Enhanced Stock Removal and Surface Finish with All-in-One Lapping Plate
The modern manufacturing industry is highly competitive, and companies are always looking for ways to improve their products' quality and efficiency while reducing costs. One of the ways they achieve this is by creating parts with ever-increasing precision and accuracy. These parts are used in a variety of industries, such as aerospace, automotive, medical, and electronics. To meet the demand for precision parts, component designers and engineers work closely with precision lapping and polishing specialists, such as Kemet International Ltd, to develop innovative solutions. Precision lapping and polishing involve using abrasive particles to remove material from a surface, creating a smoother and more precise finish. These processes are often used in the final stages of manufacturing to improve the part's surface finish and dimensional accuracy.
The benefits of using precision lapping and polishing solutions are numerous. They can improve the part's functional performance, increase its lifespan, and reduce the risk of failure. They can also reduce manufacturing costs by reducing the need for additional finishing operations, such as grinding or honing. In addition, they can improve the product's aesthetics, making it more attractive to customers.
The lapping process is a highly specialised technique that involves the use of abrasive particles to remove small amounts of material from the surface of a workpiece. While lapping can be used to create highly precise parts with excellent surface finishes, the process can also be challenging, with a range of different techniques and equipment available. Choosing the right lapping process can be daunting for designers and engineers, as there are many factors to consider, including the material being lapped, the required precision and surface finish, and the overall cost and efficiency of the process. Different processes are used depending on the desired outcome. For example, if the workpiece needs to have material removed and a reflective surface finish suitable for optical flatness inspection, a two-stage process is typically used. The first stage removes material, while the second stage generates the reflective surface finish.
Kemet has developed a new composite lapping plate - Kemet SP2 - that makes the decision of which process to use a little simpler. The SP2 plate enables both material removal and surface finish to be achieved in a single operation, reducing the number of machines required and freeing up valuable production space. If only a single machine is available, the Kemet SP2 lapping plate eliminates the time needed to change the plate between the stages.
Benefits of the Kemet SP2 Lapping Plate:
The Kemet SP2 lapping plate offers several benefits compared to conventional lapping (aluminium oxide on cast iron) if a mirror polish is required. The highly reflective surface generated by the SP2 plate is a perfect precursor to mirror finishing with polishing pads. The SP2 plate not only reduces polishing pad times and provides cost savings by lengthening the life of the polishing pads but also reduces roll-off on the edge of the components, providing a better overall final surface flatness.
Overall, the demand for precision parts is likely to continue to increase as manufacturing industries become more competitive and technology advances. Companies that can offer innovative solutions to meet this demand, such as Kemet International Ltd, are likely to play a crucial role in shaping the future of the manufacturing industry.
