PRACTICAL DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF THE STRESSED-LAP POLISHING TOOL

We present an overview of the engineering design and empirical perform ance of four stressed-lap polishing tools developed at the University of Arizona. Descriptions of the electromechanical actuators, servo sys tems, computer interfacing, and attachment of the lap to the polishing machine are provided. The empirical performance of a representative t ool is discussed in terms of accuracy, repeatability and hysteresis. F inally, we estimate the statistical likelihood of aluminum lap-plate f ailure through a metal-fatigue analysis for a worst-case stress-cyclin g situation.