Surface relief grating image machining process and product

• US 7,491,021 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2008
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andy G Kozlowski
• Original Assignee: A.M. Precision Machining, Inc.
• Inventors: Kozlowski, Andy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant; David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): GATES, ERIC ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US12/113,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20080218857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 409/131, 409/132, 295/57, 359/3, 359/27, 359/32, 359/33, 359/35, 359/558, 359/566, 359/567, 359/569, 359/572, 359/574, 359/575, 405/82, 264/138, 264/139
• US Class Current: 409/132
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 3/00 Milling particular work; Special milling operations; Machines therefor milling gear-teeth B23F, heat assisted machining B23P25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B44B 3/009 using a computer control means
• CPC Class Codes: B44B 3/02 wherein plane surfaces are worked
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 Shaping one-piece blank by removing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/303808 including infeeding

Abstract

A product with a surface relief grating (SRG) image effect has a surface with rotational cuts effected therein to create the SRG image effect. The SRG image has an effect based on a rotational speed of a cutting tool effecting the cuts, a travel speed of a cutting tool effecting the cuts, and a depth of the cuts. A light source can be used to emit light on the surface of the product. In an SRG image machining process, a material and a cutting tool are provided. The material is contacted by the cutting tool to a predetermined depth. The cutting tool is rotated to cut the material at a predetermined rotational speed. The cutting tool is moved to cut the material at a predetermined travel speed. A SRG image effect is produced in the material through the contacting, rotating, and moving steps.

Claims

1. A manufacture comprising a material with a reflective machineable surface defining an array of substantially circular, intersecting grooves, arranged serially and extending centered along a line, and wherein arc lengths of adjacent grooves are parallel and are separated by substantially the same distance to form a surface relief grating that causes the three-dimensional image effect to appear within the material when exposed to a light source.

2. The manufacture of claim 1, wherein the array of grooves is arranged in one or more of an alphanumeric pattern, a geometric pattern, or an illustration.

3. The manufacture of claim 1, wherein the array of substantially circular, intersecting grooves further comprises a planar coil-shape of slightly oblique, continuous loops across the surface of the material.

4. The manufacture of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional image effect has an apparent depth below the surface of the material.

5. The manufacture of claim 1, wherein the surface relief grating is made by a milling process.

6. The manufacture of claim 5, wherein the milling process further comprises the use of a rotary cutting tool.

7. The manufacture of claim 1, wherein the surface relief grating is made by an engraving process.

8. A sign configuration comprising a material with a reflective machineable surface defining an array of substantially circular, intersecting grooves, arranged serially and extending centered along a line, wherein arc lengths of adjacent grooves are parallel and are separated by substantially a same distance to form a surface relief grating;

and a light source that emits light onto the surface of the material to cause a three-dimensional image effect to appear within the material.

9. The sign configuration of claim 8, wherein the array of grooves is arranged in one or more of an alphanumeric pattern, or a geometric pattern, or an illustration.

10. The sign configuration of claim 8, wherein the array of substantially circular, intersecting grooves further comprises a planar coil-shape of slightly oblique, continuous loops across the surface of the material.

11. The sign configuration of claim 8, wherein the light source is one or more of a light emitting diode, a halogen light, or a laser.

12. The sign configuration of claim 8, wherein the three-dimensional image effect has an apparent depth below the surface of the material.

13. The sign configuration of claim 8, wherein the surface relief grating is made by a milling process.

14. The sign configuration of claim 13, wherein the milling process further comprises the use of a rotary cutting tool.

15. The sign configuration of claim 8, wherein the surface relief grating is made by an engraving process.