ROCKING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SLICING A WORK PIECE UTILIZING A DIAMOND IMPREGNATED WIRE

摘要

An apparatus (10) for cutting a cylindrical work piece (14) in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the work piece (14) includes a wire (12) having a plurality of cutting elements affixed thereto and a wire drive mechanism (16) for driving the wire across and through the work piece (14). The wire drive mechanism includes a capstan (18) to move the wire orthogonally across a longitudinal axis of the work piece, a rotational drive (26) to oscillate the wire around the longitudinal axis and an advancing drive to advance the wire perpendicularly through the longitudinal axis of the work piece (14). In a particular embodiment, the apparatus imparts a substantially rocking motion to the wire drive mechanism about the longitudinal axis of the work piece (14) and the cutting elements of the wire are impregnated diamond.