Grinding/polishing devices with recall

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12194589-B2
Application number	US-202117208490-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2021
Priority date	Mar 31, 2020
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A grinder/polisher comprises a specimen holder, a platen, an actuator configured to move at least one of the specimen holder and the platen, an input device, a machine readable storage device, and a controller. The input device includes a plurality of quick-recall inputs and is configured to receive grinding/polishing parameter inputs representative of grinding/polishing parameters, The grinding/polishing parameters comprise at least two of a cycle time, a platen speed, a specimen speed, a platen direction, a specimen direction, and an applied load. The quick-recall inputs are selectable on a same interface as the user parameter inputs. The controller is configured to save to the machine readable storage device a plurality of user-selected grinding/polishing parameters based on inputs received by the input device, associate the parameters with one of the quick-recall inputs, configure the parameters in response to selection of the quick-recall inputs, and perform an operation according to the parameters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A grinder/polisher, comprising:
a specimen holder configured to secure a specimen;
a platen;
an actuator configured to move at least one of the specimen holder and the platen;
an input device comprising a plurality of quick-recall inputs and being configured to receive grinding/polishing parameter inputs representative of grinding/polishing parameters, the grinding/polishing parameters comprising at least one of a platen direction or a specimen direction and at least one of a cycle time, a platen speed, a specimen speed, and an applied load, wherein the quick-recall inputs are selectable on a same interface as the user parameter inputs;
a machine readable storage device; and
a controller configured to:
save to the machine readable storage device a plurality of user-selected grinding/polishing parameters based on the grinding/polishing parameter inputs received by the input device;
associate the plurality of user-selected grinding/polishing parameters with one of the quick-recall inputs;
in response to selection of one of the quick-recall inputs, configure the grinding/polishing parameters based on the grinding/polishing parameters stored in the machine readable storage device in association with the selected one of the quick-recall inputs; and
control the actuator to perform a grinding/polishing operation in accordance with the configured grinding/polishing parameters.

2. The grinder/polisher of claim 1 , further comprising a water dispenser configured to provide cooling water to the specimen, the grinder/polisher parameters further including water on/off, the controller further configured to control the water dispenser in accordance with a selected cycle time and water on/off.

3. The grinder/polisher of claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a motor and a driver actuator, the controller further configured to control (i) the motor to rotate at least one of the specimen holder and the platen in accordance with selected grinding/polishing parameters, and (ii) the drive actuator to press the specimen or the platen into the other of the specimen and the platen in accordance with a selected load applied.

4. The grinder/polisher of claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a touch-screen display configured to display the quick-recall inputs and the plurality of grinder/polisher parameters.

5. The grinder/polisher of claim 4 , wherein the touch screen includes a home screen, wherein at least one of the plurality of quick-recall inputs is displayed on and selectable from the home screen.

6. The grinder/polisher of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of quick-recall inputs is accessible on a home screen of the input device without accessing a menu of the input device.

7. The grinder/polisher of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of quick-recall inputs is immediately accessible to a user on a home screen of the input device.

8. A grinder/polisher, comprising:
a specimen holder configured to secure a specimen;
a platen;
an actuator configured to move at least one of the specimen holder and the platen;
an input device comprising a plurality of quick-recall inputs and being configured to receive grinding/polishing parameter inputs representative of grinding/polishing parameters, the grinding/polishing parameters comprising at least two of a cycle time, a platen speed, a specimen speed, a platen direction, a specimen direction, and an applied load, wherein the quick-recall inputs are selectable on a same interface as the user parameter inputs;
a fluid dispenser configured to provide a fluid to the specimen, the grinder/polisher parameters further including fluid on/off and fluid dispensation rate;
a machine readable storage device; and
a controller configured to:
save to the machine readable storage device a plurality of user-selected grinding/polishing parameters based on the grinding/polishing parameter inputs received by the input device;
associate the plurality of user-selected grinding/polishing parameters with one of the quick-recall inputs;
in response to selection of one of the quick-recall inputs, configure the grinding/polishing parameters based on the grinding/polishing parameters stored in the machine readable storage device in association with the selected one of the quick-recall inputs;
control the actuator to perform a grinding/polishing operation in accordance with the configured grinding/polishing parameters; and
control the fluid dispenser in accordance with a selected cycle time, fluid on/off, and fluid flow dispensation rate.

9. A grinder/polisher, comprising:
a specimen holder configured to secure a specimen;
a platen;
an actuator configured to move at least one of the specimen holder and the platen;
an input device comprising a plurality of quick-recall inputs and being configured to receive grinding/polishing parameter inputs representative of grinding/polishing parameters, the grinding/polishing parameters comprising at least two of a cycle time, a platen speed, a specimen speed, a platen direction, a specimen direction, and an applied load, wherein the quick-recall inputs are selectable on a same interface as the user parameter inputs, wherein the input device comprises a touch-screen display configured to display the quick-recall inputs and the plurality of grinder/polisher parameters;
a machine readable storage device; and
a controller configured to:
save to the machine readable storage device, upon a user selecting and holding one of the plurality of quick-recall inputs, a plurality of user-selected grinding/polishing parameters based on the grinding/polishing parameter inputs received by the input device;
associate the plurality of user-selected grinding/polishing parameters with one of the quick-recall inputs;
in response to selection of one of the quick-recall inputs, configure the grinding/polishing parameters based on the grinding/polishing parameters stored in the machine readable storage device in association with the selected one of the quick-recall inputs; and
control the actuator to perform a grinding/polishing operation in accordance with the configured grinding/polishing parameters.

10. A non-transitory machine readable storage device comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a controller to:
save to the machine readable storage device a plurality of user-selected grinding/polishing parameters based on grinding/polishing parameter inputs received by an input device, the grinding/polishing parameters comprising at least one of a platen direction or a specimen direction and at least one of a cycle time, a platen speed, a specimen speed, and an applied load;
associate the plurality of user-selected grinding/polishing parameters with one of a plurality of quick-recall inputs of an input device;
in response to selection of one of the quick-recall inputs of the user interface input device, configure the grinding/polishing parameters based on the grinding/polishing parameters stored in the machine readable storage device in association with the selected one of the quick-recall inputs; and
control an actuator of a grinder/polisher that is configured to move at least one of a specimen holder and a platen of the grinder/polisher to perform a grinding/polishing operation in accordance with the configured grinding/polishing parameters.

11. The non-transitory machine readable storage device as defined in claim 10 , wherein the grinder/polisher parameters further include at least one of water on/off, and the instructions, when executed, cause the controller to control the water dispenser in accordance with a selected cycle time and water on/off.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Keeble Michael E

Classifications

• B24B37/34 Primary

  Accessories · CPC title

• B24B37/27

  Work carriers · CPC title

• B24B37/015 Primary

  Temperature control · CPC title

• B24B37/005

  Control means for lapping machines or devices · CPC title