Edge break details and processing
First Claim
1. A method for smoothing an edge of a part, the edge defined by a first planar surface and a second planar surface, the method comprising:
- operating a rotating polishing wheel comprising a polishing surface in accordance with a first set of polishing parameters to form a first curved surface at the edge and the first planar surface, the first set of polishing parameters comprising a first set of rotational speeds, a first set of translational speeds and a first contact angle of the polishing surface relative to a horizontal reference line relative to the first planar surface; and
operating the rotating polishing wheel in accordance with a second set of polishing parameters, different that the first set of polishing parameters, to form a second curved surface at the edge and the second planar surface, the second set of polishing parameters comprising a second set of rotational speeds, a second set of translational speeds and a second contact angle of the polishing surface relative to the horizontal reference line relative to the first planar surface different than the first angle,wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface cooperate to form the smoothed edge.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for shaping an edge at a juncture of two adjoining surfaces of a part. A first surface and a second surface of the part are abraded by contacting a polishing surface of a polishing wheel to the first surface and to the second surface. The polishing surface spins in opposite rotational directions about an axis parallel to the edge when contacting the first and second surfaces respectively. The polishing surface moves at different translational speeds and the polishing wheel spins at different rotational speeds along straight segments and along curved segments of the edge. The shaped edge has a visually smooth and geometrically uniform appearance.
118 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for smoothing an edge of a part, the edge defined by a first planar surface and a second planar surface, the method comprising:
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operating a rotating polishing wheel comprising a polishing surface in accordance with a first set of polishing parameters to form a first curved surface at the edge and the first planar surface, the first set of polishing parameters comprising a first set of rotational speeds, a first set of translational speeds and a first contact angle of the polishing surface relative to a horizontal reference line relative to the first planar surface; and operating the rotating polishing wheel in accordance with a second set of polishing parameters, different that the first set of polishing parameters, to form a second curved surface at the edge and the second planar surface, the second set of polishing parameters comprising a second set of rotational speeds, a second set of translational speeds and a second contact angle of the polishing surface relative to the horizontal reference line relative to the first planar surface different than the first angle, wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface cooperate to form the smoothed edge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus configured to shape an edge defined by a first planar surface and a second planar surface of a part, the apparatus comprising:
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a polishing wheel configured to rotate about a central axis at a plurality of rotational speeds in a first rotational direction and in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, the polishing wheel having a perimeter with a polishing surface; and a positioning assembly configured to control the polishing surface to smooth the edge using at least a first pass and second pass, wherein the first pass comprises translating the polishing surface along the first planar surface and the edge in accordance with a first set of polishing parameters, the first set of polishing parameters comprising a first set of rotational speeds, a first set of translational speeds and a first contact angle of the polishing surface relative to a horizontal reference line of the polishing wheel, wherein the second pass comprises translating the polishing surface along the second planar surface and the edge in accordance with a second set of polishing parameters different that the first set of polishing parameters, the second set of polishing parameters comprising a second set of rotational speeds, a second set of translational speeds and a second contact angle of the polishing surface relative to a horizontal reference line of the polishing wheel different than the first angle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program code executable by a processor for controlling a computer aided manufacturing operation for smoothing an edge of a part defined by a first planar surface and a second planar surface, the computer readable medium comprising:
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computer program code for operating a rotating polishing wheel comprising a polishing surface in accordance with a first set of polishing parameters to form a first curved surface at the edge and the first planar surface, the first set of polishing parameters comprising a first set of rotational speeds, a first set of translational speeds and a first contact angle of the polishing surface relative to a horizontal reference line relative to the first planar surface; and computer program code for operating the rotating polishing wheel in accordance with a second set of polishing parameters, different that the first set of polishing parameters, to form a second curved surface at the edge and the second planar surface, the second set of polishing parameters comprising a second set of rotational speeds, a second set of translational speeds and a second contact angle of the polishing surface relative to the horizontal reference line relative to the first planar surface different than the first angle, wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface cooperate to form the smoothed edge. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification