Why Diamond Lapping?

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How to Reduce Wear?

          Wear, as defined by Noah Webster, is “impairment or loss due to friction” and "friction" is the rubbing of one object against another.  So where there is rubbing, there is wear.  Measures taken to counter the effects of friction include:

            Elimination of rubbing         
             Introduction of lubricants                       
             Reduction of surface roughness


Reducing Surface Roughness           

          Diamond Lapping reduces Surface Roughness by causing the molecular layers to shift their lattice position on the surface of the wire guide.  In certain situations, this is the only approach----such as in the case of the common eyelet, where the guide directs the wire motion at a stationary position and the use of lubricants is impractical and rubbing could not be eliminated.

          Below is a COSMOS Wire Guide Eyelet E 019 – 99 before and after diamond lapping, bisected for a unobstructed view of the interior:


                      A BISECTED EYELET REVEALING THE SURFACE FINISH BEFORE DIAMOND LAPPIONG           A BISECTED EYELET, REVEALING THE SURFACE FINISH AFTER DIAMOND LAPPING

                                        Before                                                  After


          As apparent from the photos, not only the entrance and exit of the eyelet have been processed but also the bore surface.  In other words, the entire wire passage need to be thoroughly Diamond Lapped.

The Cost of Diamond Lapping has Come Down

          The cost of Diamond Lapping, which inhibited its use in the past, has seen a reduction due to:

              The reduced cost of the diamond grits in recent years  
               Advancements in Diamond Lapping technology

          After a decade of advocating and promotion on our part and the ensuing appraisals  won from shop floors worldwide, the wire manufacturing industry has fully accepted and entrusted the merits of the diamond polished wire guides.  The continual advancements made in the diamond polishing process, in combination with more cost-effective, wear-resistant wire guides, will further accelerate the wire industry's contribution toward a greener planet.

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