3m Innovative Properties Company

Michael C Harper

Brian D Goers

Brian A Shukla

Robert L W Smithson

Negus B Adefris

Carsten Franke

Elizaveta Y Plotnikov

Maiken Givot

Malte Korten

Thomas J Anderson

Alexander J Kugel

Jens Eichler

Tilo Remhof

Jean-Luc Rifaut

Robert LW Smithson

Methods of making polymer bond abrasive articles and their precursors using powder bed jetting are disclosed. Polymer bond abrasive articles prepared by the method include abrasive articles having arcuate or tortuous cooling channels, unitary structured abrasive discs, abrasive segments, shaped abrasive particles, and abrasive wheels.

Polymer bond abrasive articles and methods of making them

A method of forming a vitreous bond abrasive article is presented that includes receiving, by a manufacturing device having one or more processors, a digital object comprising data specifying a plurality of layers of a vitreous bond abrasive article precursor. The vitreous bond abrasive article precursor includes abrasive particles bonded together by a vitreous bond precursor material and an organic compound. The vitreous bond abrasive article precursor further comprises at least one of: at least one tortuous cooling channel extending at least partially through the vitreous bond abrasive article precursor or at least one arcuate cooling channel extending at least partially through the vitreous bond abrasive article precursor. The method also includes generating, with the manufacturing device by an additive manufacturing process, the vitreous bond abrasive article precursor based on the digital object.

Vitreous bonded abrasive articles and methods of manufacture thereof

Methods of making metal bond abrasive articles via powder bed jetting are disclosed. Metal bond abrasive articles prepared by the method include abrasive articles having arcuate or tortuous cooling channels, abrasive segments, abrasive wheels, and rotary dental tools.

Methods of making metal bond abrasive articles and metal bond abrasive articles

An additive layer manufacturing method, preferably using selective laser sintering, for manufacturing a solid article, the method including applying a layer of a powder, the powder including at least one powdered (co)polymer, onto a solid substrate in a processing chamber; fusing the powder layer onto the solid substrate; subsequently depositing successive layers of the powder, wherein each successive layer is selectively fused prior to deposition of the subsequent layer of powder so as to form the article. In some embodiments, the powder further includes abrasive particles having a hardness greater than or equal to that of aluminum oxide.

Additive layer manufacturing method and articles

The present disclosure provides methods of making a vitreous bond abrasive article and a metal bond abrasive article. The methods include sequential steps. Step a) includes a subprocess including sequentially: i) depositing a layer of loose powder particles in a confined region; and ii) selectively applying heat via conduction or irradiation, to heat treat an area of the layer of loose powder particles. The loose powder particles include abrasive particles and organic compound particles, as well as vitreous bond precursor particles or metal particles. The layer of loose powder particles has substantially uniform thickness. Step b) includes independently carrying out step a) a number of times to generate an abrasive article preform comprising the bonded powder particles and remaining loose powder particles. Step c) includes separating remaining loose powder particles from the abrasive article preform. Step d) includes heating the abrasive article preform to provide the vitreous bond abrasive article comprising the abrasive particles retained in a vitreous bond material, or to provide the metal bond abrasive article. A method of making a metal bond abrasive optionally includes infusing an abrasive article preform with a molten lower melting metal and solidifying the molten lower melting metal to provide the metal bond abrasive article. The present disclosure further provides a vitreous bond abrasive article precursor and a metal bond abrasive article precursor.

Methods of making metal bond and vitreous bond abrasive articles, and abrasive article precursors

The present disclosure provides methods of making a vitreous bond abrasive article and a metal bond abrasive article. An abrasive article preform is produced by an additive manufacturing sub-process comprising the deposition of a layer of loose powder particles in a confined region and selective heating via conduction or irradiation to heat treat an area of the layer of loose powder particles. The loose powder particles include abrasive particles and organic compound particles, as well as vitreous bond precursor particles or metal particles. The abrasive article preform produced by additive manufacturing is subsequently heated to provide the vitreous bond abrasive article comprising the abrasive particles retained in a vitreous bond material, or to provide the metal bond abrasive article. Also, the methods include receiving, by an additive manufacturing device having a processor, a digital object specifying data for an abrasive article, and generating the abrasive article with the manufacturing device.

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Hudson, WI, United States of America

Michael C Harper