72T

An insert carrier or lapping carrier is a consumable or semi-durable workholding element used in flat lapping and related abrasive finishing processes. Machines and process sets of this class do not perform lapping by themselves; instead, they are part of the tooling that establishes how parts are spaced, supported, and transported within the lapping zone.

Such carriers are used to keep multiple workpieces separated, maintain positional control during relative motion, and help present the parts uniformly to the abrasive action. In production and laboratory settings, machines of this class are selected as part of the overall lapping recipe because carrier geometry, material, and pocket design influence handling, wear behavior, and process consistency.

In a typical lapping process, workpieces are placed into openings or pockets in the carrier, and the loaded carrier moves within the machine between abrasive-charged surfaces. The carrier constrains the lateral position of each piece while allowing the exposed faces of the parts to contact the working surfaces, so material is removed in a controlled and generally planar manner.