Patent ID: 7768281

Claim:
An apparatus for lapping a bar, said bar being provided with elements that are to be formed into sliders, comprising: a probe assembly comprising: an elastically deflectable probe; and a stopper for applying bending deformation to said probe so as to cause first bending deflection at a leading end of said probe and for maintaining said first bending deflection at said leading end while preventing a bending deformation at said leading end from becoming smaller than said first bending deflection; said leading end of said probe being configured to be subjected to a second bending deflection that is larger than said first bending deflection in a direction same as a direction of said first bending deflection and thereby to abut against an electrode pad to establish electrical connection between said probe and said electrode pad, said electrode pad being provided on a surface of said bar other than a surface to be lapped; a rotatable lapping table adapted to lap said surface to be lapped of said bar by pressing said bar against said lapping table under rotation; a controller that is electrically connected to said conductive layer of said probe assembly, said controller being adapted to calculate an amount of lapping of said bar based on a signal supplied from said electrode pad of said bar; and a fixture for supporting said bar so that said surface to be lapped faces said lapping table.