Technology of flat surfaces lapping

Lapping and polishing using loose abrasive are classified as the basic finishing operations. These technologies can be used on metallic parts, as well as on non-metallic machine elements, mainly on engineering ceramics which have found use in many engineering applications. Conventional lapping has been developed as well as a lot of research has been done into the modern technologies including: machine forced charging with abrasive, use of two-metallic and abrasive-metallic laps. Conventional lapping as well as prototypes of abrasive- metallic lapping tools built at of Gdansk University of Technology is presented in the paper. The high rate of material removal was achieved when metallic tools with abrasive inserts were used but the quality of lapping decreased as compared with surface roughness obtained in conventional lapping.