Surface finishing apparatus and method

An air clamp hold-down assembly for use with a surface finishing machine, said air clamp hold-down assembly comprising:

• (a) a hold-down piston;
• and
• (b) a hold-down tube;
• (c) said hold-down piston mounted on said hold-down tube, said hold-down piston having at least one air orifice in a lower surface, said orifice positioned to provide a downward-directed stream of pressurized air.

A drive assembly for use with a surface finishing machine, said drive assembly comprising:

• (a) a pair of axially convergent drive wheels;
• (b) means for imparting rotational power to said pair of drive wheels;
• and
• (c) means for adjusting the point of convergence of the rotational axes of said pair of axially convergent drive wheels.

A speed follower for use with a surface finishing machine having a drive assembly and a surface finishing assembly, said speed follower comprising:

• (a) a feed indexer, said feed indexer interfaced with said drive assembly;
• and
• (b) means for sensing the operating speed of said surface finishing assembly, said sensing means interfaced with said feed indexer;
• (c) said feed indexer including means for controlling the operating speed of said drive assembly in response to sensed changes in said operating speed of said surface finishing assembly.