Apparatus comprising an abrading head

Abstract

A method for controlling operation of an abrading system (500) comprises: —providing an abrading head (300), which comprises an abrading device (200) and a communication unit (MOD1), —providing parameter data (PAR1) associated with the abrading device (200), —storing the parameter data (PAR1) into a memory (MEM2) of the communication unit (MOD1), —transporting the abrading head (300) to an abrading site (SITE1), —electrically connecting the abrading head (300) to a driving unit (400) at the abrading site (SITE1), —transferring the parameter data (PAR1) from the communication unit (MOD1) to the driving unit (400) at the abrading site (SITE1), and —driving an electric motor (MOTOR1) of the abrading device (200) with the driving unit (400) according to the parameter data (PAR1).

1 . A method for controlling operation of an abrading system, the method comprising:
 providing an abrading head, which comprises an abrading device and a communication unit,   providing parameter data associated with the abrading device,   storing the parameter data into a memory of the communication unit,   transporting the abrading head to an abrading site,   electrically connecting the abrading head to a driving unit at the abrading site,   transferring the parameter data from the communication unit to the driving unit at the abrading site, and   driving an electric motor of the abrading device with the driving unit according to the parameter data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising forming usage data and storing the usage data into a memory of the communication unit during operation of the abrading head, the usage data comprising information about operating history of the abrading head. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising transporting the abrading head from the abrading site to a second site, and reading the usage data from the memory of the communication unit at the second site. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication unit comprises program code, wherein the method comprises measuring one or more operating parameters (T M (t), I M (t), VEL(t)) of the abrading head during operation, and forming usage data from the measured operating parameters (T M (t), I M (t), VEL(t)) according to one or more algorithms defined by the program code. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication unit comprises program code, wherein the method comprises measuring one or more operating parameters (T M (t), I M (t), VEL(t)) of the abrading head during operation, and determining an end of life indicator from the measured operating parameters (T M (t), I M (t), VEL(t)) according to an algorithm defined by the program code. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  comprising transferring the program code from the communication unit to the driving unit, and executing the program code by one or more data processors of the driving unit. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising:
 performing one or more service operations to the abrading device of the abrading head at the second site after reading the usage data, and 
 transporting the abrading head to an abrading site after performing the one or more service operations. 
 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, which comprises an abrading head, the abrading head comprising an abrading device for abrading a surface, wherein the abrading device is connectable to a stationary driving unit for driving an electric motor of the abrading device with electric currents (I 1 , I 2 , I 3 ), and wherein the abrading head further comprises a communication unit connectable to the driving unit for receiving usage data, the usage data comprising information about operating history of the abrading head. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the abrading device is a random orbital abrading device, and wherein the abrading device comprises a synchronous electric motor. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is arranged to monitor one or more operating currents (I 1 , I M (t)) of the driving unit, and to determine the usage data based on the one or more operating currents (I 1 , I M (t)). 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is arranged to monitor operating temperature (T M (t)) of the abrading head, and to determine the usage data based on the operating temperature (T M (t)) of the abrading head. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the abrading head comprises a temperature sensor to measure an operating temperature (T M (t)) of abrading head, and the temperature sensor is arranged to provide a temperature signal to the driving unit. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the driving unit is configured to form the usage data based on the temperature signal. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the abrading head is attached to an actuator, the motor is connected to the driving unit, and the communication unit is connected to the driving unit. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is arranged to form the usage data during operation of the driving unit, and wherein the apparatus is arranged to store the usage data in a memory of the communication unit during operation of the driving unit.