Grinding wheel, assemblies and processes for assembling a grinding wheel

Abstract

Abrasive elements can be secured to a perimeter of a base disk using double-sided adhesive tape, thereby forming an abrasive grinding wheel.

1 . A method of assembling an abrasive grinding wheel for rotating about an axis of rotation, comprising:
 providing a base disk, axially symmetric about the axis of rotation of the abrasive grinding wheel,   the axis of rotation defining axial directions parallel thereto and radial directions orthogonal thereto, and   a radially outermost circumferential portion of the base disk defining a perimeter portion of the base disk,   providing a first abrasive element having an abrasive surface for grinding a workpiece, and a major attachment surface for attaching the first abrasive element to the base disk at the perimeter portion; and   providing a double-sided adhesive tape comprising a major first adhesive surface, an opposed major second adhesive surface, and a first layer of adhesive forming the major first adhesive surface;   (b) adhering the major first adhesive surface to the base disk at the perimeter portion;   (c) before or after step (b), adhering the major second adhesive surface to the attachment surface of the first abrasive element.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (b) and/or step (c) is performed by a robot. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, after steps (b) and (c), a step of:
 (d) curing the first layer of adhesive by applying heat to the first layer of adhesive.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter portion is the portion of the base disk located radially between 30 percent of the radius of the perimeter and 100 percent of the radius of the perimeter of the base disk. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter portion comprises an upper perimetral surface whose surface normal is parallel, within +−10°, to the axis of rotation, an opposed lower perimetral surface whose surface normal is antiparallel, within +−10°, to the axis of rotation, and wherein step (b) comprises adhering the major first adhesive surface to the upper perimetral surface or to the lower perimetral surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter portion comprises a perimetral face whose surface normal is orthogonal, within +−20°, to the axis of rotation, and wherein step (b) comprises adhering the major first adhesive surface to the perimetral face. 
     
     
         7 . An abrasive element assembly comprising:
 a) an abrasive element having an abrasive surface for grinding a workpiece, and a major attachment surface for attaching the abrasive element to a base disk at a perimeter portion of the base disk; and   b) a double-sided adhesive tape comprising a major first adhesive surface, adapted to adhere to the perimeter portion, an opposed major second adhesive surface, and a first layer of adhesive forming the major first adhesive surface, wherein the major second adhesive surface is adhered to the major attachment surface of the abrasive element.   
     
     
         8 . An abrasive element assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the major attachment surface is a curved surface. 
     
     
         9 . An abrasive element assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the major attachment surface is a flat surface. 
     
     
         10 . A base disk assembly comprising:
 a) a base disk axially symmetric about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation defining axial directions parallel thereto and radial directions orthogonal thereto, the base disk comprising a radially outermost circumferential portion defining a perimeter portion of the base disk; and   b) a double-sided adhesive tape comprising:   i) a major first adhesive surface,   ii) a first layer of adhesive forming the major first adhesive surface, and   iii) an opposed major second adhesive surface, adapted to be adhered to a major attachment surface of an abrasive element,   wherein the major first adhesive surface is adhered to the base disk at the perimeter portion.   
     
     
         11 . An abrasive grinding wheel for rotating about an axis of rotation, comprising:
 a) a base disk axially symmetric about an axis of rotation of the abrasive grinding wheel, the axis of rotation defining axial directions parallel thereto and radial directions orthogonal thereto, and a radially outermost circumferential portion of the base disk defining a perimeter portion of the base disk;   b) an abrasive element having an abrasive surface for grinding a workpiece, and a major attachment surface for attaching the abrasive element to the base disk at the perimeter portion; and   c) a double-sided adhesive tape comprising:
 i) a major first adhesive surface, 
 ii) a first layer of adhesive forming the first adhesive surface, 
 iii) an opposed major second adhesive surface, 
   
       wherein the major first adhesive surface is adhered to the perimeter portion of the base disk, and wherein the major second adhesive surface is adhered to the major attachment surface of the abrasive element, wherein the abrasive element is secured to the perimeter portion by the double-sided adhesive tape. 
     
     
         12 - 15 . (canceled)