Method of and apparatus for removing material
AssigneeEmerson Electric UK Limited
InventorsNicolas John Dougill, David John Cartwright, Laurence Alfred Bell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for removing material from a workpiece is described, in which the apparatus comprises means for advancing an abrasive tool towards the workpiece to bring an abrasive surface of the tool into contact with the surface of the workpiece, means for moving the abrasive surface relative to the workpiece to remove material from the workpiece, means for detecting a load applied to the tool by the workpiece, and means for controlling the rate of advancement of the abrasive tool towards the workpiece depending on the magnitude of the detected load.
Claims18
Apparatus for removing material from a workpiece, said apparatus comprising:
- an abrasive wheel having an abrasive circumferential surf ace and rotatable about a first axis passing through a centre thereof, and mounted to orbit about a second axis spaced from the first axis;
- means for effecting relative advancing movement between the second axis and the workpiece to remove material from the workpiece;
- means for detecting a load applied to said wheel by said workpiece;
- and
- means for controlling the rate of the advancing movement depending on the magnitude of the detected load, said control means comprising means for monitoring the magnitude of the detected load during the removal of material at each of a plurality of spaced locations along the workpiece.
A method of removing material from a workpiece, said method comprising the steps of:
- rotating an abrasive wheel having an abrasive circumferential surface about a first axis passing through a centre thereof;
- orbiting the wheel about a second axis spaced from the first axis;
- effecting relative advancing movement between the second axis and the workpiece to remove material from the workpiece;
- detecting a load applied to said wheel by said workpiece;
- controlling the rate of the advancing movement depending on the magnitude of the detected load;
- and
- monitoring the magnitude of the detected load during the removal of material at each of a plurality of spaced positions along the workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.