Darex Corporation

Professional Tool Manufacturing LLC

Gary Varney

John Griffin

Jennifer Hanson

Will Hilligoss

Dennis Sobolik

Jim Wiltrout

Method and apparatus for sharpening a tool, such as a drill bit. A tool sharpener includes a tool holder subassembly which retains and presents the tool against a grinding wheel subassembly. A sensor locates a cutting edge of the tool while the tool is retained by the tool holder. A circuit, preferably comprising a programmable processor, determines a web thickness of the tool from the located cutting edge. The cutting edge is preferably located by detecting at least first and second points at different radii along the cutting edge. A cross-feed subassembly preferably moves the sensor into position, and the tool holder subassembly preferably rotates the tool to facilitate detection of each of the at least first and second points. The tool holder subassembly thereafter presents the tool against the grinding wheel subassembly in response to the determined web thickness of the tool.

Tool sharpener with web thickness determination capability

A tool sharpener especially designed for sharpening drill bits is provided. The tool sharpener includes a grinding wheel subassembly, a tool holder subassembly, such as a drill chuck, an infeed stage subassembly, a cross feed stage subassembly, and a processor which is capable of controlling each of the subassemblies, and moving the subassemblies relative to the grinding wheel, in preprogrammed routines, to effect the sharpening of a tool such as a drill bit.

Tool sharpener

Growing community of inventors

Medford, OR, United States of America

Gary Varney