Patent ID: 8753172

Claim:
A Computer Numerical Control (CNC) system for effecting a finishing treatment of a surface, the system comprising: (a) a mechanical assembly including: at least one mechanical arm, adapted to move within at least two controllable axes of motion; a shoe arrangement, adapted to connect to an end of said arm and having at least one flexible surface finishing pad, said pad having a working surface having a diameter (D); and a drive mechanism adapted to drive said arm; (b) a controller; (c) a communication arrangement adapted to deliver communication signals between said controller and said mechanical assembly; and (d) a positioning system providing said controller with positioning information with respect to said mechanical assembly, the system configured whereby said arm is responsive to said controller, said mechanical assembly adapted to urge said working surface against a workpiece surface, whereby a pressure is delivered thereto, and wherein a dimensionless ratio defined by said diameter (D) divided by a length of mechanical deformation (L def ) of said surface finishing pad, normal to said working surface, fulfills at least one of the following structural criteria: (D/L def ) falls within a range of 2-120 for said pressure within a range of 0.05-1 bar; (D/L def ) falls within a range of 4-180 for said pressure within a range of 0.5-2 bar; (D/L def ) falls within a range of 6-200 for said pressure within a range of 1-3 bar; (D/L def ) falls within a range of 8-250 for said pressure within a range of 2-6 bar; and (D/L def ) falls within a range of 12-450 for said pressure within a range of 3-20 bar.