Fine Grinding, Lapping & Polishing Machines

The TPM series

Plate Diameter Range – 200mm to 2500mm / 8" to 100”

Overview

Double-side surface finishing machines with rotating plates are designed for production of high accuracy Plano and Parallel surfaces on large, medium and small sized components. TPM Series double-side machines are designed for a range of uses from laboratory to mass production applications. This technology is optimally suited for performance over a broad range of geometries, physical properties, and for high accuracy, tight tolerance of flatness, parallelism, size tolerance and surface finish, etc. TPM Series technology is adaptable to a very wide range of applications, such as: precision Optics – visible, infrared, laser materials; semiconductor and reclaim wafers, compound semiconductor materials; crystals, glass, ceramics, sintered materials, metals just to name a few. Also, Ideal support for a broad range of industries such as - military and defense, avionic and space, scientific, medical, automotive, and luxury watch fabrication. Above all, the SOMOS IWT machines have evolved with unique and targeted design criteria to enable our customers to produce advanced, leading-edge surface finishes and geometries.

Operating Principle

• Parts to be surfaced and placed in carrier pockets. During the process, the loaded carriers are driven in a planetary orbit between two rotating top and bottom plates, and rotating central gear and a fixed or rotating external ring gear.
• The speeds of the plates and gears are individually adjustable, as well as pressure on the workpiece. The actual speed and torque are displayed for each plate. 

General Description

Movements

• All motions have been designed using sealed ball bearings which are optimally protected.
• Spindles are individually driven by three or four separate motors with electronic speed controllers.
• Rise/lower of the upper plate is achieved by a closed-loop servo motor.
• Work pressure (actual load of the upper spindle) is controlled by a load sensor with dynamic feedback.

Frame and Housing

• The machine frame is made of welded heavy iron profiles. Housing is of robust, thick steel plates, epoxy painted, and oven cured at 200° C.
• Each body panel is easily removable providing full access to internal parts and components for fast and easy maintenance.

Electrical Cabinet

• Electrical and electronic parts are located at the back of the machine to allow easy access during operation or for maintenance purposes.
• This location also avoids contact of control devices with water or abrasive particles. There is a full-length door with safety stop colors to allow safe and easy access.

The TPM Series in Operation

The videos below introduce the operation of the TPM 800A and TPM 1600S models of our planetary, double side polishing machines.