What is claimed is:
1. A lap comprising:
a lap substrate wherein the surface of said lap substrate has an overall shape and a localized texture wherein said localized texture exhibits a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys, the peaks of said localized texture providing the overall shape of said lap substrate; and
a replaceable lap film applied to the lap substrate surface, said replaceable lap film having a front surface,
wherein said replaceable lap film is deformed to exhibit a plurality of deformations which extend into said plurality of valleys, whereby said front surface partially or completely corresponds to said plurality of peaks and said plurality of valleys of said localized texture of said lap substrate surface,
wherein said deformations are not induced by contact with a workpiece.
2. A lap according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive layer is provided between said lap substrate and said replaceable lap film to secure said lap film to said lap substrate.
3. A lap according to claim 1, wherein deformation of said replaceable lap film is performed by application of vacuum, pressure, heat, an electrostatic field, a magnetic field or mechanical force.
4. A lap according to claim 3, wherein deformation of said replaceable lap film is performed by application of vacuum.
5. A lap according to claim 1, wherein deformation of said replaceable lap film is performed by application of heat and vacuum.
6. A lap according to claim 1, wherein deformation of said replaceable lap film is performed by application of heat and mechanical force.
7. A lap according to claim 1, wherein said lap substrate is made of metal, porous ceramic, crystalline material, glass-ceramic or glass.
8. A lap according to claim 1, wherein said lap substrate is made of polymeric material or composite material.
9. A lap according to claim 1, wherein said lap substrate is made of foamed silicon carbide, porous silicon carbide, foamed alumina, porous alumina, porous carbon, porous graphite, solid metals, porous metals, crystalline silicon, glass-ceramic, fiber reinforced polymeric material, metal matrix composite or whisker reinforced ceramic.
10. A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is a polymer film or a thin metal foil.
11. A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is waxed paper.
12. A lap according to claim 10, wherein said replaceable lap film is made of polyethylene, polyester, polyvinylchloride, polymethylmethacrylate, polyether ether ketone, polytetrafluoroethylene or derivatives thereof.
13. A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is made of thermally deformable shrink-wrap film.
14. A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is made of aluminum, lead, zinc or tin.
15. A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film has a thickness of 10 .mu.m-500 .mu.m.
16. A lap comprising:
a lap substrate wherein the surface of said lap substrate has an overall shape and a localized texture; and
a replaceable lap film applied to the lap substrate surface and which is deformed to partially or completely correspond to said localized texture of said lap substrate surface;
wherein said localized texture is machined or etched into the surface of said lap substrate to define a pattern.
17. A lap according to claim 1, wherein the front surface of said replaceable lap film has a texture of different spatial scale than the localized texture of said lap substrate.
18. A lap according to claim 1, wherein the front surface of said replaceable lap film has abrasives embedded therein.
19. A lap according to claim 1, wherein the deformation of said replaceable lap film produces permanent deformations in said replaceable lap film.
20. A lap according to claim 1, wherein the deformation of said replaceable lap film produces temporary deformations in said replaceable lap film.
21. A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is applied directly to said lap substrate surface without the use of an intervening adhesive layer.
22. A lap according to claim 15, wherein said replaceable lap film has a thickness of 20-75 .mu.m.
23. A lap according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive layer is provided between said lap substrate and said replaceable lap film to maintain the deformation of said lap film.
24. A lap according to claim 2, wherein an adhesive layer is provided between said lap substrate and said replaceable lap film to maintain the deformation of said lap film.
25. A lap according to claim 1, wherein deformation is performed by application of chemicals to said lap film.
26. A lap according to claim 1, wherein said localized texture is machined or etched into the surface of said lap substrate to define a pattern.
27. A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is chemically resistant.
28. A lap according to claim 1, wherein said replaceable lap film is impermeable.
29. A method comprising:
grinding and/or polishing at least one surface of a substrate using at least one lap device,
wherein said lap device comprises:
a lap substrate wherein the surface of said lap substrate has an overall shape and a localized texture; and
a replaceable lap film applied to said lap substrate surface and which is deformed to correspond to said localized texture of said lap substrate surface;
wherein said lap film is deformed to correspond partially or completely to said localized texture of lap substrate surface prior to said device contacting at least one surface to be ground and/or polished;
wherein deforming of said lap film results in said lap film exhibiting a plurality of deformations and said deformations extend into a plurality of valleys within said localized texture of said lap substrate surface.
30. A method according to claim 29, further comprising applying a deforming force to said lap film continuously during said grinding and/or polishing.
31. A method according to claim 30, wherein said deforming force is vacuum.
32. A method according to claim 31, wherein said vacuum is continuously monitored.
33. A method according to claim 29, wherein said replaceable lap film extends over the edge of said lap substrate and is attached to the side of said lap substrate.
34. A method according to claim 29, wherein said replaceable lap film is deformed by application of vacuum, heat, electrostatic field, magnetic field or combinations thereof.