# US 2014/0154954 A1 · Automated polishing systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154954 A1 - Document ID: US20140154954A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/693,253 - Filed: 2012-12-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Mark Lawrence Hunt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154954A1 ## CPC - B24B 49/16: taking regard of the load - B24B 19/14: for grinding turbine blades, propeller blades or the like (using grinding belts B24B21/16) - B24B 49/105: {using eddy currents} - B24B 51/00: Arrangements for automatic control of a series of individual steps in grinding a workpiece (if applicable to other machine tools, G05B takes precedence) - B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS ## Abstract Automated polishing systems include a polisher for polishing the coating on the article and a robotic positioner for moving the polisher relative to the article on an automated path, wherein the polisher polishes at least a part of the coating during movement, a force feedback sensor for determining a force of the polisher against the article during polishing, and a controller for maintaining the polisher within a predetermined force range against the article based at least in part on the force determined by the force feedback sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automated polishing system for polishing an article having a coating, the automated polisher comprising: a polisher for polishing the coating on the article; a robotic positioner for moving the polisher relative to the article on an automated path, wherein the polisher polishes at least a part of the coating during movement; a force feedback sensor for determining a force of the polisher against the article during polishing; and, a controller for maintaining the polisher within a predetermined force range against the article based at least in part on the force determined by the force feedback sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automated polishing system of claim 1, wherein the controller changes one or more polishing parameters of the polisher while polishing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The automated polishing system of claim 2, wherein the one or more polishing parameters are changed based on an initial inspection of the article prior to polishing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The automated polishing system of claim 3, wherein the initial inspection comprises an eddy current inspection of the article. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The automated polishing system of claim 3, wherein initial inspection utilizes the robotic positioner. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The automated polishing system of claim 3, wherein the initial inspection identifies locations of cooling holes in the article. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The automated polishing system of claim 6 further comprising a cooling hole clearing device for clearing the cooling holes identified by the initial inspection. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The automated polishing system of claim 2, wherein the one or more polishing parameters comprises an RPM of the polisher. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The automated polishing system of claim 2, wherein the one or more polishing parameters comprises a polishing angle of the polisher against the article. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The automated polishing system of claim 2, wherein the one or more polishing parameters comprises a travel speed of the polisher across the article. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The automated polishing system of claim 2, wherein the one or more polishing parameters comprises the predetermined force range. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The automated polishing system of claim 1, wherein the article comprise a turbine component. ### Claim 13 A method for polishing an article having a coating, the method comprising: moving a polisher relative to the article on an automated path using a robotic positioner, wherein the polisher polishes at least a part of the coating during movement; determining a force of the polisher against the article during polishing using a force feedback sensor; and, adjusting the movement of the polisher along the automated path to maintain the force of the polisher against the article within a predetermined force range based at least in part on the force determined by the force feedback sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising changing one or more polishing parameters while polishing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more polishing parameters are changed based on an initial inspection of the article prior to polishing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the initial inspection identifies locations of cooling holes in the article. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising clearing the one or more cooling holes using a hole clearing device after polishing at least a part of the coating. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the force feedback sensor determines a clearing force of the hole clearing device against the article when clearing the one or more cooling holes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein moving the polisher relative to the article comprises moving the polisher while keeping the article stationary. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the article comprises a turbine component.