摘要 |
A process for making a cutting instrument (32) includes cutting a blank (350) from a plate (352) or strip of Type 60 Nitinol, having a thickness of between 0.005''-0.500'' using an abrasive waterjet (360), wire electron discharge machining (EDN) or laser cutting, and grinding top and bottom surfaces of the blank (350) by rotating a grinder (382) having cubic boron nitride or diamond abrasive particles on a cutting surface of said grinder (382) against the knife blank (350) at a surface speed of about 5000 to 7000 surface feet per minute and grinding to a depth of about 0.001 to 0.005 inches per pass to remove material along the blade surface. The surface of the blade (34) is polished to a surface finish smoother than 20 microinches RMS using Turkish emery abrasive grinding/polishing materials on a buffing wheel driven by a high power motor. The blade is then finish polished to a mirror-like luster of 2 microinches RMS or less using a fine diamond buffing compound and a buffing wheel running at about 3000 RPM. An edge (390) is ground into the polished blade blank using an Arkansas stone grinder.
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