US 5,577,948 A · Magnetorheological polishing devices and methods

Abstract

A method of polishing an object is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of creating a polishing zone within a magnetorheological fluid; determining the characteristics of the contact between the object and the polishing zone necessary to polish the object; controlling the consistency of the fluid in the polishing zone; bringing the object into contact with the polishing zone of the fluid; and moving at least one of said object and said fluid with respect to the other. Also disclosed is a polishing device. In one embodiment, the device comprises a magnetorheological fluid, a means for inducing a magnetic field, and a means for displacing the object to be polished or the means for inducing a magnetic field relative to one another.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method of finishing a workpiece surface using magnetorheological fluid, comprising:

positioning the workpiece at a clearance from a surface adapted to carry magnetorheological fluid;
introducing a flow of magnetorheological fluid through said clearance;
applying a magnetic field substantially at said clearance to create a polishing or work zone in the magnetorheological fluid, said zone forming a transient tool for engaging and causing material removal at a portion of the workpiece surface, said zone engaging said workpiece surface at an area smaller than the area of the workpiece surface to be finished;
and
moving the workpiece or the zone relative to the other to expose different portions of the workpiece surface to the zone for predetermined dwell times to selectively finish said portions of said workpiece surface to predetermined degrees.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

08/525,453Filed 8 Sep 1995 · continuation

Priority

14 Apr 1992

Granted

26 Nov 1996

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B24B 1/005
Processes of grinding or polishing; Use of auxiliary equipment in connection with such processes: using a magnetic polishing agent
B24B 37/04
Lapping machines or devices; Accessories: designed for working plane surfaces
B24B 39/02
Burnishing machines or devices, i.e. requiring pressure members for compacting the surface zone ; Accessories therefor: designed for working…
B82Y 30/00
Nanotechnology for materials or surface science

Family

Serial868,466Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Apr 1992

Serial930,116Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Aug 1992

Serial966,919Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Oct 1992

Serial966,929Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Oct 1992

Serial71,813Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Jun 1993

US 5,449,313 AParent of this continuation

US 5,577,948 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Magnetorheological polishing devices and methods

Life of this patent

Magnetorheological polishing devices and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22