Let's talk faceting machines

Hmm. I think I'm going to have to put this idea to the test and cast some bronze blanks then lathe/mill them into some gears! See how close I can make it. At the very least it will be a fun project

Just need to find some decent photos of the part, or better yet some designs with the number of teeth/angles.

zapins , before you get too far into the project you might want to chat with "Gearloose" Jon Rolfe unless, as you say, you just want to have some fun.

Jon made a series of stainless steel machines and he may still have plans on his website. I recall seeing them some time back but I see his website has changed since then. You can email via this site:

www.gearloose.com/contact.php

I don't think making a solid accurate machine with good repeatability is a simple project, based on information I've absorbed over a 15-year period. But I applaud those with the courage and know-how to take projects like that on.

I am pretty sure that Mr. Jon Rolf designed the Graves VXL. Direct
drive motor, etc.

I'd like to add a little to this conversation. I too spent a lot of time on GemologyOnline before I ever bought a machine. I read every single thing ever wrote on every forum. Since then I have come to own many, many machines. I always have bought used because that's what I could afford. 2 80's Ultratecs and then I got my dream, a used Polymetric Scintillator with an OMF fantasy machine. I have to say the Polymetric is an amazing machine though like the ultratec, its pricey. I think buying used is fine if you have any kind of mechanical knowledge. Most faceting machines are super simple and just by closing looking at them you can see how everything works and then you can take it apart and make sure everything is straight, lubed, tight, etc.

A few years after learning to facet, I move to Thailand and started training with Thai, Sri Lankan, and Swiss cutters and I transformed from a self taught American cutter using the American idea of "rewriting the wheel" for every stone and every user, to being indoctrinated into a historical lineage of faceting techniques and practices. I must say there is a big difference in the approach and mentality between American/Australian and everyone else, but its not worth bringing up here.

My point is that I started using different kinds of machines, specifically the imahashi style handpiece thats made in Sri Lanka. I have truly fallen in love. I have the handpiece machine at work and the Polymetric at home and when I cut at home I wish I had the handpiece there. I am seriously considering selling my Polymetric for a sri lankan machine though likely ill just save up and have both. I think I can cut just as well on both but way faster and easier with a handpiece. There is a little learning curve when coming from a mast machine but once you learn what you need its a really flexible, comfortable and fun machine. I teach on these machines now and its super easy for the student to learn and understand. I feel like often on the forums people talk down the handpiece because it isn't "precise" enough but I will say from my experience that If your goal is to make beautiful stones then the machine is more than good enough. If you are in the US and worried about parts and availability and shipping then go for a Raytech but if you can find one, check out the original Imahashi or a Sri Lankan made on such as the Sterling machine. Price is great on the sri lankan, machine is too.


Also for everyone who is facing the same conundrum, I started a series of videos to show people how different machines work. I don't have a video for every machine yet but as I run into them, I video them.

Here is the links:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSKAi6gpaAXW2kVeCiqc6sILG1YvKU2wE

justinkprim , I've followed your posts at Gemologyonline and have learned a lot from your varied experiences and research. Thanks for your efforts in that regard. Can you advise me of export suppliers for the Sri Lankan Imahashi-style machine? I might be interested in buying one. I'd need a 110 v. model of course.

I learned on a Raytech and that cutting style seems very natural to me. I can still cut good stones on it but it has some intrinsic design problems that make repeatability difficult IMO. The "lily pad," in particular, seems insufficiently solid to resist hand pressure and tends to need frequent checking to make sure it's parallel to the lap. Images I've seen of the Sri Lankan machine make it appear to be better in that respect. There are a few other Raytech problems as well.

Good to have you aboard here and I look forward to reading more of your faceting advenures.

Here it is. Sri Lanka, not India no wonder I couldn't find it. I will have to learn to read.

www.sterlinggemland.com/products.php

Volume 1 will get you faceting, it is quite easy reading. Don't read Vol 2 until you need something from the book and have cut a few stones. It gets very technical.

It is quite possible to teach yourself faceting, but it's nice to have someone experienced to help when you inevitably do something wrong, if there's a club nearby join it.
Don't underestimate how long it will take to cut your first stones, it might take 12 hours to cut one stone, but that gets quicker as you learn your machine and the processes start to fall into place and become second nature.
Good luck with it, if you have the patience to sit down and take 12 hours to cut a stone you will be blown away by what you have achieved, it's a great hobby.

UltraTec has introduced a new faceting machine called the "VL Classic". It appears to have similarities to the current Facetron.

A friend has just recieved his new UT vl machine and is putting it thru its paces, ill let everyone know what he thinks of it soon.