Patent ID: 6634928
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: B24C,Y10T

Abstract:
A fluid jet cutting apparatus for cutting an annular disk substrate from a sheet, comprising:a fluid jet head for directing a fluid jet stream against the sheet from which the disk substrate is to be cut by the fluid jet stream, the head being adapted to follow an outside edge path along the sheet to form an outside edge of the disk substrate and an inside edge path along the sheet to form an inside edge of the disk substrate, the sheet comprising a peripheral portion lying outwardly of the outside edge path, an annular portion lying between the outside edge path and the inside edge path, and a hole portion lying inwardly of the inside edge path; a first support member having a central opening therein generally similar to and larger than the outside edge of the disk substrate and including a support surface for supporting the peripheral portion of the sheet; a second support member having a central opening therein generally similar to and larger than the inside edge of the disk substrate and including a support surface positioned inside the central opening of the first support member for supporting the annular portion of the sheet, the second support member comprising a vacuum port for pulling the annular portion of the sheet against the support surface of the second support member; and a third support member including a support surface positioned inside the central opening of the second support member for supporting the hole portion of the sheet.