jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 26, 2016 18:18:00 GMT -5
timsWhat would those 50 grit fast cutting pads do if cut up and run as tumbler media ? They should last a long time unless they wore against each other. They would have to last a long time to be economically feasible. Or get the overseas guys to make a rotary barrel like a sold rubber Lortone 12# out of 50 grit diamond for rough shaping. Not a barrel, but a barrel liner like you recently made of vinyl Yes, a liner. But need shear. maybe a bigger diameter and 1/3 full so the rocks are trying to climb but slipping a lot(to rub on inside of diamond impregnated rubber).
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 26, 2016 18:32:49 GMT -5
I assume those are originally manufactured in sheets, if you could find a way to contact the original manufacturer. If they are made in sheets they are sheets of circles. That would leave a big space with no pad between the circles. Need sheets made to barrel with and circumference. Cutting would destroy any cutter used pretty quickly. Might be doable as a home project with caulking material and diamond grit. I sincerely doubt the efficacy. Stones cut each other in the barrel as they are covered in grit. Grit in a barrel liner will stop them from sliding, but there will be little if any cutting action. The design I was actually thinking off has an action similar to a coin sorter. A bowl turned side ways causing shear and therefore abrasion. Similar drive design to one of those slant barrel tumblers but way more shear action. Rocks trying to climb but not making it up the slant, but also a standing wave creating weight and mixing. Fast rotation....fast shear.
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
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Post by huskeric on Jul 27, 2016 12:17:01 GMT -5
Those pads are segmented, would it be at all effective if you used them as "grit?" I am thinking out loud here, so please don't judge! =)
I don't know if you'd be able to break them into segments, per your comment above, but I've never seen them. I have to think that the substrate that holds them together is pretty tough, but even just smashing the darn thing with a hammer...
I know, expensive experiment...
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Post by tims on Jul 27, 2016 22:14:08 GMT -5
On mine the pad material isn't a solid piece, it looks like maybe it was poured into a segmented mold onto the backing material which affixed it to the backing in the process. Or maybe the segments were pre-cut or molded and then attached to the backing with glue or something. It's difficult to tell just looking at them.
My first thought was that they were cut then affixed, like maybe stamped out of a flat roll. If that's the case maybe you could get ahold of some uncut sheets from a manufacturer. But again, I'm just guessing by looking at it. Wish there was a "How It's Made" episode for these things.
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Post by tims on Jul 27, 2016 23:17:33 GMT -5
Was searching through Chinese manufacturers and ran across some convex polishing pads and drum wheels, just to keep your creativity going. And here are 9" x 11" Diamond Resin Sheets. I think it's the same material, resin bond diamond but in solid sheets for the low low price of $102 per. If you come up with a million dollar product idea i want a prototype to play with EDIT: Heck, these guys claim they'll make whatever you want.
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Jul 28, 2016 10:07:28 GMT -5
Was searching through Chinese manufacturers and ran across some convex polishing pads and drum wheels, just to keep your creativity going. And here are 9" x 11" Diamond Resin Sheets. I think it's the same material, resin bond diamond but in solid sheets for the low low price of $102 per. If you come up with a million dollar product idea i want a prototype to play with EDIT: Heck, these guys claim they'll make whatever you want. Hmmmm.... I wonder how the drum wheels or convex pads would work on an angle grinder... That would make a nice shaping wheel, clamp the grinder into a Workmate... I don't think you want any prototypes I would make. You would end up in the emergency room, I suspect. =) btw, I bet I can come up with something "these guys" wouldn't make! On the page with the Diamond Resin Sheets, I also saw that they have these hand pads, has anyone used those for anything? I am just wondering if those would work for getting out little pits and the like.
