Abrading tools and methods of making same

Abstract

An abrading tool includes a base member having a support portion defining a first level, and a plurality of integral raised islands extending upwardly above the first level. The base member may be formed of metal or a non-conductive material. The islands are spaced apart from one another. Each island includes a respective tip portion. The distance between adjacent islands may be greater than the width of a single island. An abrasive composite material, including a carrier material and particles of an abrasive material, is affixed to the tip portions of at least some of the islands. The abrasive material may be applied by electroplating, electro-less plating, brazing or another method. The abrasive material is applied only to the tip portion of the islands, such that the first level of the support portion is substantially free of the abrasive material. Methods of making the abrading tool are also described.

Claims

1. An abrading tool comprising: a metal base member comprising a plate portion defining a first level and a plurality of raised islands integrally formed with and extending outwardly from the first level, the islands being spaced apart from one another and each including a respective tip portion having an arcuate cross-sectional shape; and an abrasive composite affixed to at least the tip portion of at least some of the islands, the abrasive composite comprising a carrier material and particles of an abrasive material selected from the group consisting of diamond, tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, and mixtures thereof, wherein: the first level of the plate portion is substantially free of said abrasive material, and an inner surface of the plate, opposite the islands, has a plurality of indentations formed therein, each of the indentations corresponding to, and located opposite to one of the islands.

2. The abrading tool according to claim 1, wherein: the islands are substantially round and have a width W; a distance between the nearest point of two adjacent islands has a length D; and W is less than D.

3. The abrading tool according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the tip portions are located in an abrasion plane, said abrasion plane being co-planar to and raised above the first level.

4. The abrading tool according to claim 1, wherein the base member is cylindrical in shape, and the abrading tool is provided with a shaft for inserting into a rotary driving tool.

5. The abrading tool according to claim 1, wherein the base member is spherical in shape, and the abrading tool is provided with a shaft for inserting into a rotary driving tool.

6. The abrading tool according to claim 1, wherein the base member has a rounded conical shape, and the abrading tool is provided with a shaft for inserting into a rotary driving tool.

7. The abrading tool according to claim 1, wherein the base member has cylindrical shape with a conical tip, and the abrading tool is provided with a shaft for inserting into a rotary driving tool.

8. The abrading tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the islands includes an intermediate portion between the first level and the tip portion, the intermediate portion being substantially free of said abrasive material.

9. An abrading tool comprising: a non-conductive base member comprising a plate portion defining a first level and a plurality of raised islands formed thereon and extending outwardly from the first level, the islands being spaced apart from one another and each including a respective tip portion having an arcuate cross-sectional shape; an abrasive composite affixed to at least the tip portion of at least some of the islands, the abrasive composite comprising a carrier material and particles of an abrasive material selected from the group consisting of diamond, cubic boron nitride, tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, and mixtures thereof, wherein: the first level of the plate portion is substantially free of said abrasive material, and an inner surface of the plate, opposite the islands, has a plurality of indentations formed therein, each of the indentations corresponding to, and located opposite to one of the islands.

10. The abrading tool according to claim 9, wherein each of the islands includes an intermediate portion between the first level and the tip portion, the intermediate portion being substantially free of said abrasive material.

11. The abrading tool according to claim 9, wherein: the islands are substantially round and have a width W; a distance between the nearest point of two adjacent islands has a length D; and W is less than D.

12. An abrading tool comprising: a metal base member comprising a plate portion defining a first level and a plurality of raised islands integrally formed with and extending outwardly from the first level, the islands being spaced apart from one another and each including a respective tip portion having an arcuate cross-sectional shape, wherein an inner surface of the plate, opposite the islands, has a plurality of indentations formed therein, each of the indentations corresponding to, and located opposite to one of the islands; and an abrasive composite affixed to at least the tip portion of at least some of the islands, the abrasive composite comprising a carrier material and particles of an abrasive material selected from the group consisting of diamond, tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, and mixtures thereof, wherein the first level of the plate portion is substantially free of said abrasive material.

