Method and equipment for processing carbon bodies

A method of forming an anode for use in an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum, the method comprising:

• conveying a calcined carbon body to a positioning device;
• positioning and fixing the calcined carbon body on a horizontal support surface of the positioning device;
• rotating the support surface through a predetermined angle so that a surface of the calcined carbon body opposes a machining unit having at least one processing tool, wherein said processing tool is mounted on a rotatable spindle and has a cutting head formed with a plurality of cutting arms;
• moving the processing tool into contact with the surface of the calcined carbon body;
• and
• cutting at least one hole in the surface of the calcined carbon body by rotating the processing tool about a horizontal axis of rotation.

A method of forming an anode for use in an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum, the method comprising:

• conveying a calcined carbon body to a positioning device;
• positioning the calcined carbon body on a horizontal support surface of the positioning device;
• positioning the support surface so that a surface of the calcined carbon body opposes a machining unit having a plurality of processing tools, wherein each of said processing tools is mounted on a rotatable spindle and has a cutting head formed with a plurality of cutting arms;
• bringing the processing tools into contact with the surface of the calcined carbon body;
• and
• cutting a plurality of nipple holes in the surface of the calcined carbon body by rotating each of the processing tools about an axis of rotation.