Composite monolithic lamp and a method of making the same

A composite yet monolithic lap, obtained by a method comprising the steps of

• forming an initial preform, including filling a mold cavity with a dense slip constituted of ceramic or metal particles in mixture with a liquid medium;
• freezing the initial preform;
• freeze-drying the initial preform to remove the liquid medium therefrom;
• sintering the thus obtained dry preform only to such an extent that the larger ones of the particles are fused together but leave interconnected pores therebetween;
• and
• converting the thus obtained porous matrix preform into the lap, including bringing the porous matrix preform to a temperature above the melting point of a filler material that is pliable at temperatures within the operating range of the lap to embed abrasive particles thereinto, the contacting the porous matrix preform with a quantity of the filling material in its molten state in such a manner that such molten filling material penetrates into the pores of the porous matrix preform at least to an extent needed to substantially completely fill the pores of an effective region of the lap that is to come in contact with a workpiece to be acted upon by the lap.