Lapping carriers (also called workholders) are manufactured by PR Hoffman Machine Products for a wide variety of planetary lapping and polishing machines including those manufactured by P.R. Hoffman, Speedfam, Peter Wolters AG, Hamai, Somos, Fujikoshi, Strausbaugh, Melchiorre, Lanzhou, Lapmaster and a variety of specialty machines adapted for unique applications.
We can create a custom drawing that you can review to ensure the design meets your exact specifications. If you have a drawing or sample part for a lapping or polishing process, PR Hoffman would welcome the opportunity to provide a detailed quotation for your review.
Lapping carriers are available in a wide variety of materials and thicknesses, including an inventory of more than 20 spring steel thicknesses. See our material description pages for additional details.
PR Hoffman uses a wide variety of state of the art manufacturing methods to create your lapping carriers including, precision punching, Wire-EDM cutting, CNC machining, CNC routing, and Laser cutting. With these options, nearly any lapping carrier configuration is available. We will recommend the most cost effective method based on your machine and volume requirements.
| Material | Description |
|---|---|
| Spring Steel | Spring steel is the strongest and most durable carrier material. The tightest flatness and thickness tolerances are available in PR Hoffman Steel Carriers. |
| Cold Rolled Steel | Excellent for thick sturdy parts. |
| Blue Steel | Primary used for small carriers running thin parts. |
| Stainless Steel | Perfect for polishing applications that require corrosion free process |
| G-10 / FR-4 | Fiberglass reinforced epoxy. Excellent alternative to steel. Use in applications that prohibit steel but still requires a carrier with strength and durability |
| Phenolic | Linen, canvas or paper reinforced phenolic resin. Use in processes that cannot tolerate the fiberglass but requires some carrier strength. Best suited for use with oil based slurries. |
| PVC | Less costly option for thicker carriers. PVC offers chemical inertness and high strength to weight ratio. |
| Polycarbonate | Small Carriers for use in nonabrasive environment, reduced strength but also reduces scratching of reinforced alternatives. |
| Vinyl | Small Carriers for use in nonabrasive environment. Used primarily for short quick runs on small machines. |
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