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Post by tims on Jul 28, 2016 14:07:42 GMT -5
I hadn't seen those pads, all of the Eastwind products are new to me but they make some really interesting stuff. As far as getting out pits (by hand) I think it would be a ton of work at least on hard material. Just removing saw marks from a flat slab takes alot of time and effort, and it seems like trying to cradle a stone and polish it with a flexible pad would be a much tougher process than the relatively easy motion of sanding on a flat surface. If you had something pretty smooth to start they might be excellent for working up to a polish though.
I'm curious what would happen with like BB sized tumbling media made from the 50 grit diamond resin. It would probably hold up through a lot of tumbles, and your mud would only be coming from the rocks and not so much from the media. Would think it would be easy to clean up and re-use and might make for a quick first stage.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on Jul 28, 2016 14:26:17 GMT -5
All above discussion sounds great. I can testify that that pad material is the sharpest fastest hard rock cutting abrasive I have ever seen. And long lasting.
I hear you tims, they say they will make anything. May require an oversea shipping container quantity though.
if you look on Aliexpress those 4" pads get darn cheap in bulk quantity. hmmmm
I will tell you straight up, if they start making 12 inch pads for less than $30 I am buying a whole set.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on Jul 28, 2016 14:32:04 GMT -5
The concrete pads are so thick because the loose sand particle eat the rubber binding matrix. Mohs 7 rocks do not do that, you will be hard pressed to wear out a pad on agates. No sand particles are shed. I have coarse ground concrete and it goes thru pads quick.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on Jul 28, 2016 14:36:52 GMT -5
A 12inch velcro' ed pad spinning at say 400-500 with drip feed in a lapper arrangement would be a real workhorse. 50-100-200-400-800-1500-3000-gimee those 6 please, 12 inches diameter. Just for polishing sawn flat surfaces.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on Jul 28, 2016 14:40:12 GMT -5
Those pads are segmented, would it be at all effective if you used them as "grit?" I am thinking out loud here, so please don't judge! =) I don't know if you'd be able to break them into segments, per your comment above, but I've never seen them. I have to think that the substrate that holds them together is pretty tough, but even just smashing the darn thing with a hammer... I know, expensive experiment... I am not sure what size to cut them to Rick. Sure would like to give it a go though. Never know, tumbling may tear them up, kinda doubt it though.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on Jul 28, 2016 14:46:38 GMT -5
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on Jul 28, 2016 14:52:59 GMT -5
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on Jul 28, 2016 15:00:25 GMT -5
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Post by tims on Jul 28, 2016 19:51:48 GMT -5
Eastwind, the custom manufacturer, is actually in Vermont. I messaged them about the 9"x11" sheets and they assure me it's the same diamond infused resin material as the standard disks. I'm really tempted to try their 10" magnetic backed #60 pad ... I bought an ancient B&I Gem Maker 1422 that only includes the original 10" cast iron lap plate, but I'm thinking that would double as a master lap for magnetic-backed discs. Just waiting impatiently for the thing to arrive so I can make sure it still spins OK, then I'll need to get a motor etc. and get it mounted. Really excited though, I should also be able to swap out the lap for my 10" blade and maybe can get better cuts than on my tile saw. And with a lap to get through the first stage I could save my arm for the easy latter stages, or if I get lazy use grit on the lap for several stages.
This thread has really gone lateral from hand polishing but lots of neat ideas and info. If you guys do experiment with any of those diamond resin products please share your results.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on Aug 16, 2016 7:14:04 GMT -5
Anxious to see results of 10 inch magnetic pad on a real lapidary machine. Magnetic seems like a way to get a flatter mounting than velcro. Firm too. With water and correct speed range that pad should last a lifetime. Another great application would be cab wheels.It would not surprise if the rubber lasted longer the sinter. Willing to bet that it would cut faster too. You are delving into an area that should improve if demand continues. Especially if these pads become popular in the metal lapping industry. I used my 4 inch set up on copper stainless and brass with great results. Most abrasives get plugged up with those soft metals. Even a 200 or 400 pad cuts base metals quickly with out the scratches.
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