Abrasive disk sheet articles having raised islands coated with spherical
abrasive agglomerates that can provide both precision flat and smooth
workpiece surfaces by high speed lapping are described. These disks also
provide high material removal rates and low surface pick-out of soft
metallic or non-metallic materials embedded in hard workpieces. A method
of producing equal-sized spherical shaped composite abrasive agglomerate
beads containing small diamond abrasive particles is described. These
beads can be bonded directly on the flat surface of a flexible backing or
bonded onto raised island surfaces. Simple and inexpensive apparatus
devices and process techniques are described that allow efficient
low-volume batch or continuous web manufacturing of precision thickness,
large diameter abrasive disk or rectangular sheet abrasive articles.