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US 7,398,715 B2Granted
Method for using a cutting tool having variable rotation about a y-direction transversely across a work piece for making microstructures
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsDale L. Ehnes, Alan B. Campbell, Daniel S. Wertz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cutting tool assembly having a tool post capable of lateral movement along a work piece to be cut and an actuator with a tool tip. The actuator provides for variable control of a rotation of the tool tip about an axis parallel to a y-direction transversely across the work piece for use in making microstructures in the work piece.
Claims11
A method for using a virtual center Y actuator to machine a work piece, comprising:
- providing a work piece having a surface to be machined;
- providing a virtual center Y actuator, the actuator comprising:
- a main body having a back side, a front side, and a mounting block on the front side;
- a flexible unit on the front side of the main body, wherein the flexible unit has a plurality of sides connected via flex points;
- a piezoelectric stack secured and preloaded on the mounting block, and attached to the flexible unit, such that the piezoelectric stack extends substantially parallel to the front side of the main body;
- a tool tip carrier attached to the flexible unit and having a surface for mounting a tool tip;
- and
- a tool tip mounted on the surface of the tool tip carrier,
- wherein the piezoelectric stack moves the flexible unit via the flex points in order to cause a rotation of the tool tip carrier about a y-direction axis substantially parallel to the surface of the work piece to be machined;
- and
- using the actuator to create structures in the surface of the work piece to be machined, wherein the structures are created by the tool tip as controlled by the actuator.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.