Guided rotary file
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRichard E. Dubell, Timothy L. Manning
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary file includes: (a) a body having first and second ends, and an outer surface comprising at least one cutting edge; (b) a shank extending from the first end of the body which is adapted to be mounted in a rotary tool; and (c) a pilot extending from the second end of the body, the pilot defining an annular peripheral surface with an arcuate cross-section.
Claims23
A rotary file, comprising:
- (a) a body having first and second ends, and an outer surface comprising at least one cutting edge;
- (b) a shank extending from the first end of the body which is adapted to be mounted in a rotary tool;
- and
- (c) a pilot extending from the second end of the body, the pilot defining an annular peripheral surface having an arcuate cross-section as viewed in a cutting plane parallel to a rotational axis of the rotary file.
An apparatus for removing one or more burrs from a peripheral edge of a machined feature in a workpiece, comprising:
- (a) a deburring tool having a rotatable spindle which is resiliently deflectable away from a nominal axis of rotation;
- (b) a rotary file, comprising:
- (i) a body having first and second ends, and an outer surface comprising at least one cutting edge;
- (ii) a shank extending from the first end of the body which is mounted in the spindle;
- and
- (iii) a pilot extending from the second end of the body, the pilot defining an annular peripheral surface having an arcuate cross-section as viewed in a cutting plane parallel to a rotational axis of the rotary file.
A method of removing one or more burrs from a peripheral edge of a machined feature in a workpiece, comprising:
- (a) providing a deburring tool having a rotatable spindle which is resiliently deflectable away from a nominal axis of rotation;
- (b) mounting a rotary file in the spindle, the rotary file comprising:
- (i) a body having first and second ends, and an outer surface comprising at least one cutting edge;
- (ii) a shank extending from the first end of the body which is mounted in the spindle;
- and
- (iii) a pilot extending from the second end of the body, the pilot defining an annular peripheral surface with an arcuate cross-section;
- and
- (c) spinning the rotary file while simultaneously traversing the rotary file along a preprogrammed toolpath which describes a preselected amount of interference between the rotary file and the workpiece, such that the pilot contacts a first portion of the workpiece while the body cuts the one or more burrs;
- (d) wherein the toolpath is programmed to continuously maintain the spindle in a laterally deflected position throughout the deburring procedure.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.