Patent ID: 6908366

Claim:
A method of modifying a wafer surface comprising providing a first abrasive article comprising a first three-dimensional fixed abrasive element and a first subpad generally coextensive with the first fixed abrasive element; contacting a surface of the first three-dimensional fixed abrasive element with a wafer surface; relatively moving the first abrasive article and the wafer; providing a second abrasive article comprising a second three-dimensional fixed abrasive element and a second subpad generally coextensive with the second fixed abrasive element; contacting a surface of the second three-dimensional fixed abrasive element with the wafer surface; relatively moving the second abrasive article and the wafer; wherein the first subpad has a deflection less than the deflection of the second subpad when measured 1.5 cm from the edge of a 1 kg weight, the weight having a contact area of 1.9 cm diameter.