Aussie Lapidary Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jimnyjerry on April 08, 2020, 02:39:01 PM
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Facetors can still work on. My lapidary club is closed so limited to sorting rocks, repacking and very slow polishing of small pieces.
Here are some of the agates I need to sort into cutable etc.
Going to miss digging and losing weight in winter in FN Qld. There is always next year. ;D
They got forgotten in the shed when I had a few overseas trips to also fit in.Only the ants remembered where the bags were.
beers Jerry
(http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/gallery/9/medium_9-080420143451.jpeg) (http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=9183)
and rest of tray
(http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/gallery/9/medium_9-080420144604.jpeg) (http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=9182)
(http://[url=http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?action-gallery;sa=view;id=9183]http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/gallery/9/medium_9-080420143451.jpeg[/url])(http://[url=http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?action-gallery;sa=view;id=9183]http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/gallery/9/medium_9-080420143451.jpeg[/url]) (http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=9182)
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I finally got around to sawing the big green one I found when Jerry and I were digging up on the saddle a couple of years ago, really nice too. Time for a photo I guess.
(http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/gallery/9/medium_32139-080420153746.jpeg) (http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=9184)
The dark shadowy areas are really nice chatoyancy
I haven't faceted much for a while but just started Cleopatras eye in light smokey Quartz. It's a bit like riding a bike, in a couple of minutes I was right back into it.
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Yes please a picture Rusted. For me that was only the first tray to sort
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Thanks to Rusted back into cutting the Labradorite stone in this years OZ Facetors Guild comp.
Also building a concave cutter attachment for my machine, hoping to get that up and running in a couple of weeks.
Never cut a concave stone, so a bit of a learning and cursing curve to go through.
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Im cleaning up about two 40 litre buckets of Boulder Opal, I've had for 20 years and didn't realise how good the pieces are, my trip saw and wheels are a mess, but the Boulder is beautiful. Next will be my opal from Lightning Ridge, if my fingernails can hack it. hotthirsty
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I can't wait to get home and do a bit of faceting. I'm currently in 2 weeks quarantine courtesy of the Tas Government as I just arrived back from W.A. on Monday morning. I've also got to start packing up the house as we have purchased elsewhere and are moving in July. Rusted, what a cracker of an agate, let me know if you want to get rid of any!
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that is beautiful Rusted. A great agate.
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That yellow agate never fails to give spectacular slabs, I'm looking sadly at all the amphibolite and prehnite that I bought at Glen Innes since the club is shut here too (and for good reasons).
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I'm making a start to finish my concave machine. Recently joined the faceters guild and just looked at the competition stone I promised FlashGP I'd cut. Crown is going to be fun, it has 1 degree angles and 1 degree angle changes. I'll have to cut with my 45 degree dop, which is really a 45.5degree dop and requires lots of cheating adjustment on tables.
Cheers
MB
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That's interesting about the 45.5 degrees angle dop, mine was the same, a battle doing tables.
I made a huge 2" dia flat dop for setting up for tables, I would hold it flat on the master lap and adjust the angle and tighten the collet, then move the hard stop to suit, yes around 45.5 degrees.
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Was yours an aluminum one with a round body? Mine is a bit out side to side aswell. I don't mind it as I just correct when doing a table.
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No, mine was brass, but they must have continued using the same jig to drill them all.
Side to side innacuracy is why I just positioned it with the flat dop firmly held on the lap and tighten the collet nut.
I cut Fractal Flow in Topaz yesterday, (back on topic) it came out nice, I did slightly stuff up though, I only cut the table to the top row of meet points, so have a triangular table instead of a roundish triangle. I don't know what that does to the performance of the stone but the pattern in the light return is more like a fringe lilly flower, quite nice though.
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Just thinking, I do the same, so the side to side out is probably due to a slight curve on my polishing lap that I have to cheat a tiny small amount.
I was just looking at how much my machine is out atm, I am currently out the width of a sheet of paper over the 6inchs on my master lap(probably 0.1mm). I'm pondering if this is enough for me to loosen the do not undo screw or not.
I've never cut it in topaz. Lifting the table facet created a bit more extinction. Are the renders like the finished stone?
CheersMB
(http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/gallery/9/medium_5704-130420174904.png) (http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=9189)
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Yes very like the second one, the three lobes have sparkly moving fringes.
Have you played with girdle width in software? I was surprised how much input that has in the performance of the finished stone. You look at girdle facets and think they don't do anything apart from mark a boundary between pavilion and crown, they have a big effect.
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I am living in Indonesia but in Bali which is rather less desperate than Java. They recently closed the beaches which is a pity. Very few people around before at my beach so better social distancing than when shopping.
