Patent ID: 7207866

Claim:
A method for grinding or polishing at least one edge of a glass substrate, the method comprising: coupling an air bearing support member configured to pivot about an axis of rotation with substantially zero frictional resistance opposing said pivotal movement to a support platform including a counter weight; coupling a grinding unit comprising a grinding wheel and a drive motor to the support platform symmetric to said counter weight about the axis of rotation such that the grinding unit pivots about the axis of rotation and the axis of rotation is offset from a rotational axis of the grinding wheel; positioning the grinding wheel at a comer of the glass substrate, the grinding wheel being in contact with at least one edge of the glass substrate; applying a load to the grinding unit to thereby directly apply a predetermined force normal to the at least one edge, the predetermined force being directly proportional to a predetermined amount and less than a normal force resulting in glass substrate breakage; and linearly advancing the glass substrate in a tangential direction relative to the grinding wheel while rotating the grinding wheel to remove the predetermined amount of material from the at least one edge.