Patent ID: 7160178

Claim:
An apparatus for in situ activation of a three-dimensional fixed abrasive article comprising: a) a three-dimensional fixed abrasive article comprising an abrasive surface and an opposing surface; b) a substrate comprising a first surface, wherein the first surface of the substrate is adjacent the abrasive surface of the fixed abrasive article; c) a support assembly, wherein the opposing surface of the fixed abrasive article is adjacent the support assembly; and d) an indexing mechanism, wherein the indexing mechanism advances the three-dimensional fixed abrasive article relative to the support assembly; wherein, the support assembly is selected to create a region of a high erosion force at the abrasive surface of the fixed abrasive article and a region of a low erosion force at the abrasive surface of the fixed abrasive article when a normal force is applied to the substrate, the fixed abrasive article, and the support assembly creating a contact pressure between the first surface of the substrate and the abrasive surface of the fixed abrasive article, and a relative motion is created between the first surface of the substrate and the abrasive surface of the fixed abrasive article, wherein at least the high erosion force is sufficient to activate the fixed abrasive article, and wherein the low erosion force is less than the high erosion force.