Otherwise concentrating on learning the language and looking forward to some more polishing of the odd stones. Have a nice couple of pieces of lapis lazuli and thinking carving.
Good luck to all with seeing out this health hazard and may all your stones turn into hot coloured opals.
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Yes very like the second one, the three lobes have sparkly moving fringes.
Have you played with girdle width in software? I was surprised how much input that has in the performance of the finished stone. You look at girdle facets and think they don't do anything apart from mark a boundary between pavilion and crown, they have a big effect.
I have played with girdle heights a bit. It effects some designs more than others, from memory(happy to be corrected) a lot of odd symmetry designs like my fusion designs it won't make that big a difference. But, now you mention it :) , and given how easy it is to test I may get into the habit of checking each design I do.
CheersMB
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Unfortunately I am not cutting any stones during this quarantine....
I have been at home for five weeks now, but I am still waiting for delivery of my polishing laps.
It is very busy at the dutch post service at the moment. :(
My new machine arrived seven weeks ago, but there were problems with the motor controller took me a while to fix that.
Calibrated the platen and rest of the machine as best as I could and started cutting, only to find out that my polishing laps were not flat.
Send them of to be resurfaced, now I get a message from the dutch post service that the delivery is delayed for a few days.....
So I am spending my time finishing a new workbench. (almost done, paint is drying)
Changing the splashpan on my machine, and printing out faceting diagrams.
And I am going through my "old" rough again to try to find some clean parts in them.
All is set to go, just need a polishing lap.
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Unfortunately I am not cutting any stones during this quarantine....
I have been at home for five weeks now, but I am still waiting for delivery of my polishing laps.
It is very busy at the dutch post service at the moment. :(
My new machine arrived seven weeks ago, but there were problems with the motor controller took me a while to fix that.
Calibrated the platen and rest of the machine as best as I could and started cutting, only to find out that my polishing laps were not flat.
Send them of to be resurfaced, now I get a message from the dutch post service that the delivery is delayed for a few days.....
So I am spending my time finishing a new workbench. (almost done, paint is drying)
Changing the splashpan on my machine, and printing out faceting diagrams.
And I am going through my "old" rough again to try to find some clean parts in them.
All is set to go, just need a polishing lap.
Perfect time to finish the concave machine, I'm having a go at mine tomorrow :)
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Hi Makky,
Once you finish your concave machine, youstart thinking up modifications.
I have recently purchased a digital depth guage for a lathe, which I am going to install on the lateral adjustment so I can fibe tune it in 0.01mm increments.
It'll also allow me to cut parrallel facets on rectangular stones and return to the same point, as well as adjust facets on oval stones. The oval shape creates an offset on the facet, but I'll also need to add a protractor and angle the cutter a little to make the concave facet run down the same line as the diagram.
Then there's the regrinding of the colletts and collet chuck to improve concentricity and reduce runout.
I have bought another axtension collet and brass bearing for attemot 4 at a belt driven cutter. The brass bearing runs a lot quieter and truer than pillow block bearings, and I hope it will also help with concentricity.
Anyway, am getting used to working from home so all this has taken a back seat to work and dealing with the influx of emails. Because we are all working from home, even getting a payment made from trust involves me receiving 5 or 6 emails. Am receiving between 100 and 200 emails a day.
Regards
Flash
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Perfect time to finish the concave machine, I'm having a go at mine tomorrow :)
Yes, the only thing is that I need someone with a cnc (for the base plates) which is a bit difficult in this corona situation.
I also need a bit of machinist advice on several things.
The holes in the base plate; do I drill the holes to mount the shaft support exactly and thread them?
Or do I drill them a bit bigger so I can always adjust and calibrate the whole thing?
I just finished the workbench and attatched everything to the wall.
I will post a photo later.
I had already expected the polishing laps, normally they would be delivered in one or two days.
apparently dutch post service is totally overloaded at the moment.
Once you finish your concave machine, youstart thinking up modifications.
I have recently purchased a digital depth guage for a lathe, which I am going to install on the lateral adjustment so I can fibe tune it in 0.01mm increments.
It'll also allow me to cut parrallel facets on rectangular stones and return to the same point, as well as adjust facets on oval stones. The oval shape creates an offset on the facet, but I'll also need to add a protractor and angle the cutter a little to make the concave facet run down the same line as the diagram.
I am making something that is basically a "cross table" which can pivot 90 degrees both ways, the pivot point is exactly under the middle of the cutting mandrel. Pivot point can be locked in any position and has a digital protractor under the base plate.
The cross table can swivel in both dirrections, or you can disengage the swivel action and use it with a set screw to position it and lock it down in that position. Both directions have a digital depth gauge to know the exact position
I finished the control box a while ago, and have all the components ready, exept for a few things.
