holding table, a tubular rotary joint surrounding the rotational shaft, and a motor rotating the rotational shaft about its own axis. The rotational shaft has a first suction channel held in fluid communication with the holder of the holding table and a second suction channel held in fluid communication with the grinding water suction part. The rotary joint has a communication channel by which the first suction channel and the second suction channel are held in fluid communication with at least a suction source.

A grinding apparatus includes a holding unit including a holding table having a holder for holding a workpiece and a grinding water suction part for drawing in grinding water outside of the holder, a rotational shaft having an end fixed centrally to a bottom surface of the holding table, a tubular rotary joint surrounding the rotational shaft, and a motor rotating the rotational shaft about its own axis. The rotational shaft has a first suction channel held in fluid communication with the holder of the holding table and a second suction channel held in fluid communication with the grinding water suction part. The rotary joint has a communication channel by which the first suction channel and the second suction channel are held in fluid communication with at least a suction source.

A grinding machine includes a manual rotating handle provided with a rotation detector that outputs a rotation detection signal so that the position of a grinding wheel with respect to a workpiece can be relatively moved in accordance with the rotation detection signal. The grinding machine further includes a grinding wheel, a moving apparatus that moves the position of the grinding wheel with respect to a workpiece W, a proximity detector that outputs a proximity detection signal corresponding to a relative position or a relative distance between the workpiece and the grinding wheel, a manual rotating handle provided with a rotation detector, and a control apparatus that controls the moving apparatus based on the rotation detection signal. The manual rotating handle is provided with a rotational-torque varying apparatus. The control apparatus controls the rotational-torque varying apparatus based on the proximity detection signal.

A pressure shoe (1) includes a press surface (2) for directly pressing finishing tape onto a radial circumferential surface (3) of a rotating workpiece section (4) during a finishing process. A plurality of expansion elements (5) is formed in the pressure shoe (1). Each of expansion elements (5) are expandable individually and independently of one another radially while deforming the press surface (2) in a direction of the circumferential surface (3) of the workpiece section (4), so that during the finishing process, the shape of the circumferential surface (3) of the workpiece section can be influenced in a targeted manner via different expansion of the expansion elements (5) distributed over the press surface (2).

A pressure shoe (1) includes a press surface (2) for directly pressing finishing tape onto a radial circumferential surface (3) of a rotating workpiece section (4) during a finishing process. A plurality of expansion elements (5) is formed in the pressure shoe (1). Each of expansion elements (5) are expandable individually and independently of one another radially while deforming the press surface (2) in a direction of the circumferential surface (3) of the workpiece section (4), so that during the finishing process, the shape of the circumferential surface (3) of the workpiece section can be influenced in a targeted manner via different expansion of the expansion elements (5) distributed over the press surface (2).