Power lapping

[grumpydaddy]

The thought occurred to me that the down side of the process of lapping a cpu is the time spent rubbing a small processor in hopefully fairly random motion on a flat surface with wet and dry paper attached whilst keeping it wet and trying not to get cramp in your fingers.

So, in the interests of research, and because I am a bit of a lazy sod, I am going to attempt this process by inverting the setup that is to say using a flat surface, attaching the cpu to it, and applying the sanding motion with the aid of an orbital sander.

The plus side is that the time spent should be greatly reduced

The negative side is that it may prove necessary to fit the sander with a solid plate rather than the dense foam normally found on these machines. It may also be difficult to apply level pressure. Only the pressure film and TIM tests will confirm this.

I bought a pack of wet and dry paper containing 2 X 400 2 X 600 2 X 800 1 X1000 1 X 1200 1 X 1500 1 X 2000 grit sheets each of which can be cut to provide 3 x one third sheets to fit the machine so at a cost of £4.50 ($7.35) delivered there should be enough to complete a good few CPU’s in future and the cost for completing each one is minimal. What’s more,the sander itself need only be a very cheap version as it is hardly going to get worked hard. Others wanting to try this might even pick up a second hand unit.

I will first test the process on an old q6600 to find out if there are issues to be dealt with, then, tomorrow I will take down the 2600K for a very much needed power lapping.

I invite comment, especially about the need for fitting a hard surface on the plate of the sander before I start.

[Bob2701]

All I can say is good luck and have a steady hand. You definitely will nun.eed a hard surface on the sander, isn't the foam removable? Have fun.

[Drdeath]

Grumpy. I have lapped many a processor and 2 things.

1- you do not have to keep it wet until the last cut if you want a baby ass finish. Water will reduce the friction on each cut.

2- 2000 grit is not needed unless you want a baby ass finish.1400 grit is all you need. The very fine scratches from 1400 grit will not make it any warmer.

I like you IDEA but using a machine takes beer time out of the project and that is no fun.