Kurling tool
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorTimothy L. Hoopman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for knurling a workpiece in which the knurl pattern includes grooves of at least two different configurations. The apparatus includes a knurl wheel holder that allows angular rotation of the knurl wheel about the holder longitudinal axis while maintaining the knurl wheel point of contact on the longitudinal axis. The apparatus also includes a knurling wheel that includes teeth of at least two different configurations. Also disclosed is a method of molding a molded article with the knurled workpiece to impart the inverse of the knurl pattern onto the molded article, such a molded article, a method of forming a structured abrasive article with the molded article, and such an abrasive article.
Claims9
A knurl wheel, comprising:
- a body, wherein the body of the knurl wheel is cylindrical, the body having a rotational axis and including first and second opposed major surfaces and an outer peripheral surface between said first and second major surfaces, each of the first and second surfaces having an undercut portion resulting in a positive rake angle;
- and
- a plurality of cutting teeth on said outer peripheral surface, each of the teeth extending along said outer peripheral surface and intersecting with at least one of the major surfaces, said plurality of teeth including a first tooth and a second tooth, said second tooth being of substantially different configuration from said first tooth, wherein each of the teeth has a tip and each of the teeth has a configuration wherein tooth surfaces extend from the tip toward the body in opposite circumferential directions such that a radial line extending inwardly from the tip of each tooth extends within the boundaries of the tooth, and wherein each of the teeth has an axial length that is greater than a circumferential length thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.