Angle grind coating apparatus and a method thereof

Abstract

An angle grind coating apparatus and method for providing a coating onto materials is described. The angle grind coating apparatus comprising workpiece holder (102) assembled for holding tool material (104) and is assembled over base (106) provided over a fixture (108). The workpiece holder (102) has a spring assembly (110) to apply an upward thrust force to the tool material (104) and a grinding wheel (114) is mounted perpendicular to the workpiece holder (102) to enable grinding of the tool material (104) fixed in front and just below the grinding wheel (114) to align the fixture (108) with the grinding wheel (114). The angle grind coating apparatus comprises an angle grinder (116) to enable rotation of the grinding wheel (114) over the tool material (104) at a predefined Rotations Per Minute (RPM), such that rotation of the grinding wheel (114) generates a stream of swarf particles (118) from the workpiece/tool material 104 and are deposited over a target surface fixed (120) at a pre-set standoff distance from the angle grind coating apparatus.

1 . An angle grind coating apparatus ( 100 ), comprising:
 a workpiece holder ( 102 ) assembled for holding a tool material ( 104 ), wherein the workpiece holder ( 102 ) is assembled over a base ( 106 ) provided over a fixture ( 108 ), wherein the workpiece holder ( 102 ) has a spring assembly ( 110 ) to apply an upward thrust force to the tool material ( 104 );   a grinding wheel ( 114 ) mounted perpendicular to the workpiece holder ( 102 ) for enabling grinding of the tool material ( 104 ), wherein the tool material ( 104 ) is fixed in front and just below the grinding wheel ( 114 ) to align the fixture  108  with the grinding wheel ( 114 ); and   an angle grinder ( 116 ) to enable rotation of the grinding wheel ( 114 ) over the tool material ( 104 ) at a predefined Rotations Per Minute (RPM), such that rotation of the grinding wheel ( 114 ) generates a stream of swarf particles ( 118 ) from the tool material ( 104 ), wherein the stream of swarf particles ( 118 ) is deposited over a target surface fixed ( 120 ) at a pre-set standoff distance from the angle grind coating apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The angle grind coating apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tool material  104  comprises a cylindrical workpiece ( 104 ), wherein the cylindrical tool material ( 104 ) comprises low carbon steel. 
     
     
         3 . The angle grind coating apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising:
 a safety plate ( 122 ) located on top of the grinding wheel ( 114 ).   
     
     
         4 . The angle grind coating apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stream of swarf particles ( 118 ) comprises swarf particles  128  in micrometer size. 
     
     
         5 . The angle grind coating apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the target surface comprises a substrate selected as one of a metal substrate, a polymer substrate or a ceramic substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The angle grind coating apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the RPM comprises in a range of operation up to 10,000 rpm. 
     
     
         7 . The angle grind coating apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the grinding of the tool material ( 104 ) is controlled by adjusting at least one of a spring stiffness, alignment of the fixture ( 108 ), and rotational speed of the grinding wheel ( 114 ). 
     
     
         8 . The angle grind coating apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising:
 a handle ( 124 ) provided over the angle grinder for holding the apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . The angle grind coating apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising:
 links ( 126 ) connected to each of the fixture ( 108 ) and the angle grinder, the links ( 126 ) are provided for the assembly of the cylindrical shaped workpiece holder ( 102 ), spring ( 112 ) and base plate ( 106 ) of fixture ( 108 ).   
     
     
         10 . The angle grind coating apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the coating of the stream of swarf particles ( 118 ) is controlled by adjusting the stand-off distance and impact angle of the stream of swarf particles ( 118 ) generated due to grinding. 
     
     
         11 . The angle grind coating apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein swarf particles ( 118 ) of shape comprising spherical, needle or platelet morphology are deposited; and wherein the shape is based on a set of grinding variables. 
     
     
         12 . The angle grind coating apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the set of grinding variables comprises stand-off distance between the tool material ( 104 ) and the substrate ( 120 ), rotational speed of angle grinding disk, spring stiffness of the spring ( 112 ) in the infeed holder, feed rate of tool material, flow rate of the swarf particles  128 , and trajectory of a swarf particles stream. 
     
     
         13 . A method providing coating over a material, the method comprising:
 applying, through a spring ( 112 ), an upward thrust force over a tool material ( 104 ), wherein the tool material ( 104 ) is fixed in a workpiece holder ( 102 ) of an angle grind coating apparatus, wherein the workpiece holder ( 102 ) is assembled over a base ( 106 ) provided over a fixture ( 108 );   enabling, through a grinding wheel ( 114 ), grinding of the tool material ( 104 ), wherein the grinding wheel ( 114 ) is mounted perpendicular to the workpiece holder ( 102 ), wherein the tool material ( 104 ) is fixed in front and just below of the grinding wheel ( 114 ) aligning the fixture ( 108 ) with the grinding wheel ( 114 ); and   enabling, through a tool material ( 104 ), a rotation of the grinding wheel ( 114 ) over the tool material ( 104 ) at a predefined Rotations Per Minute (RPM), such that rotation of the grinding wheel ( 114 ) generates a stream of swarf particles ( 118 ) from the tool material ( 104 ), wherein the stream of swarf particles ( 118 ) is to be deposited over a target surface fixed ( 120 ) at a pre-set standoff distance from the angle grind coating apparatus.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the RPM comprises in a range of operation up to 10,000 rpm. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the grinding of the tool material ( 104 ) is controlled by adjusting at least one of a spring stiffness, alignment of the fixture ( 108 ), and rotational speed of the grinding wheel ( 114 ). 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein grinding is controlled by controlling at least one of a stand-off distance and impact angle of the stream of swarf particle ( 118 ) is adjusted and varied manually. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein swarf particles ( 128 ) of shape comprising spherical, needle or platelet are deposited; and wherein the shape is based on a set of grinding variables. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the set of grinding variables comprises stand-off distance between the work piece used as a tool material ( 104 ) and the substrate, rotational speed of angle grinding disc, spring stiffness of the spring ( 112 ) in the infeed holder, feed rate of tool material ( 104 ), flow rate of swarf particles  128 , and trajectory of the swarf particle stream.