Elastic emissions machining systems and methods thereof

Abstract

An elastic emission machining apparatus includes a machining element having a non-spherical shape that is configured to spin about an axis of rotation, a tank, and a driving system. The tank has a chamber positioned to receive the machining element and a slurry comprising a mixture of a liquid and chemically reactive fine particles. The driving system is coupled to and configured to engage the machining element to spin about the axis of rotation adjacent to a surface of the workpiece to accelerate the chemically reactive fine particles through a gap between the machining element and the surface of the workpiece.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An elastic emission machining apparatus comprising:
 a machining element having a non-spherical shape that is configured to spin about an axis of rotation;   a tank with a chamber positioned to receive the machining element and a slurry comprising a mixture of a liquid and chemically reactive fine particles; and   a driving system coupled to and configured to engage the machining element to spin about the axis of rotation adjacent to a surface of the workpiece to accelerate the chemically reactive fine particles through a gap between the machining element and the surface of the workpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the machining element is configured to spin about the axis of rotation that extends in a direction substantially parallel to at least a portion of a surface of the workpiece. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shape of the machining element is acylindrical. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shape of the machining element is an ellipsoid. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shape of the outer perimeter of the machining element is polynomial. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shape of the machining element is aspherical. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shape of the machining element is toroidal. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the shape of the machining element is cylindrical. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the machining element is coupled to an axle and further comprising motion control devices coupled to effect at least one axis of linear motion and at least one axis of angular motion of the machining element. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the thickness of the gap is greater than the width of the chemically reactive fine particles. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making an elastic emission machining apparatus, the method comprising:
 providing a machining element having a non-spherical shape and that is configured to spin about an axis of rotation;   positioning a chamber of a tank to receive the machining element and a slurry comprising a mixture of a liquid and chemically reactive fine particles; and   coupling a driving system to and that is configured to engage the machining element to spin about the axis of rotation adjacent to a surface of the workpiece to accelerate the chemically reactive fine particles through a gap between the machining element and the surface of the workpiece.   
     
     
         12 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the machining element is configured to spin about the axis of rotation that extends in a direction substantially parallel to at least a portion of a surface of the workpiece. 
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the shape of the machining element is acylindrical. 
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the shape of the machining element is an ellipsoid. 
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the shape of the outer perimeter of the machining element is polynomial. 
     
     
         16 . The system as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the shape of the machining element is aspherical. 
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the shape of the machining element is toroidal. 
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the shape of the machining element is cylindrical. 
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the machining element is coupled to an axle and further comprising motion control devices coupled to effect at least one axis of linear motion and at least one axis of angular motion of the machining element. 
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the thickness of the gap is greater than the width of the chemically reactive fine particles.