Home made faceting machine, transfer jig and dop sticks

[Giel]

I have met an interesting guy who makes his own faceting machines, transfer jigs and dop sticks.
Someone on the forum asked me for some photo's of the things he makes, so here are some photo's
He makes good quality stuff all very reasonably priced!

The machine;
I have not cut on the machine myself so I cannot really write a review.
You can take the facet head of the mast so you can inspect the stone very well.
The machine feels solid without any play on the parts.
Comes with a transfer jig and 96 index wheel, not sure how many dops are included.
I dont know the exact price but I think it is between 1600 and 1800 euro.
He has made about 80 machines so far and did not have any complaints.
Here is a photo from the machine;



He also makes keyed brass dops in 8 mm and 1/4 inch. (I think the 1/4 inch dops fit on the facetron)
One kind with a flat key system and one kind with a key system with 45 degree end of the dop stick.
The dops are between 6 and 9 euro.

This is the transfer jig included with the machine. (its for 8 mm dops)
you can use it both horizontally and vertically, and it has a keying system.
It's very well made!
The linear cart slides freely without any play.
I am not sure but I think the transfer jigs are about 180 euro.




He also has transfer jigs for 1/4 inch dops with a different keying system. (flat part on the dop stick)




He has made me a transfer block as I was having trouble with the keying system on my machine.
Since then I have perfect transfers. (lots of thanx to Makky for the idea!)



I will try to do a review on the laps that he makes soon.

[Faceting Frank]

Wow. Got a linear bearing and rail on the transfer jig, very impressive.

[MakkyBrown]

Those bearings are great aswell no play. Great seeing original thought. Nice sliding the stone into glue.
Machine looks ok, looks like he has done his own anodizing aswell. Linear bearing on the mast.

[Giel]

You should see what he did with my machine.....
I will post some pics soon.

[Giel]

The mast is "linear steel" hardened on the outside, the bushing is also hardened steel H7 fit.
There is a "pressure bearing" (dont know if that is the correct term in english)  under the mast for the rotation.
All the gold colored parts are made of brass.

I also liked the transfer blocks. the cart slides smoothly and freely and indeed perfect for vertical dopping with glue!
I ordered one and will pick it up somewhere in the future along with some dops.

[Dihusky]

That transfer jig is a work of art, if you don't mind me asking, what does he charge for those to suit an angled end dop system?

[Giel]

Yes they are a work of art, the plates for locking down the dops even have little springs in them.
When you untighten them they automatically spring upward.
The difference with a normal transfer jig is that the cart slides freely, you dont "lock it down" like you would in a normal transfer jig.
I think he charges between 180 and 200 euro for the transfer jigs.
You will have to ask him if the angled end dop system come in 1/4 inch or only in 8mm.
He will probably make you a custom transfer jig if he does not have the angled end dop system for 1/4 inch dops.

[Ghost]

If you don't mind me asking, What is the piece of equipment in the front of the photo with the S shaped end plate?

Regards,
Ghost

[Dihusky]

Hey Giel. Take a look at this transfer jig, bought it with a machine on the weekend, pretty much the same system, only difference is this was made in 1997! Same linear bearing system...

[Giel]

If you don't mind me asking, What is the piece of equipment in the front of the photo with the S shaped end plate?

I don't know what that is for, I will ask him next time I talk to him!

Hey Giel. Take a look at this transfer jig, bought it with a machine on the weekend, pretty much the same system, only difference is this was made in 1997! Same linear bearing system...

That looks quite similar, the idea is the same. Maybe you can put some rubber feet under the left side of the jig so you can use it vertically with glue.
What kind of machine did you buy along with the transfer jig?

I have recieved my transfer jig and a full set of brass dops, have not used the jig yet as I have been too busy with work to cut any stones.
It all looks very good, dops even came with a nice perspex stand for storage, and the jig came with an extra stop clamp for the lineair rail, so you can set an exact point to where the cart will slide.

[colandra]

Hello

This is the first time I have posted in the forum.

I have recently acquired a Facetron machine. It would be useful to have another Dop set and transfer Jig, would also need the 45Deg adaptor as well
in the 1/4" format with locating flat.

How does one get hold of the person you have located producing 1/4" dop sets with locating flats.

And or could you find out if they can provide what I am looking for.

If there is a preferred method of access please let me know

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated,

Regards

Colandra

[RoughCreations]

How does one get hold of the person you have located producing 1/4" dop sets with locating flats.
And or could you find out if they can provide what I am looking for.
If there is a preferred method of access please let me know
Your assistance would be greatly appreciated,

See also https://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=6857
His forum name is simply "Bert" without the quotes - you can search the forum for his nick, then click the email icon next to his member name.
Main menu---Members---Search for members
I will DM his email address to you as well.

p.s: Welcome to the Forum, and long may you post!

RC

[FlashGP]

Hi,


It’s easy enough to make 1/4” dop sticks for the Facetron, just purchase some 1/4” brass round rod from your local metal supplier and copy one of your dops. 


I just filed a flat  until the thickness from the flat to the other side of the stock was between 5 and 5.1 mm with a smooth bastard file, it was a bit slow but worked well. 


You can make smaller diameter dops by grinding the end using a 120 grit lap with the quill set at 90 degrees, from there move to a 600 or 1200 grit lap to remove the scratches.

[Bucket]

Colandra, welcome! For you info, Wyatt Yaeger has purchased the rights to Facetron and is manufacturing parts and soon, machines. He can be found here; https://www.facebook.com/groups/facetron. He seems keen to expand his business and has already got 220 volt speed controllers in stock, so is looking after international customers as well as the U.S.

[Aussie Sapphire]

He seems keen to expand his business and has already got 220 volt speed controllers in stock, so is looking after international customers as well as the U.S.

That will make a nice change from the Jarvi's.   Agree that Wyatt is going to be really good for Facetron.  We invested a hell of a lot of time, effort and $$ into Facetron when we were dealers for them and got a lot of machines out into the Australian market.  Then got completely ghosted by them - couldnt get parts, service or even any response to our emails, phone messages, etc.

It looks like Wyatt wont be playing those kind of games - good to have a professional in charge.

He seems very responsive on the Facetron Users Group facebook page.

Cheers Leah