Conditioning Rings for a Flat Lap: Possible to Make Your Own?

[Rob F.]

These might be useful to watch:
Stahli Instructional Lapping Video - YouTube

This guy is talking optics but similar principle: Pitch polisher is similar to ring lapping. You will probably be more like this but with a pad instead of pitch.
How to make Very Flat Optical Surfaces on Glass - YouTube

 

[#5 ii Alive!]

I will, Rob. Thank You!

 

[dian]

We have a 12" Lapmaster at work, but I built a small one for home. You can probably find cast plumbing fittings at a good hardware store. Face the end and Bob's your uncle. Note that the factory ones are pretty heavy and slotted; getting those is best if you can afford it. Make sure you rig up an indicator bar so you can monitor the lapping plate flatness. It takes very little time to make it go convex, but near-to-forever to correct the problem. So long, in fact, that it's easier to just send it out and have it surface ground.

plumbing fittings? what kind do you have in mind? op needs roughly 5" rings, right?

 

[Conrad Hoffman]

Start with a search of 4" schedule 40 steel pipe. I think that's 4.5" OD. Should be a bunch of related fitting and stuff, though maybe hard to get. Or, just look at the various fittings in a well stocked hardware store. Stuff like couplings and flanges can be pressed to service with a bit of machining.

 

[Milland]

If you do a search for cast iron pipe, you might be able to find a vendor who'll be willing to cuts some slices for you.

You could start here:

Cast Iron Pipe

 

[Milland]

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