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 Post subject: Computer controlled faceting machine feedback
PostPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 8:56 pm 
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Hello,
I'm developing a computer controlled faceting machine (in collaboration with the original developer Jim Brown). I’d love to hear the feedback from this community. I’ve released a prototype (link below), but I am considering the next iteration and I’d like to make sure I’m building something that people will actually love to use.
Here is a link to the kickstarter page that has more information.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fb ... ng-machine

Here are some links to youtube videos I made
Introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvJ4vsMggzs&t
Cutting a stone from start to finish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ap4soszUUE
How to operate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNT8UyiamWI&t

Preempting one comment - I've already been told metal is stronger ;)


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 Post subject: Re: Computer controlled faceting machine feedback
PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2020 2:29 pm 
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Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:58 pm
Posts: 1424
Location: San Marcos, CA
Looks interesting but like you stated not very rigid.
Is the arbor variable speed, reversing direction, can the index be placed in free spinning for rounding of girdles?
What are the limits as far as size, shapes, symmetries and those kind of things. Videos only of round gem cutting, or at this point a work in progress requiring capital to mass produce what you have so far?
I own a fully automated machine, and to be honest I can cut a standard round brilliant by hand faster than the machine can, where my machine has the advantage is in calibration of stone size. I see a lot of steps required to cut a round brilliant on your prototype that looks like it will take a considerable amount of time to run through a complete stone. It looks very interesting for what you have achieved to this point.
You do not have to answer any of this, were just some thoughts I had as I watched your videos.
Good luck and I hope it gets off the ground for you.

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 Post subject: Re: Computer controlled faceting machine feedback
PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2020 2:34 pm 
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Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:31 pm
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Location: North Carolina
I have wondered why it is vertical every time I see it. Seems like another limit on what types of polish or grit you can use.

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Rough and cut classic and exotic synthetic gems:https://store.turtleshoard.com


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 Post subject: Re: Computer controlled faceting machine feedback
PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2020 3:07 pm 
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Stephen Challener wrote:
I have wondered why it is vertical every time I see it. Seems like another limit on what types of polish or grit you can use.

What I noticed in one of the videos was the movement of the lap base unit being pushed back as the user hit the lap with the stone engagement.

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 Post subject: Re: Computer controlled faceting machine feedback
PostPosted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 12:04 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:00 am
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Location: Wylie Texas but in Alaska for a while
A few comments.


1) with a vertical lap i think you will have trouble with polishing with diamond or oxide.
2) on inputting design, there should be an easier way. Ask for index count, and indexes. Or better a scan of a design. Or a gemcad file. (Or the equivalent)
3) consider a split lap for prepolish and polish. There are some water only polish laps. Bit they require you to charge the prepolish. Which is going to be a hard with a vert lap.

4) Since you are 3d printing the design you should be able to put the lap horizontal, and change the dop holder 90 degrees.

5) there are some laps that have a sintered prepolish and you could add a spray for the polish (you can get spray 100,000 polish)

It would be nice to get a sintered prepolish and one of the water only polish laps in a split lap, or one where you could swap the polish. I was working with a person on this but have lost track of him.


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