A typical basic setup following parts:

• Master lap: solid aluminum disk that connects to motor shaft. Not necessarily flat but should be radially symmetric
• Backing plate: very flat disk to protect the master lap and provide a flat work surface. I use an MTI EQ-MBP-8-2 although I suspect a plastic sheet would work just as well for most purposes
• Polishing pad: flexible cloth that is the “abrasive”. I use an MTI EQ-PP-8PSA-PC
• York (optional): some machines will have a Y to place polishing jigs
• Machine: essentially a very stable motor and possibly some mounting brackets. I use a very basic unit, a Crystalite CrystalMaster 8
  • Motor: provides rotation
  • Motor speed controller: most units have variable speed

Materials:

• MTI 0.05 um colloidal silica

When I got my machine it had a diamond disk attached to the master lap. I used a heatgun to bring the master lap up to high temperature and then used a punch in the center to bring it out a little. I then took a heavy duty plumbers wrench and ripped it up by rolling it along the diamond disc. While this puts a lot of stress on the master lap the pressure is buffered by the diamond disk and kept even by the flat surface of the plumbers wrench. Once the diamond disc was up the surface was cleaned with acetone. Soaking the disc in acetone for prolonged period may have also worked but would have been slow since the diamond disk was copper/steel backed.