ID and OD lapping simplified.

We take you into the shop and show you a simplified and effective way to remove millionth’s of an inch and obtain a mirror like finish. The bonus is that your part will come out as perfectly round as possible. We know of no other way to achieve that end. This is the final stage in stock removal.

[Dr_Xyzt]

Great video! It's always great to experience Don's tutelage and positive nature.
So methodical, showing us a craft and taking care in our work.

Lapped parts fit so nice. Fine actuators for machines that operate in cleanrooms manufacturing computer CPU's. A lot of those things fit essentially perfectly and they have control systems to monitor their precision further, to make parts 30 atoms across.

Meanwhile, we take apart a hydraulic pump and marvel at how slick the fit is. It's humbling.

[hugocfr]

I had a little problem job to do, I needed to size about a 100 .250" shafts to fit a bearing bore. The shafts were a 10th or two over, and I needed them to be a couple 10ths under and so I found this video. I am not unfamiliar with the concept of lapping but didn't know what equipent was out there. Watching this vid I learned about Americal Lap so I got in touch with them and bought the holder and some laps. Nice guy there, had a chat, and the laps came yesterday and they work perfect. This little rig works way better than I thought it would! Thanks Suburban Tool and American Lap.

At the tolerances being discussed I would expect an on-size part to measure exactly the way this OD measured. It was being handled extensively from its ends during the video and the heat from doing so will cause the ends to expand. If it were left to properly stabilise on the comparator for a while it would most likely measure far closer across its length. I think this point should have been made in the video, as how much metal expands and moves is probably quite a surprise to viewers not used to working at this order of precision and will easily catch people out of they don't consider it properly.

[artgoat]

Sweet. That's a nicer finish than most of the hydraulic valves I've taken apart!

[McFingal]

Another fine video Don, I sure would like it if you made a video tour of your shop. You did that nice one of your parts suppliers. I think something like that would be great. Well thanks for sharing your time and your knowledge. Thank you.

[southjerseysound]

There's really something cool about how 2 perfectly lapped parts will fit together.But what I dont get is why people are afraid to do it or think they cant.It takes a bit of feel but once you get it you can make things incredibly precise.Last but not least is you dont have to go and buy the laps, they are super easy to make from scrap stock although for a commercial shop where they make a lot of one thing I see why he uses that one.But for myself I use a jig i have that can do rifling to cut the grooves inside to hold the compound and then I'll cut a slit like normal.

[AtelierDBurgoyne]

Love the videos. Thanks for sharing. I swear that in the intro, Don is swinging in rythm with the tempo of the music!

Daniel

[Factory]

These videos are so fantastic. Made a customer out of me!

[thorgodofthunder]

don, i love watching your instructional videos because you look so much like my grandpa harold. it us uncanny. i didnt get to know him well because he was a quiet stoic son of a finlander and he died when i was young. he would have been a terrible machinist. he only had one eye and he had parkinsons haha.

[SuperYellowsubmarin]

That's what i was looking for ! Much simpler than toolpost grinder for small OD adjustments ... Thanks

[Necrodoxious]

Fantastic videos and invaluable knowledge, this is a god send for an Mech E intern trying to learn shop techniques. Thanks!

[guyward]

Great subject .Really never given it much thought I do see the importance of it in a good fitting part. Thank you for sharing. GW

[joen]

Hi my name is Joe Navarro. I watched your video on squaring the head on a vertical mill like a Bridgeport. It was especially interesting to me because I have a product called "Spindle Square".  Some say they can square the head within a Tenth so I appreciate your comments about the accuracy involved in tramming a manual mill.

[binks]

Don, thanks for your videos. Your demonstrations and explanations are great! I am a new subscriber and will be watching many of your previous videos. Best Regards, Harvey from Nebraska

[ckvasnic]

Don, thanks for sharing your time and talent. Good show

[gheumann]

What is the clearance between the lap and the part? I'm assuming there has to be little room for the abrasive? And then, when the parts are done, how much bigger is the OD than the ID of the mating parts- one tenth? two tenths? I'm teaching myself to machine to this precision but not sure my digital micrometers are accurate enough to know what I'm actually accomplishing to a tenth. Thanks!

[jordantayaban]

nice vids. I also do internal and external lapping using diamond compounds, silicon carbide, aluminum oxide and some mixtures. with finish of 5Ra and .000050 roundness or better. I lap match assemblies of bushing and spool with clearance of .0001-.000130. It's a challenging job but I honed my skill to do it.

[fcarp]

I really enjoy these videos thank you for posting! It is interesting learning about different processes.

[jloyal]

Exelente, thank you for this video. very informative and all well explained.

[panchovilla]

Thank you for the wonderful videos learning a lot thanks