Patent ID: 7578728

Claim:
A mechanical system for lapping a metal load-bearing surface to produce a tribological surface, the system comprising: (a) a metal workpiece having the metal load-bearing surface; (b) a lapping tool having a contact surface, said contact surface disposed generally opposite the working surface, said contact surface including an organic, polymeric material; (c) a plurality of abrasive particles, said abrasive particles freely disposed between said contact surface and the working surface, and (d) a mechanism, associated with at least one of the working surface and said contact surface, adapted to apply a relative motion between said contact surface and the metal working surface, and to exert a load on said contact surface and the working surface, said contact surface having a Shore D hardness within a range of 40-90, said contact surface adapted to provide an at least partially elastic interaction with said plurality of abrasive particles, and wherein said contact surface and said mechanism are designed and configured, and said plurality of particles is selected, wherein upon activation of said mechanism, said relative motion under said load effects lapping of the metal working surface, by said abrasive particles, to produce the tribological surface.