Edge treatment process
First Claim
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1. A method of treating a circumferential edge of a part having a predetermined general shape and aspect ratio, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) generating a predicted tool path of the circumferential edge of the part based on the predetermined general shape and aspect ratio of the part;
b) mapping the circumferential edge of the part with a measuring device to measure a deviation between the predicted tool path and an actual part profile using the measuring device over the circumferential edge of the part;
c) combining the predicted tool path with the measured deviation to determine a computed tool path;
d) following the circumferential edge of the part with a treating device using the computed tool path, wherein the computed tool path represent the sum of the predicted tool path and the measured surface profile deviation,wherein the circumferential edge of the part is measured and treated, andwherein the computed tool path follows the circumferential edge of the part precisely to improve the accuracy of the edge treatment process.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for treating a circumferential edge of a part are described. The method includes the steps of (1) mapping the circumferential edge of the part with a measuring device, either directly or differentially from a known shape profile; and (2) using the measured data to more accurately follow the circumferential edge of the part during subsequent treatment processing steps, thereby improving the accuracy of the treatment process and compared with a non-mapped treatment process.
22 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of treating a circumferential edge of a part having a predetermined general shape and aspect ratio, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) generating a predicted tool path of the circumferential edge of the part based on the predetermined general shape and aspect ratio of the part; b) mapping the circumferential edge of the part with a measuring device to measure a deviation between the predicted tool path and an actual part profile using the measuring device over the circumferential edge of the part; c) combining the predicted tool path with the measured deviation to determine a computed tool path; d) following the circumferential edge of the part with a treating device using the computed tool path, wherein the computed tool path represent the sum of the predicted tool path and the measured surface profile deviation, wherein the circumferential edge of the part is measured and treated, and wherein the computed tool path follows the circumferential edge of the part precisely to improve the accuracy of the edge treatment process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of treating a circumferential edge of a part having an unknown shape and dimensions, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) mapping the circumferential edge of the part having the unknown shape and dimensions with a measuring device, wherein the measuring device comprises a roller or a wheel or a non-rotating round surface and a circumferential edge of the roller or the wheel or the non-rotating round surface contacts the circumferential edge of the part to measure the actual surface profile of the part and create the tool path for a separately mounted treating device to follow; and b) following the circumferential edge of the part with the separately mounted treating device using the tool path computed by the measuring device, wherein the treating device comprises a roller or a wheel or a non-rotating round surface that is the same size as the measuring device, wherein the circumferential edge of the part is measured and treated, and wherein the tool path follows the circumferential edge of the part precisely to improve the accuracy of the edge treatment process.
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10. A method of treating a series of circumferential edges of parts having similar shapes and dimensions, comprising the steps of:
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a. obtaining a previous tool path of the circumferential edge of a part, wherein the previous tool path is one used in treating a previous work piece having a similar shape and dimensions; b. mapping the circumferential edge of a part with a measuring device to measure a deviation between the previous tool path and the actual surface profile using the measuring device over the circumferential edge of the part; c. combining the previous tool path with the measured deviation to determine a computed tool path; and d. following the circumferential edge of the part with a treating device using the computed tool path, wherein the computed tool path represents the sum of the previous tool path and the measured deviation, wherein the circumferential edge of the part is measured and treated, and wherein the computed tool path follows the circumferential edge of the part precisely to improve the accuracy of the edge treatment process.
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11. An apparatus for measuring and treating a circumferential edge of a part, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a measuring device capable of creating a computed tool path for treating the circumferential edge of the part by mapping and measuring the circumferential edge of the part, wherein the measuring device comprises a roller or a wheel or a non-rotating round surface that is capable of contacting the circumferential edge of the part, wherein the measuring device is mounted in a yoke that only allows the measuring device to move linearly relative to the part, and wherein the measuring device is capable of measuring a deviation between a predicted tool path and an actual surface profile over the circumferential edge of the part; b) a treating device separately mounted from the measuring device, wherein the treating device is capable of processing the circumferential edge of the part after the circumferential edge of the part has been mapped and measured by the measuring device; c) machine elements capable of securing the part and moving the entire circumferential edge of the part relative to the measuring device and moving the entire circumferential edge of the part relative to the separately mounted treating device; d) a motion controller for monitoring and controlling the machine elements, wherein the motion control electronics store information related to the predicted tool path of the part and the measured tool path and are capable of calculating the actual surface profile of the circumferential edge of the part to determine the computed tool path, and wherein the motion control electronics command the machine elements to move the circumferential edge of the part relative to the measuring device to measure the circumferential edge of the part and to move the circumferential edge of the part relative to the treating device to treat the circumferential edge of the part using the computed tool path, and e) an operator interface computer operatively connected to the motion controller, wherein the operator interface computer provides operator control over the machine elements. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification