Abstract
In order to develop high efficiency finishing for guide ways of machine tools, hardened and ground die steel SKD61 was lapped by using a robot or a milling machine. Lapping, in general, is carried out on a machined surface to obtain fully flat surface, this means that the machined surface is lapped away completely. In this study, however, the purpose of the lapping is to make a surface having a superior wear characteristics without damage of the geometrical accuracy obtained by grinding. Gray cast iron and a layered soft disk made by a rubber, a sponge and an acrylic resin were used for the lap. It was found that lapping by the robot with gray cast iron lap was difficult because of many scratches and geometrical damage on the lapped surface, while lapping by the milling machine with the iron lap could get a fairly good surface finish without any geometrical damage except some scratches. The best surface finish was obtained by using the layered soft disk lap.
