US 8,468,707 B2 · Polycrystalline diamond elements having convex surfaces

Abstract

A diamond element (10) having a convex surface is disclosed, the convex surface including a spherical segment for which the maximum peak to valley deviation from a perfect spherical surface is less than about 5 μm. The diamond element (10) may be a solid polycrystalline diamond material and/or may comprise base material which is coated with diamond. Alternatively or in addition, the RMS deviation from a perfect spherical surface may be less than about 500 nm, or the RMS roughness less than about 30 nm. A diamond element (10) with a radius of curvature less than about 20 mm is also disclosed. In one aspect a diamond element (10) having a conical half-angle greater than about 10° is described. Diamond elements (10) of this type are intended for use as metrology tips.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An element of diamond material having a convex surface formed thereon, the convex surface having a root mean square roughness, Rq, of less than about 5 nm, wherein the convex surface includes a spherical segment for which:

(a) the maximum peak to valley deviation from a perfect spherical surface is less than about 5 μm;
and
(b) the RMS deviation of the spherical segment, as measured by averaging the square of deviations over the spherical segment, is less than or equal to about 500 nm;
and wherein the diamond material comprises base material comprising either SiC or SiNx which is coated with a polycrystalline CVD diamond coating having a thickness of between about 10 μm and about 100 μm.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/523,291Filed 18 Jan 2008

Priority

GB 0700984.818 Jan 2007

Published

US 2010/0064538 A118 Mar 2010

Granted

25 Jun 2013

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G01B 5/012
Using coordinate measuring machines: contact-making feeler heads therefor
B23K 26/0823
Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece: devices involving rotation of the workpiece
B23K 26/083
Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece: devices involving movement of the workpiece in at least one axial direction
B23K 26/3576
Modifying rugosity: diminishing rugosity, e.g. by grinding, polishing or smoothing

Polycrystalline diamond elements having convex surfaces

Life of this patent

Polycrystalline diamond elements having convex surfaces

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7