- 4 "base plates have to be made with cnc.
- the pivot point has to be made with a lathe. (delrin bushing that needs exact holes to mount the digital protractor.)
- I have to find some decent (and affordable) inch sized collets which is difficult where I am.
The chinese ebay collets are I got are horrible....
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If you cnc'ing it drill them exact imo. Base plate 4" doesn't sound huge send me the dimension I am unsure if I have some material to cut them for you from but I'll look. A lot of the 12mm stock I have has a slight bend in it.MB
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tinker "Im cleaning up about two 40 litre buckets of Boulder Opal, I've had for 20 years and didn't realise how good the pieces are, my trip saw and wheels are a mess, but the Boulder is beautiful. Next will be my opal from Lightning Ridge, if my fingernails can hack it."
Good afternoon, I tried to PM you but not sure if you got the message.
I am now retired in Indonesia with just a few bits of boulder opal left. Might you be interested in making up a package of about $500 worth of material, photographing it and sending me pics? If you could put a 20 cent piece in each pic as size reference would be helpful. I have brought my multi wheel poisher with me but not a saw so preferably no big chunks. I have a son lives in Adelaide to whom stuff might be forwarded and payment either by Paypal or a bank transfer if we agree on a package. My email address is harryopal7@gmail.com
Thanks in anticipation of your response.
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I am new to Lapidary and just started my research. I just ordered https://www.booktopia.com.au/gemstones-in-victoria-bill-birch/book/9781921833069.html (https://www.booktopia.com.au/gemstones-in-victoria-bill-birch/book/9781921833069.html) I also setup my tumbler today.
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Welcome to ALF gemfinder. You will find a lot of information on here :) beers Jerry
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Welcome gemfinder.
That is a great book. It lists most occurrences of gems around Victoria so some of them are a bit sketchy, for example a diamond turning up in the sluice of a gold dredge at Eldorado churning through millions of tons of gravel doesn't mean you are going to find one. You might, or you might not, but you are going to have a great time and probably find some really nice pieces of Smokey Quartz and Agate as consolation prizes. Have fun.
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That's pretty much it, I thought it might be fun to get out with my 2 boys and look around collect some stones and then put them in the tumbler.
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If you cnc'ing it drill them exact imo. Base plate 4" doesn't sound huge send me the dimension I am unsure if I have some material to cut them for you from but I'll look. A lot of the 12mm stock I have has a slight bend in it.MB
No I need 4 plates, not a 4 inch plate.... ;)
Shipping would be very expensive you make it for me, and it would take ages to arrive at the moment.
(have been waiting for Anthony's laps for over 2 weeks now, tracking site says it has been on the airplane for over 10 days now)
My polish laps were delivered yesterday. beers
I have measured the laps again, 0,04 max height difference on the darkside, 0,03 on the diamatrix and 0,02 on the batt lap.
The laps are running very smooth now, the surface finish is excelent!
I have polished a quartz stone with cerium on the darkside, took me a while to get the amounts right but it worked well. (oxide, water and lap speed)
Will do the crown today.
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I cleaned out my rock cupboard today, found an ancient American magazine with a facet diagram in it. I tried test cutting it on the computer and it was just impossible with the angles on the diagram, I spent a while playing with angles and cutting sequence but it just wasn't worth it. I don't know how facetors stayed sane back then. They must have been constantly tearing their hair out trying to make things work.
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I cleaned out my rock cupboard today, found an ancient American magazine with a facet diagram in it. I tried test cutting it on the computer and it was just impossible with the angles on the diagram, I spent a while playing with angles and cutting sequence but it just wasn't worth it. I don't know how facetors stayed sane back then. They must have been constantly tearing their hair out trying to make things work.
Send me it a I'll get it going for you if you want :)MB
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If you cnc'ing it drill them exact imo. Base plate 4" doesn't sound huge send me the dimension I am unsure if I have some material to cut them for you from but I'll look. A lot of the 12mm stock I have has a slight bend in it.MB
No I need 4 plates, not a 4 inch plate.... ;)
Shipping would be very expensive you make it for me, and it would take ages to arrive at the moment.
(have been waiting for Anthony's laps for over 2 weeks now, tracking site says it has been on the airplane for over 10 days now)
My polish laps were delivered yesterday. beers
I have measured the laps again, 0,04 max height difference on the darkside, 0,03 on the diamatrix and 0,02 on the batt lap.
The laps are running very smooth now, the surface finish is excelent!
I have polished a quartz stone with cerium on the darkside, took me a while to get the amounts right but it worked well. (oxide, water and lap speed)
Will do the crown today.
Awesome great to hear you are underway cutting beers