Fine polish lapping machine uses rubber and diamond

The Okamato AERO LAP lapping machine can achieve a mirror finish on any surface, including uneven profiles, in a 3 to 5 min cycle time and it is available through NCMT, Okamato's sole UK agent.

Comparable in appearance to a sand blasting machine and used for a similiar purpose, the AERO LAP, however, operates entirely differently. A high speed flow of 0.5 to 2.0 mm diameter rubber balls is directed at the workpiece. The surface of the balls is coated, using a liquid additive, with a diamond powder of typically 3 to 5 µm grain diameter.

At the end of the process, a consistent finish is achieved on all surfaces, without alteration of geometry. The equipment is convenient to use, as it operates using a normal compressed air supply, while there is only a limited creation of dust and noise.

The machine requires the component to have a good surface finish at the outset so that a mirror polish can be achieved. The system works best on hard materials, such as carbide tools, as well as form punches, dies, cutting punches and moulds, which until now have had to be worked by hand.

Improvement in the life of mills, drills and other cutting tools has been reported, and the process is suitable for polishing PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) and CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) coatings.

The YT100 model is for components up to 200 by 200 mm, while the YT300 model can accommodate components 300 by 300 mm.

Author
Michael Richards

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