US Patent 7578728 Lapping system having a polymeric lapping tool

A lapping system including: (a) a workpiece having a metal working surface; (b) a lapping tool having a contact surface for disposing generally opposite the working surface, the contact surface including an organic, polymeric material; (c) a plurality of abrasive particles for disposing between the contact surface and the working surface, and (d) a mechanism, associated with the working and contact surfaces, for applying a relative motion between the surfaces, and for exerting a load on the contact surface and the working surface, the contact surface for providing an at least partially elastic interaction with the plurality of abrasive particles, and wherein the contact surface and the mechanism are designed and configured, and the plurality of particles is selected, such that upon activation of the mechanism, the relative motion under the load effects lapping of the metal working surface to produce a tribological surface.