13. The abrading tool according to claim 12, wherein: the islands are substantially round and have a width W; a distance between the nearest point of two adjacent islands has a length D; and W is less than D.

14. The abrading tool according to claim 12, wherein each of the islands includes an intermediate portion between the first level and the tip portion, the intermediate portion being substantially free of said abrasive material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an abrading tool according to a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the abrading tool of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional detail view of a portion of the abrading tool of FIG. 1, taken along the line 3-3 thereof.

(4) FIG. 4 is a detail view of a single island, which is an enlarged view of the circled area 4 of FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a metal base member which is a component part of the abrading tool of FIGS. 1-3.

(6) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the base member of FIG. 5 with a mask applied thereon.

(7) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the masked base member of FIG. 6, with part of the masking removed from the tips of the islands.

(8) FIG. 8 is a detail view of a single island, which is an enlarged view of the circled area 8 of FIG. 7.

(9) FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the masked base member of FIG. 8, with individual caps applied to the tips of the respective islands.

(10) FIG. 10 is a detail view of a single island, which is an enlarged view of the circled area 10 of FIG. 9.

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a hand-operable abrading tool according to a second illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 12 is a side plan view of the abrading tool of FIG. 11.

(13) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a machine-operable abrading tool according to a third illustrative embodiment of the present invention, showing an abrader insert provided for use with a reciprocating sanding tool.

(14) FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a machine-operable abrading tool according to a fourth illustrative embodiment of the present invention, showing a cylindrical abrader insert provided for use with a drill or other rotary abrading tool.

(15) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a machine-operable abrading tool according to a fifth illustrative embodiment of the present invention, showing a spherical abrader insert provided for use with a drill or other rotary abrading tool.

(16) FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a machine-operable abrading tool according to a sixth illustrative embodiment of the present invention, showing a rounded conical abrader insert provided for use with a drill or other rotary abrading tool.

(17) FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a machine-operable abrading tool according to a seventh illustrative embodiment of the present invention, showing a cylindrical abrader insert with a conical tip portion, the insert provided for use with a drill or other rotary abrading tool.

(18) FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a machine-operable abrading tool according to an eighth illustrative embodiment of the present invention, showing another modified conical abrader insert with a rounded distal end portion, the insert provided for use with a drill or other rotary abrading tool.

(19) FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a machine-operable abrading tool according to a fourth illustrative embodiment of the present invention, showing a modified cylindrical abrader insert with a rounded distal end portion, the insert provided for use with a drill or other rotary abrading tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(20) Descriptions will be provided below of selected illustrative embodiments of the present invention on a basis of examples of the present invention, supported by and shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that only structures considered necessary for clarifying the present invention are described herein.

(21) Throughout the present specification, relative positional terms like upper, lower, front, rear, top, bottom, horizontal, vertical, and the like are used to refer to the orientation of the apparatus as shown in the drawings. These terms are used in an illustrative sense to describe the depicted embodiments, and are not meant to be limitative. It will be understood that the depicted apparatus may be placed at an orientation different from that shown in the drawings, such as inverted 180 degrees or transverse to that shown, and in such a case, the above-identified relative positional terms will no longer be accurate.

(22) Referring now to the drawings, a first illustrative embodiment of an abrading tool 20 according to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. In this first embodiment, the depicted abrading tool 20 is a grinding disc attachment for use with a rotary hand drill, drill press or similar tool. Some examples of other, non-limiting alternative tools, which are contemplated by the present invention, include the hand sander 120 shown in FIGS. 11-12 and the abrader insert 220 of FIG. 13, where the insert is provided for use with a reciprocating sanding or grinding tool 200.

(23) Other three-dimensional shapes may also be used according to the present invention, including for example, the various shaped abrader inserts 320, 420, 520, 620, 720 and 820 of FIGS. 14 through 19, where these three-dimensional shaped inserts are respectively provided for use with a rotary hand drill, drill press or similar tool.

(24) Referring again to FIGS. 1-4, the tool 20 according to the first embodiment includes a metal base member 22 including a support portion 24 (FIG. 3) defining a first level, and a plurality of raised islands 25 integrally formed with, and extending upwardly above the first level. The base member 22 is shown by itself in an early stage of manufacturing in FIG. 5.

