3m Innovative Properties Company

Charles J Studiner, Iv

Ehrich J Braunschweig

Edward J Woo

Pingfan Peter Wu

Dennis G Welygan

Dwight D Erickson

Robert L W Smithson

John T Brady

David S Arney

James Alan Higgins

Charles R Wald

Robert Wade Ferguson

Moses Mekala David

Douglas Scott Dunn

Mark Kevitt Debe

Jeffrey Robert Janssen

Paul D Graham

Steven D Theiss

Bruce E Tait

Andrew J L Steinbach

Michael John Annen

Ian R Owen

Rufus C Sanders, Jr

Robert T Krasa

Nataliya V Fedorova

Curtis J Schmidt

Michael W Dolezal

Mark W Orlando

Susan M Hendricks

Schoen A Schuknecht

Shigeaki Dohgoshi

Juan A Munoz

Sammuel D Herbert

Mark A Swanson

Nicholas B Manor

Michael J Kurkowski

Donovan C C Karg, Jr

The present application relates to an apparatus () for supporting sheet material during cutting by laser radiation comprising a support member () having a gold facing layer. A method for cutting sheet material using such apparatus is also defined.

Apparatus and method for laser cutting using a support member having a gold facing layer

A method of making shaped ceramic abrasive particles includes cutting a layer of ceramic precursor material using a laser beam and forming shaped ceramic precursor particles. Further thermal processing provides shaped ceramic abrasive particles. Shaped ceramic abrasive particles producible by the methods and abrasive articles containing them are also disclosed.

Laser method for making shaped ceramic abrasive particles, shaped ceramic abrasive particles, and abrasive articles

An abrasive article useful for finishing painted or clear coated surfaces is disclosed. The abrasive article included a structured abrasive layer disposed on a backing that is adhesively attached to nonwoven layer useful for providing conformability and attachment to a hook layer. The structured abrasive layer includes a central aperture and a plurality of surrounding apertures.

Abrasive article

Provided are abrasive articles having a plurality of elongated channels extending across its working surface and intersecting with each other. These channels provide hinge points that enhance flexibility of the article along two or more directions. Optionally, the abrasive article includes a flexible attachment layer, along with apertures that penetrate through the attachment layer located at the intersection points of the channels. The enhanced flexibility allows the abrasive article to easily access recessed areas of the workpiece and facilitates applying even pressure across convex and concave surfaces. The channels assist in segregating dust particles from the abrading operation, and the optional apertures can be advantageously connected to a vacuum source for evacuation of the dust particles from the channels.

Flexible abrasive article and methods of making

This disclosure provides methods of making an enhanced activity nanostructured thin film catalyst by radiation annealing, typically laser annealing, typically under inert atmosphere. Typically the inert gas has a residual oxygen level of 100 ppm. Typically the irradiation has an incident energy fluence of at least 30 mJ/mm. In some embodiments, the radiation annealing is accomplished by laser annealing. In some embodiments, the nanostructured thin film catalyst is provided on a continuous web.

Annealed nanostructured thin film catalyst

Techniques are described for forming microlens sheeting having composite images that appear to float with respect to the plane of the sheeting. As one example, a method comprises forming one or more images within a sheeting having a surface of microlenses, wherein at least one of the images is a partially complete image, and wherein each of the images is associated with a different one of the microlenses, wherein the microlenses have refractive surfaces that transmit light to positions within the sheeting to produce a plurality of composite images from the images formed within the sheeting so that each of the composite images appears to float with respect to the plane of the sheeting, and wherein forming the one or more images comprises forming the one or more images such that each of the composite images is associated with a different viewing angle range.

Sheeting with composite image that floats

Abrasive articles, and methods of making abrasive articles that include a supersize coating or component, such as one configured to inhibit the collection of dust and/or swarf on the abrasive coating. The supersize component can be applied to the abrasive coating after converting the abrasive article with a laser or other conversion mechanism, whether non-contact or mechanical contact. In some embodiments, no fresh or exposed abrasive or backing surfaces exist; that is, the supersize component covers all surfaces.

Abrasive article with supersize coating, and methods

Abrasive article with holes

Abrasive articles, and methods of making abrasive articles by using a laser to convert (e.g., cut) at least a portion of the abrasive coating to form the abrasive article. The method includes laser propagation impinging on the abrasive back side (opposite the abrasive coating) and progressing through to the abrasive side. Such a process inhibits ridging effects around cut regions (e.g., openings) on the front side.

Laser cut abrasive article, and methods

Random hole abrasive disc

Growing community of inventors

Cottage Grove, MN, United States of America

Charles J Studiner, Iv