Lapping system and method for lapping a valve face

1. A lapping system, comprising:

a shaft;

a stabilizing member coupled to the shaft and configured to be in contact with a valve body;

a lapping tool coupled to the shaft and spaced apart on the shaft from the stabilizing member; and

an adjustable force device coupled to the shaft, the stabilizing member, and the lapping tool, wherein the adjustable force device is configured such that compressing the adjustable force device transfers at least some of the weight of the lapping tool away from a valve face of the valve body and decompressing the adjustable force device transfers at least some of the weight of the lapping tool to the valve face of the valve body.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a handle coupled to the shaft and operable to rotate the shaft about a shaft axis.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a stabilizing bar extends from the lapping tool.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lapping tool comprises a beveled edge.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing member, the lapping tool, and the shaft each comprise circular cross sections and share an axis of rotation.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a stabilizing channel is defined about an outer edge of the stabilizing member.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable force device comprises a spring.

8. A valve face lapping system, comprising:

a valve body comprising a valve face and defining an opening; and

a lapping system coupled to the valve body, the lapping system comprising:

a shaft;

a stabilizing member coupled to the shaft and seated in the opening;

a lapping tool coupled to the shaft and spaced apart on the shaft from the stabilizing member, wherein the lapping tool is located immediately adjacent the valve face; and

an adjustable force device coupled to the shaft, the stabilizing member, and the lapping tool, wherein the adjustable force device is configured such that compressing the adjustable force device transfers at least some of the weight of the lapping tool away from a valve face of the valve body and decompressing the adjustable force device transfers at least some of the weight of the lapping tool to the valve face of the valve body.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a handle coupled to the shaft and operable to rotate the shaft about a shaft axis.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein a stabilizing bar extends from the lapping tool.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

a passageway defined by the valve body, wherein the stabilizing bar is located in the passageway.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the lapping tool comprises a beveled edge.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein an abrasive material is located between the beveled edge and the valve face.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the stabilizing member, the lapping tool, and the shaft each comprise circular cross sections and share an axis of rotation.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein a stabilizing channel is defined about an outer edge of the stabilizing member, and wherein at least a portion of the valve body immediately adjacent to the opening is located in the stabilizing channel.

16. The system of claim 8 , wherein the adjustable force device comprises a spring.

17. A method for lapping a valve face, comprising:

providing a lapping system comprising a lapping tool coupled to a stabilizing member through a shaft, and an adjustable force device coupled to the stabilizing member, the shaft, and the lapping tool;

coupling the lapping system to a valve body, wherein the lapping tool is located adjacent a valve face of the valve body and the stabilizing member is seating in an opening defined by the valve body;

adjusting the force imparted by the lapping tool on the valve face using the adjustable force device such that compressing the adjustable force device transfers at least some of the weight of the lapping tool away from the valve face of the valve body and decompressing the adjustable force device transfers at least some of the weight of the lapping tool to the valve face of the valve body; and

rotating the shaft to move the lapping tool relative to the valve face.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

providing an abrasive material between the lapping tool and the valve face.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the rotating the shaft comprises turning a handle that is coupled to the shaft.