Coater die edge finishing method
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsAparna V. Bhave, William B. Kolb, Thomas M. Milbourn, Lawrence B. Wallace, Robert A. Yapel
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Abstract
A method of microfinishing the edge of a die component includes polishing the edges after the die component is machined by known methods to finish the edges of the die component to a smoother finish than the rest of the die component. This eliminates the incidence of undesirable streaking defects in the coating. The polishing step can be lapping, vapor honing, or grit blasting. The edges are polished to a finish of less than 8 microinches.
Claims13
A method of microfinishing the edge of a coating die used for coating a liquid on a substrate comprising, after the die is machined, the step of polishing only the edge to finish the edge of the die to a smoother finish than the rest of the die thereby to reduce the incidence of undesirable streaking defects in the coating wherein the polishing step comprises:
- lapping the die edge by traversing the die edge along its length with lapping film by creating relative motion between the die edge and the lapping film while polishing to a degree sufficient to minimize streak formation without overpolishing and rounding the die edge;
- during lapping, wetting the edge with oil;
- and
- varying the angle of attack of the die edge to the lapping film to allow a complete polish of the edge.
A method of microfinishing the edge of a coating die used for coating a liquid on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
- grinding the die along its length to minimize formation of a "sawtooth" pattern on the coating edge;
- deburring the die component, as needed;
- and
- after the grinding and deburring steps, polishing only the edge to finish the edge of the die to a smoother finish than the rest of the die to reduce the incidence of undesirable streaking defects in the coating.
A coater die for coating a liquid on a substrate comprising an edge that is polished to a finish of less than 2 microinches.
A coating die used for coating a liquid on a substrate comprising two components located to form a slot therebetween, wherein each component has an edge adjacent the end of the component and forming the exit of the slot, wherein at least one edge has a smoother finish than the rest of that die component thereby to reduce the incidence of undesirable streaking defects in coatings produced by the die on substrates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.