An apparatus (20) and method for abrasively
processing an article(24) involves the use of an
abrasive product (30) provided with a
machine discernable pattern representative of information of varying types. The pattern is read while the
abrasive product moves relative to the article, and is used to control the movement of the
abrasive product (30) relative to the article (24). The pattern may include one or more of the
machine discernable electrical characteristic, optical characteristic, topographic characteristic or
magnetic characteristic. Reading the pattern may involve one or more of electrically, optically, mechanically or magnetically reading the
machine discernable pattern provided on the abrasive product. The pattern may include one or more of indicia, protrusions, depressions, holes, voids, color or
pigment variations, bar codes,
magnetic transitions or periodic markings. The pattern may include one or more of indexing information,
servo information, alignment information or abrasive
product identification information. Closed-loop servocontrol of abrasive product movement may be effected using the
servo / indexing pattern information. The abrasive product may constitute a movable pad and an abrasive
slurry. The pad (30) may be moved in a controlled manner relative to the article (24) such that the pad (30) and the abrasive
slurry abrasively contact the article (24). The pattern provided on the pad may be read subsequent to a cleaning operation. An
information system may be used to store various types of data derived, in part, from use of the abrasive
product pattern information. The stored data may be used for a variety of identification, tracking, accounting, inventory, handling, and statistical purposes.