Automated drill bit re-sharpening and verification system

An automated method of re-sharpening a drill bit having a shank portion and a fluted portion which define the pair of margins and a cutting tip using an automated re-sharpening apparatus which includes a pair of grinding assemblies, a pair of optical assemblies, a pair of workhead assemblies, and a loader assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) positioning multiple drill bits at a pick-up location;
• b) removing the drill bits from the pick-up location one at a time via the loader assembly;
• c) transferring the drill bits from the loader assembly to respective ones of the workhead assemblies;
• d) conducting initial evaluations of the drill bits via respective ones of the optical assemblies;
• e) grinding the cutting tips via respective ones of the grinding assemblies according to the initial evaluations;
• f) conducting final evaluations of the drill bits via respective ones of the optical assemblies;
• and
• g) transporting the drill bits from the workhead assemblies to a drop-off location via the loader assembly.

An automated method of re-sharpening a drill bit having a shank portion and a fluted portion which defines a pair of margins and a cutting tip using an automated re-sharpening apparatus which includes at least one grinding assembly and at least one optical assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) conducting an initial evaluation of the drill bit via the optical assembly;
• b) grinding the cutting tip via the grinding assembly according to the initial evaluation;
• c) conducting a final evaluation of the drill bit via the optical assembly;
• and
• d) generating and storing data corresponding to the initial and final evaluations of the drill bit.

An automated apparatus for re-sharpening a drill bit having a shank portion and a fluted portion which defines a pair of margins and a cutting tip, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a housing;
• b) at least one optical assembly attached to the housing and operative to conduct initial and final evaluations of the drill bit;
• c) at least one grinding assembly attached to the housing and operative to grind the cutting tip according to the initial evaluation conducted by the optical assembly;
• d) at least one workhead assembly movably attached to the housing for selectively transporting the drill bit between the optical and grinding assemblies;
• and
• e) a loader assembly movably attached to the housing for selectively transporting the drill bit from a pick-up location to the workhead assembly and from the workhead assembly to a drop-off location.