Patent ID: 7775142

Claim:
A method for processing calcined carbon bodies, such as anodes or cathodes for use in connection with electrolytic production of aluminum, in which the carbon bodies are processed by a rotating processing tool, the method comprising arranging the processing tool so that processing in a radial direction is performed by a plurality of cutting edges of the processing tool, the plurality of cutting edges being disposed at an outer periphery of the processing tool, the processing tool including a planar disc with a mounting device being configured to enable the processing tool to be mounted onto a rotating spindle, and moving the processing tool and a carbon body relative to each other, so as to form at least one slot in the carbon body, wherein the at least one cutting edge is made of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and has a speed greater than 100 meters/minute and less than 300 meters/minute, and wherein each cutting element edge of the plurality of cutting edges is disposed at the same radial distance from a center of rotation of the processing tool as each other cutting edge of the plurality of cutting edges, such that said each cutting edge has a cutting speed equal to a cutting speed of said each other cutting edge.