Precision
Surface
Lapping.
Chicago Lapping Co coordinates contract precision lapping for aerospace, semiconductor, and medical programs across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Single- and double-sided work, flat finishing, mechanical-seal and wafer surfaces — held to light-band flatness on production volumes.
Core Capabilities
Every lapping process below is available across Illinois, Wisconsin & Indiana, performed under documented process controls aligned with ISO 9001:2015. Submit one request and receive a direct quote covering process selection, tolerances, and lead time within one business day.
Single and Double-Sided Lapping
Both faces finished in one setup. Parallelism and flatness held together for seals, plates, and high-volume blanks.
Flat lapping
Planar finishing for reference faces, tooling, and inspection surfaces where flatness drives the whole measurement chain.
Spherical/Ball Lapping
Controlled spherical and ball geometry finishing for valves, bearings, and precision mating surfaces.
Hand lapping
Manual finishing for prototypes, selective fits, and geometry that machine cycles cannot reach cleanly.
Machine lapping
Repeatable machine cycles for production lots with documented flatness and surface-finish targets.
Mechanical Seal/Silicon Wafer Lapping
Seal faces and wafer blanks finished for contact integrity, low Ra, and lot-consistent geometry.
Production lapping
Scheduled lot work with process controls, inspection sampling, and per-lot certification packages.
Taper, Shoulder, and Counter Bore Lapping
Targeted finishing on shoulders, tapers, and counterbores where form error shows up as assembly failure.
From Quote to Certificate
A clear path for plant engineers and quality managers — no multi-step wizard, no ambiguity on what ships back.
Request a Quote
Share drawings, material, target flatness / Ra, and lot size. Response within one business day.
Confirm Process Path
Process selection, achievable tolerances, and lead time are confirmed before parts move.
Lapping to Spec
Work is performed under documented process controls aligned with ISO 9001:2015.
Inspect & Document
Flatness and finish are verified; lots ship with inspection records and certification.
Verifiable Precision
Flatness is not asserted — it is measured. Each lot is verified on temperature-stabilized metrology benches combining laser interferometry, white-light profilometry, and air gaging. Every micron is traceable to a calibrated standard.
- Laser InterferometryFlatness / Form
- White-Light Profilometry3D Surface Texture
- Stylus ProfilometerRa / Rz Roughness
- Air GagingThickness / Parallelism
Proof, Not Claims
Coverage breadth, certified processes, and traceable inspection — surfaced as datasheet numbers, not marketing copy.
Tolerances Achievable By Material Class
| Material Class | Typical Applications | Min Thickness | Flatness | Ra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Ceramics (Al₂O₃, AlN) | Semiconductor chucks, seals | 0.005" | 1 light band | < 1 µin |
| Silicon Carbide (SiC) | Optics, wafer handling | 0.010" | 1/4 light band | < 0.5 µin |
| Tool Steels / Tungsten Carbide | Stamping dies, cutting tools | 0.002" | 2 light bands | < 2 µin |
| Exotic Alloys (Ti, Inconel) | Aerospace components, medical | 0.015" | 2 light bands | < 4 µin |
| Optical Materials (Sapphire, Fused Silica) | Windows, lenses, substrates | 0.004" | 1/10 light band | Sub-angstrom |
| Silicon Wafers | CMP, bonding, MEMS substrates | 0.005" | 1/4 light band | < 0.5 µin |
Chicago Lapping Co Service Areas
Precision lapping coverage spans Illinois , Wisconsin , and Indiana , with dedicated landing pages for every metropolitan area in the index below.
View metropolitan coverage list
Local-pickup and freight coverage includes Chicago , Aurora , Schaumburg , Elgin , Joliet , Rockford , Milwaukee , Madison , Green Bay , Kenosha , Racine , Appleton , Waukesha , Indianapolis , Fort Wayne , Evansville , South Bend , and Hammond . Each city page covers the lapping processes available in that metro, typical lead times, and how to submit for a direct quote.
REGION: Illinois, Wisconsin & Indiana · 3 STATES · 18 METROS
Coverage Network Where Work Is Performed
Request A Quote, Receive Tolerances
Quotes typically returned within one business day. Include drawings, target finish, and lot size — the response covers achievable flatness, lead time, and pricing for the part geometry.
- Direct line(618) 323-0428
- Email[email protected]
- HoursMon – Fri / 07:00 – 17:00 CT
- Turnaround≤ 1 business day