US 4,266,996 A · Method and tool for producing centered parts having spherical surfaces

Abstract

Parts having centered spherical surfaces are produced by a method and by a tool which seats an inner spherical end of each part on a very accurately generated spherical surface of the tool while a spherical surface is ground and polished on an outer end of each part. The ground and polished surface is formed concentric with the underlying precisely formed spherical surface of the tool or block. The seating of a part against the spherical surface eliminates problems of tilting of the optical axis of the part. A shell is attached to the spherical surface of the block, and a plurality of openings are drilled through the shell. The sidewalls of the parts are located and supported by the side surfaces of these openings so that the shell holds the parts against any lateral movement during the grinding and polishing operation. As a result the parts can be vigorously ground and polished while being held firmly in a fixed position. A single tool has a large number of openings in the shell. Large volumes of parts are produced with centered surfaces of superior accuracy at low cost.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of producing parts having centered spherical surfaces, said method comprising,

generating a very accurate spherical surface on a block,
attaching a shell to said surface on the block,
drilling an opening through the shell to expose a spherical shaped seating surface on the block,
putting an adhesive into the opening,
placing a part in the opening with an inner end of the part engaged with the spherical shaped seating surface on the block and with the sides of the part located and supported by the sidewall surfaces of the opening and said adhesive, and
grinding a spherical surface on the outer end of the part concentric with the underlying precisely formed spherical surface of the block.

3 more elements

A tool for holding a part during the grinding on the part or the grinding and polishing on the part of a spherical surface having a center of curvature which defines an optical axis of the part that lies in close coincidence with the mechanical axis of the part, said tool comprising,

spherical support means for supporting the part against longitudinal movement of the part during grinding and polishing of the spherical surface,
lateral support means for supporting the part against lateral movement of the part during grinding and polishing of the spherical surface,
said spherical support means comprising a block having an outer, accurately generated spherical surface engagable with a surface of the part on an end of the part which is opposite the surface to be ground and polished,
said lateral support means comprising a shell attached to the spherical support means and having a generally cylinderically shaped opening extending radially through the shell and providing sidewall means for locating and supporting the sides of the part, and
wherein the opening in the shell exposes a spherical seating surface for the inner end of the part and which enables the outer end of the part to be ground to a curvature concentric with the underlying precisely formed spherical surface of the block.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and tool for producing centered parts having spherical surfaces

Life of this patent

Method and tool for producing centered parts having spherical surfaces

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14