Finishing polishing method

Abstract

The invention provides a method of finishing polishing a surface using a polishing element and an abrasive, the method implementing the following steps: (a) prior to said polishing, sticking the polishing element in permanent manner on a support of deformable material; (b) applying pressure on the deformable support once the polishing element is in contact with the surface to be polished so that the polishing element is shaped to match an outline of said surface; and (c) performing finishing polishing using the polishing element shaped in this way.

1 . A method of finishing polishing a surface using a polishing element and an abrasive, the method implementing the following steps: 
 (a) prior to said polishing, sticking the polishing element in permanent manner on a support of deformable material;    (b) applying pressure on the deformable support once the polishing element is in contact with the surface to be polished so that the polishing element is shaped to match an outline of said surface; and    (c) performing finishing polishing using the polishing element shaped in this way.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said material is deformable in creep and/or is hardenable.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said material is pitch which is heated to a temperature enabling it to creep and which, once the polishing element has been shaped, is sufficiently cooled in order to harden it.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said material is an adhesive of the gel type which, once the polishing element has been shaped, is hardened, e.g. by being polymerized or by applying radiation, in particular ultraviolet radiation.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the material is plaster.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the polishing element is a felt.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said deformable material is carried by a polishing support.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the finishing polishing operation is performed using a machine comprising a displacement device for imparting relative movement between the polishing element and the surface to be polished along two mutually perpendicular directions.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the displacement device is arranged also to produce relative rotary movement about an axis parallel to one of said two perpendicular directions.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the surface presents a generator line of direction parallel to one of said two perpendicular directions.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface on which the finishing polishing is performed has previously been subjected to: 
 pre-polishing or coarse polishing; and    polishing.    
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein, after polishing, the surface presents roughness lying in the range 3 Å to 15 Å, and after finishing polishing it presents roughness in the range 1 Å to 5 Å.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said roughness after finishing polishing lies in the range 1 Å to 3 Å for surfaces of glass, silica, silicon, or ceramic, and in the range 3 Å to 5 Å for a nickel coating on a metal surface.