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A lapping machine is a type of machine tool used for finishing surfaces to a very high quality or to precise size limits. The process, called lapping, involves using a soft cloth or tool impregnated with abrasive pastes or compounds that are rubbed against the workpiece.1

This method can achieve extremely tight dimensional tolerances, as fine as two millionths of an inch (0.00005 mm), making it ideal for precision parts like gauges and gauge blocks. Lapping is considered a part of the broader art of grinding.1

Other machines with "lap" in their name include the sliver lapper, a textile machine for forming sliver laps, and the lap shaver, used for shaving leather to a specific thickness.23

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