(25) As seen best in FIG. 5, each of the islands 25 has a width W and the islands 25 are spaced apart from one another by a distance D. Each of the islands 25 has a curving or arcuate cross-sectional shape, and includes a respective tip portion 26 which also has an arcuate cross-sectional shape, as shown, and which is elevated above the first level. The radius of curvature of each of the islands may be in a range of 0.5 mm to 2 mm or larger, as needed for a particular application. The distance D between adjacent islands may, optionally, be greater than the width W of a single island, as shown. The tips may be of equal height above the first level, and arranged in an abrasion plane, which is co-planar with the first level.

(26) Optionally, the base member 22 may be prepared from a flat metal sheet by a stamping press. Where a three-dimensional base member is used, the base member may be made as an investment casting or die casting.

(27) The tool 20 also includes a respective cap 28 affixed to the tip portion 26 of at least some of the islands 25. If desired, each of the islands 25 may have a cap 28 thereon. The cap 28 is best seen in the detail view of FIG. 4. Where used, the cap 28 is formed from an abrasive composite material, which includes both a carrier material and particles of an abrasive material.

(28) The abrasive material used is selected from generally known and used industrial abrasive materials. The abrasive material used in the cap 28 may be selected from the group consisting of diamond, CBN (cubic boron nitride), aluminum oxide, tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, and mixtures thereof.

(29) The cap 28 containing the abrasive material is applied only to the respective tip portion 26 of each of the islands 25, such that the first level of the support portion 24 is substantially free of abrasive material.

(30) The open space provided between the islands 25 provides a number of channels 30 to allow sanding dust or swarf to flow outwardly away from the island caps 28 during use of the tool. These channels 30 permit the tool to work efficiently without significant swarf loading on the island caps 28, providing excellent and rapid abrading performance in use.

(31) Method of Manufacturing

(32) The present invention also provides methods of making abrasive tools. One method of manufacturing an abrading tool 20 according to an illustrative embodiment hereof includes a first step of applying a masking material to substantially cover a base member 22, forming a mask 32 thereon. The mask 32 is shown entirely covering the base member 22 in FIG. 6.

(33) The masking material used may be an epoxy, lacquer, or another flowable non-conductive material, and may be applied by any suitable method, such as for example dipping, spraying or brushing. Materials conventionally used to form electroplating or brazing masks may be used, such as, for example, commercially available masking epoxies, lacquers or tapes.

(34) The method includes a subsequent step of removing the masking material from the tip portions 26 of the islands 25 only, leaving the remaining portions of the mask 32 in place. Such removal may be effected by sanding, grinding or other appropriate method known in the art. The base member 22 is shown in FIG. 7 with the mask 32 removed from the island tip portions 26.

(35) The method also includes a subsequent step of applying a composite material to the exposed tip portions 26 of the base member to form caps 28 on the respective islands 25, where the composite material includes a carrier material and particles of an abrasive material selected from generally known industrial abrasive materials.

(36) Optionally, the abrasive material may be selected from the group consisting of diamond, CBN (cubic boron nitride), aluminum oxide, tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, and mixtures thereof. The carrier material may include a metal such as copper, nickel, gold, silver, chrome, zinc, tin and alloys or mixtures of any of these metals. The composite material may be applied by brazing, electroplating, electroless plating or other suitable method.

(37) Where the base member used is formed from a non-conductive material such as formed from a non-conductive material such as stone, ceramic, plastic or a composite material, the composite material may be applied by any suitable method known in the art.

(38) The method includes a further step of removing the mask 32 from the remaining masked areas of the base member 22 to expose the support portion 24 of the base member, leaving the first level substantially free of the adhesive material.

(39) Although the present invention has been described herein with respect to a number of specific illustrative embodiments, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate, rather than to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art will realize that many modifications of the illustrative embodiment could be made which would be operable. All such modifications, which are within the scope of the present disclosure, are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention.