Apple Inc.

Peter R Muller

Matthew Theobald

Michael Brickner

Alfredo Castillo

Adithya Raghavan

Vincent Tiaga

An apparatus configured to convert a rotary machine to a non-rotary machine is provided. The apparatus may include a tool body that engages a rotary head of a CNC mill and a rotation restraint member that is fixed at a stationary position relative to a rotational axis of the rotary head. An arm of the tool body may engage the rotation restraint member to prevent rotation of the tool body. A cutting tool may be coupled to the tool body such that rotation thereof is also fixed. The arm of the tool body may include an elongated aperture that allows for slight pivoting of the tool body and the cutting tool to facilitate chip removal and cutting in opposing directions. Related methods are also provided.

Retrofit for current CNC machines to allow for 'shaping' style machining process

Magnetic apparatuses and systems for shaping parts are described. One or more magnets can be used to direct a magnetically responsive fluid having magnetically responsive particles around surfaces of a part. The magnetically responsive fluid can include abrasive particles that follow movement of the magnetically responsive fluid across surfaces of the part and remove material from the part until the part takes on a desired shape. The magnetic apparatuses can be configured to provide a rough cut, similar to machining process, and/or a fine cut, similar to polishing or buffing process, to the part.

Electromechanical surface texturing

A manufacturing system is provided. The manufacturing system may include a manufacturing apparatus and a dispensing apparatus. The dispensing apparatus may be configured to dispense a support material to act as a temporary fixture to support a component during manufacturing operations conducted thereon. The dispensing apparatus may dispense the support material in a liquid phase, and the support material may thereafter transition to a solid phase to support the component. After completion of the manufacturing operations, the component may be returned to the dispensing apparatus, wherein the component may be dipped in a heat transfer fluid that may cause the support material to transition back to the liquid phase for reuse. Related apparatuses and methods are also provided.

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San Luis Obispo, CA, United States of America

Peter R Muller