Re: ATM - Starting Over - Now metal tools

["Peter D. Brooks" <pdbrooks@pacbell.net>]

Dennis Rech wrote:
> Hi Tom
> Certainly not to disparage Jack, his tools or anyone else, but aluminum tools
> on a machine wear away just as fast as tile tools. The hardness of aluminum is
> less than ceramics or glass. 

My understanding of lapping processes says this is an advantage for aluminum. 
In roughing/generating, the grit actually embeds in the aluminum and the
aluminum matrix actually holds the grit in place.  Kind of like a diamond
grinding wheel that uses a soft resin for a matrix.  You can't grind carbide
with the resin, but combine the soft stuff with grit, and you have a winner.

Note that cast iron will not imbed like aluminum.


Pete Brooks