Glass sleeve internal polishing

Abstract

A magnetic polisher and a method of use magnetic polisher for polishing a glass sleeve are described. The magnetic polisher may comprise at least one rotatable driver and at least one rotatable polishing tool. The at least one rotatable driver may comprise driver magnetic material. The at least one rotatable polishing tool may comprise tool magnetic material and a first polishing surface. At least one of the driver magnetic material and the tool magnetic material may be a magnet. The driver and polishing tool may be configured to be magnetically coupled with a workpiece. The workpiece may have at least a first internal surface to be polished. The workpiece may be located between the first polishing surface and the driver. The rotation of the driver about an axis may cause rotation of the first polishing surface against the first internal surface.

1 . A magnetic polisher comprising:
 a. at least one rotatable driver comprising driver magnetic material;   b. at least one rotatable polishing tool comprising tool magnetic material and a first polishing surface;   wherein at least one of the driver magnetic material and the tool magnetic material is a magnet, and the driver and polishing tool are configured to be magnetically coupled with a workpiece having at least a first internal surface to be polished located between the first polishing surface and the driver, such that rotation of the driver about an axis causes rotation of the first polishing surface against the first internal surface.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic polisher of  claim 1 , wherein at least one magnet comprises a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic polisher of  claim 1 , at least one of the driver magnetic material and the tool magnetic material comprises a magnetic neodymium alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic polisher of  claim 1 , wherein the first polishing surface is defined by a non-magnetic polishing pad. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic polisher of  claim 1 , wherein the polishing tool further comprises a second polishing surface axially separated from the first polishing surface, wherein the second polishing surface is configured to contact a second internal surface of the workpiece to be polished during rotation of the first polishing surface against the first internal surface. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic polisher of  claim 5 , wherein the second polishing surface is defined by a non-magnetic polishing pad. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic polisher of  claim 5 , wherein the polishing tool further comprises an internal spring to maintain contact between the first and second polishing surfaces and the first and second internal surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic polisher of  claim 1 , wherein the driver further comprises a driver polishing surface configured to contact an external surface of the workpiece to be polished during rotation of the first polishing surface against the first internal surface. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic polisher of  claim 8 , wherein the driver polishing surface is defined by a non-magnetic polishing pad. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic polisher of  claim 1 , further comprising a translation stage upon which either the workpiece or the driver is mounted, wherein the translation stage allows the workpiece to be moved relative to the magnetic polisher generally perpendicular to the rotation axis. 
     
     
         11 . The magnetic polisher of  claim 1 , further comprising a variable spacer configured to adjust and maintain the axial distance between the rotatable driver and the rotatable polishing tool, while the first internal surface is located between the first polishing surface and the driver, to provide the desired normal force between the first polishing surface and the first internal surface. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetic polisher of  claim 1 , in which the driver is configured to remain out of contact with the workpiece when the driver and polishing tool are magnetically coupled and the first polishing surface is rotating against the first internal surface. 
     
     
         13 . A method for polishing a glass sleeve comprising:
 a. providing a glass sleeve, the glass sleeve having at least one substantially flat internal surface extending along a longitudinal axis and an internal opening extending along the longitudinal axis enclosing a space;   b. introducing a rotatable polishing tool comprising a magnetic material and a first polishing surface into the space;   c. bringing the first polishing surface into contact with the substantially flat internal surface;   d. introducing a rotatable driver comprising a magnetic material to the exterior of the glass sleeve, wherein at least one of the driver magnetic material and the tool magnetic material is a magnet, such that the driver magnetically couples with the polishing tool; and   e. rotating the driver, causing the polishing tool to rotate.   
     
     
         14 . The method for polishing of  claim 13 , wherein the magnet is a neodymium magnet. 
     
     
         15 . The method for polishing of  claim 13 , wherein the magnetic material comprises a magnetic alloy of neodymium. 
     
     
         16 . The method for polishing of  claim 13 , wherein the polishing tool further comprises a second polishing surface axially separated from the first polishing surface, the method further comprising bringing the second polishing surface into contact with a second substantially flat internal surface of the glass sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The method for polishing of  claim 16 , further comprising biasing the first and second polishing surfaces axially apart against the first and second substantially flat internal surfaces. 
     
     
         18 . The method for polishing of  claim 1 , wherein the driver further comprises a driver polishing surface, the method further comprising bringing the driver polishing surface into contact with an external surface of the glass sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The method for polishing of  claim 13 , further comprising mounting at least one of the glass sleeve and the rotatable driver upon a translation stage, wherein the translation stage allows at least one of the workpiece and the polishing tool to be moved generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation, relative to the other of the workpiece and the polishing tool.