Patent ID: 8016579

Claim:
A superabrasive grain setting apparatus for arranging superabrasive grains, used to form a grinding surface of a grinding tool, on a surface of a manufacturing mold which is used in manufacturing the grinding tool, the apparatus comprising: a grip and raising mechanism for gripping the manufacturing mold placed in a horizontal state and for turning the manufacturing mold to an upright position so as to make the axis of the manufacturing mold extend horizontally; a six-axis control robot composed of a base arm mechanism with three controlled axes and a wrist unit with three controlled axes attached to the base arm mechanism, wherein the three controlled axes of the wrist unit comprise a sixth axis for turning an endmost arm about its own axis, a fifth axis intersecting with the sixth axis for pivoting the endmost arm and the sixth axis about its own axis, and a fourth axis for turning the endmost arm, the sixth axis and the fifth axis about its own axis intersecting with the fifth axis, and wherein the three controlled axes of the base arm mechanism comprise a third axis intersecting with the forth axis to extend horizontally, a second axis extending in parallel with the third axis, and a first axis including a swivel member pivotably supporting the second axis for turning the swivel member about its own axis extending vertically; a superabrasive grain supply device provided with a grain storage for storing the superabrasive grains and a grain separation mechanism for separating the superabrasive grains stored in the grain storage one by one to a suction position; and a suction nozzle detachably mounted on the endmost arm of the six-axis control robot and provided with a nose portion bent to have a nozzle end which is eccentric from the fifth and sixth axes, for drawing a grain of superabrasive to the nozzle end at the suction position.