Advantages of lapping

Advantages of Lapping

•  Improves surface finish by eliminating the peaks and valleys. 
• Create maximum bearing area between the mating surfaces. 
•  Improves service life of the moving parts which are subject to wear. 
• Improves geometrical and dimensional accuracies. 
•  There is absolutely no distortion in the component after lapping since no clamping devices are used. 
• Minimizes the necessity of re hardening hardened parts because of less heat generation. 
• Accessible flat surfaces of parts of any shape and size and any type of material can be lapped.        
• Simple carrier plate design is enough to accommodate the component for lapping (i.e.) complicated fixture is not required. 
• Any unskilled operator can work on the machine.

Lapping Process

Lapping is the process of rubbing two surfaces together with a lapping medium (Lapping fluid and Lapping Grit) between them.

Lapping is a low pressure abrading process which is employed as a precision finishing operation tooling to achieve high dimensional accuracy, improve geometrical accuracy, fine surface finish and ensure close fit between mating parts.

Peaks and valleys before lapping

Peaks and valleys after lapping

History of Lapping Machine

Lapping is the process of rubbing two surfaces together with a #lappingmedium (Lapping fluid and Lapping Grit) between them.

Stone age man (fig-1) used the process of lapping in preparing their tool and implements to the extent that they drilled holes in a work piece by rotating sticks on it sand strewn surface.

A sketch as shown above (fig-2) from the German Museum in Munich, which has illustrated a probable early “Lapping Machine”