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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 8:13 pm 
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I just finished the pavilion on my big rhodolite today--at 15.95 carats, its big-big. Large facets...super fast and flat polish. I love it. I'll try some sapphire shortly, maybe a chrysoberyl.

Jeff

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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 11:55 pm 
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Dear sweet goodness! That's one beautiful garnet. Awesome color, too, especially for the size.

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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 12:09 am 
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Wow! Now that's a garnet.
Nice job, Jeff.

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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 4:09 pm 
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ok, finished polishing the synthetic blue spinel.
I really like the way the Diamatrix polishes. The facets are so flat, the edges are so sharp and no rounding at all. The 100k polish with the Blakstick is fast and clean. Looks awesome even with 10x loupe. This is going to be my go to polish and lap for harder stones from now on.

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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 4:24 pm 
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Beautiful job!

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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 6:27 pm 
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What is gratifying is that over time, we have had quite a few posts from people who had difficulty polishing Flame Fusion blue spinel.


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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 8:28 pm 
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Jon, will you be producing a wing version of the lap?

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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 9:30 pm 
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Jon, will you be producing a wing version of the lap?


Yes. I will open a discussion of it by suggesting that most people who buy the "Wing" type of laps with BATT™ in the prepolish band are most likely polishing with diamond most of the time. The Matrix material has been demonstrated to be versatile for both oxides and diamond.

However, scratch size and optical scattering coefficient (And perceived contrast) when 100 or 200K Blakstik™ is used on Diamatrix seems to challenge the benefits of oxides. When you are down to the lattice nanometers, then oxides would be pointless.

So I would expect that people who are attracted to the "Battwing" concept would be demanding the flatter and brighter facets from the Diamatrix™ center.

So the Dominatrix will transition to the DiaMatrix™ center very shortly, unless someone wants to talk me out of it. I am NOT going to produce two versions in two sizes as with the Waterwings, and end up with a bewildering product matrix worse than I have now. Customers and dealers complain about medicating for migraines, for one thing.
For another, it's a stupid business practice, and one I am trying to quit.

UPDATE. 2-7. All Dominatrixes in stock are now made with the Diamatrix center.


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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:36 pm 
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Gearloose wrote:
However, scratch size and optical scattering coefficient (And perceived contrast) when 100 or 200K Blakstik™ is used on Diamatrix seems to challenge the benefits of oxides. When you are down to the lattice nanometers, then oxides would be pointless.

Jon, correct me if I'm wrong here - I'm trying to understand something.

I vaguely remember hearing that for 100k or 200k diamond, you're producing scratches narrower/shallower than the wavelength of light, but you're still basically gouging the stone. For oxides, you're getting a chemical polish where part of the action is through abrasion, but part of it has to do with high pressure surface chemistry that leaves a clean edge at the level of the crystal lattice.

Wouldn't that mean that there would be some kind of difference in scatter coefficient between the two methods? Is the difference between the two visible to the naked eye (let's assume 100k Blakstik + Diamatrix, vs. AlOx + Matrix, on a perfect sapphire)? Am I thinking about this too much?


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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 7:23 am 
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Wouldn't that mean that there would be some kind of difference in scatter coefficient between the two methods? Is the difference between the two visible to the naked eye (let's assume 100k Blakstik + Diamatrix, vs. AlOx + Matrix, on a perfect sapphire)? Am I thinking about this too much?


No, not at all. It's just that when we get down to the lattice structure-limited finish, it does not matter how we get there. With 200K Blakstik, people have reported on sapphire there seems to be no difference in finish. Only an SEM would detect it, if at all. Oxides can still be an option, though. There is no reason oxides cannot work on Diamatrix. it is just doubtful, after people get the finish off the Diamatrix, they would bother following up with the oxide.

There is a point in diamond polishing with ultrafine partices where the particle count is so high that the scratches overwrite and blur.

The biggest justification for oxides has been the quartzes. That chemical specificity of oxides for quartz had always been the silver bullet for polishing that mineral. But when diamond was placed in a hydrophilic micell and dispersed in water, look what those Diastik cutters have done for quartz cutting.

PS: Got my first annoyed email about this. "Five hours after I ordered the Dominatrix, it's obsolete! The stamp is probably still wet!".

The Diamatrix is an incremental improvement on a popular successful product, not an obsolescence. We already have reports of people retaining a Matrix just for oxides, before the Diamatrix existed.

This improvement is not a surprise, but has been mentioned as soon as the Diamatrix was in development. At present, this is so early that not one Diamatrix/Dominatrix exists.

Until Friday, anyway.


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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 10:43 am 
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I'll take one on Friday, so make that 2.

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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 11:06 am 
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Quote:
I'll take one on Friday, so make that 2.


As long as the power stays on today, it will happen. *snow*.
The generator will run the house OR the business, but not both.


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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 3:37 pm 
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For polishing Tanzanite and Beryls, including well crystallized Emerald, Heliodor, Morganite and Aquamarine, I either use the Skyway lap or the Skyway stick on the Matrix. I perceive a subtle improvement in the reflectivity over 100K polycrystalline diamond.
Really, the best thing I have found for polishing Tanzanite and Beryls is the Skyway technology. The Matrix has become my go-to polishing lap for oxides now.

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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:04 pm 
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I am currently using a 100K diamond paste on the matrix with oil. If I want to switch and use an oxide is it a simple matter of washing off the oil and switching to an oxide stick? Similar method as the darkside?

Thanks
Andrew


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 Post subject: Re: Gearloose Diamatrix Prototype
PostPosted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 7:15 pm 
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Yes, I have done that. I switched back and forth early on. The green stain from chrome oxide that I used on sunstone stuck around for a while, so do not be surprised if you see that. It did not affect later diamond polishing in the least.
I had given it a scrub with Fantastik, followed by a water rinse, then spun it dry, and applied the lightest haze of...err...oil..you know.


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