Your Partner In Industry
In manufacturing, precision is the baseline. A small scratch, a few microns off tolerance, or an uneven finish can disrupt entire operations. Many times, customers need parts finished to specifications they simply cannot achieve with their own equipment. Other times, parts that have been worn or used in the field need to be brought back and restored to their original, factory-fresh condition.
That’s where we step in.
Abrading Methods, Inc. are not simply another shop offering lapping and polishing services. We work side by side with our clients as true partners, troubleshooting, analyzing, and defining the methods needed to bring their parts to the standards they require. Sometimes we even help clients determine what those standards should be. Other times, we guide them in understanding the limitations of both their materials and our processes.
And on occasion, the best path forward is to acknowledge the risks and rewards together and give it our best effort, with everyone aligned on the outcome.
Why We Think Differently
Plenty of shops can process parts, run them through a machine, hand back the order, and call it a day. That’s not our style. We believe every project has a backstory and a “why” behind the request. Sometimes it’s because a finish is needed for a sealing surface, an electrical contact, food safety compliance, or optical alignment.
The reality is that customers often need a surface finish they cannot efficiently achieve with the equipment they have. The machines capable of producing these finishes require significant expertise to operate, and in many cases, the finishing need is temporary. For customers, buying that equipment and developing in-house expertise isn’t the best path. That’s where we come in, delivering the precision finish they need without the cost and complexity of doing it themselves.
By asking those questions upfront, we help clients save time and prevent the same issues from coming back again. It’s not about selling a service. It’s about finding the best solution, sometimes that’s our lapping, polishing, or grinding expertise, and other times it’s referring them to another company started by our Founder, SpeedFam, to purchase equipment for an ongoing need.
Either way, the goal is to make the process work smarter and deliver long-term results.
Services With Purpose
Our core capabilities cover both lapping and polishing services and precision grinding & honing services. Each has its place:
- Lapping and Polishing: For when a surface needs to be truly flat, free of flaws, and dependable under stress. This is critical in aerospace, medical devices, and electronics, where one imperfect finish can cause costly failures.
- Grinding and Honing: For when parts demand tight tolerances. We make sure every edge and measurement is within spec so components fit and function without issues.
What makes our work different is how we connect these services. Many projects require a mix, an ultra-flat base with carefully honed dimensions. Instead of treating each step separately, we approach the job as a whole, ensuring the processes complement one another.
Because we have a wide variety of machines, we can optimize every stage. Larger machines let us rough parts close to final size, while smaller polishing machines bring the job to a flawless finish. Where specifications allow, we use the biggest machines available, always balancing efficiency with factors like load capacity and downtime to keep processes running at peak performance.
Solving Problems, Not Just Orders
We’ve been in this industry long enough to know that challenges rarely come neatly packaged. A client might come in with a vague problem: or “We can’t hold tolerance past this point.” That’s when we roll up our sleeves.
We’ll test, review the specs, and talk through the options. Other times it requires a complete rethink of how a surface is prepared. Either way, the end goal is always the same: a reliable result that holds up in the real world.
What Our Partners Value
Over time, we’ve learned what makes partnerships last. Clients don’t just want a vendor. They want a team that will:
- Keep quality consistent, batch after batch
- Adjust delivery schedules
- Make partial deliveries
- Package finished parts to protect the delicate finished surfaces
- Never charge for expedites unless addition cost are incurred
- Stand behind the work, not just deliver it
That reliability has carried us across industries, from small 1 man machine shops to large international industrial facilities.
Looking Forward
Manufacturing never stands still. New materials, tighter tolerances, and higher performance standards are arriving every year. For us, that’s an opportunity. We continue to invest in knowledge, equipment, and techniques so we can stay ahead of those demands.
What never changes, though, is how we work with people. Precision is what Abrading Methods, Inc. does, but relationships are where we focus. Many of our customers have been with us for more than 35 years, a testament to the trust, consistency, and collaboration we bring to every project.
Contact us today to learn how our lapping, polishing, grinding, and honing expertise can support your next project.