3 Head Sphere Machine - coring process added
Aug 18, 2017 19:14:40 GMT -5
captbob, rockpickerforever, and 7 more like this
Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2017 19:14:40 GMT -5
In another thread captbob asked me my opinion of the two mfg of sphere machines currently on the market. I thought it worthy of a thread. in the style of 1dave I will be adding things as I learn them and research continues.
First of all, considering how hard it is to buy a used sphere machine, I would have thought more than two players would make 3 head sphere machines. I was totally wrong. Covington and HP Lapidary in Texas are the two players in this space. Back in the old days Richardson's Ranch made sphere machines using motors recycled from copier machines. I have two of those. AND a RR clone that was home built and more robust. It is what I use for roughing in the balls.
Today I present the four models of 3 headed sphere machines available new today in order of size/power/price.
For the "entry level" model I see an RR type machine produced in China for HP Lapidary.
The HP Model LSSM 3 head speed sphere machine - FREE SHIPPING!
Features those copier motors found in the RR original machines. Produced in China. The motors operate at 110rpm, 1/10HP. It also features a water drip reservoir for a sort of *"set it and forget it" mode. These are the slowest and easiest to use. This specially for newbies is something to consider. I'll go into this in greater detail below.
I feel this machine is entry level and maybe forever model. Only hard core sphere makers need more. This machine is pushing it at 6" balls so if you want to make a lot that size and anything bigger then I recommend on of the last three.
Retail is $825 with free shipping!
Well, AzRockGeek reminded me of a machine that I didn't find on Google (i went 5 pages deep!)
The Sphere products machine
His website is a POS so I cannot show you an image.
$1500 for what is essentially a dressed up RR machine. Same motors and motor arms. This machine has a table integrated.
I'm guessing his I'll advised use of Java to display how website prevents Google from indexing well. Ughhh
Next up is the Covington Three Head Sphere Machine
The first and best feature of this product is it is offered at significant retail discount from our own johnjsgems! Three 1/6HP 134 RPM motors are the core of this machine. We have one of these in class. I have some experience here. More speed is nice as this shortens time in stages and speeds up production of final product. However, the caveat is this, for rough grind before the ball is perfectly round the faster speed offers significant challenges to keep the preform between the cups. If you are diligent and make very near spheres in hand grind, then this problem is ameliorated. This machine has a higher cost but also brings some features not found in other machines. Take note of the aluminum knobs just below the motors. These are used to stabilize and apply pressure to the cutting heads. Nice stable feature. Also of note are the aluminum knobs at the bottom of each motor's track. Those are used to move the cutting heads into place evenly spaced around the sphere. Good features in a solid machine. Covington rates this as a 2.5" to 10" machine.
Retail price at JSGems is $2571 plus freight (255#!)
The next more robust machine is back to HP Lapidary. Highland Park three head high speed production sphere machine with 1/3 HP motors
At a tiny little price drop below the Covington machine we have this machine. Think about it. The smallest machine has 3/10 horsepower. This one has a full HP of grinding power. It also operates at at over 200RPM! If your preform isn't very smooth, it will bounce around violently and end up in your lap. HP makes spheres too and they make preforms using the core cutting process. I would recommend you do this or make very careful hand grinds if you use this machine. They claim extraordinary throughput.
This machine has a foot operated cup alignment system that allows the spheres to be inserted and removed with both hands on the ball and a foot allowing placement or removal. Nice feature indeed. They don't make a claim as to size, but the robust nature of the 3/4" shaft and bearings the grinding cups mount to, I would expect that even 12" spheres could be cut, if they fit within the rails of the machine. This machine has screw to advance the cutting heads and utilizes bungies to keep the cups on the surface of the balls.
Retail is $2450 plus freight
Last we have another from HP. Highland Park Super Heavy Duty Hydraulic Large Sphere Machine
I literally know nothing about this machine except what they claim.
I specially love the hydraulic lifter. If you are cutting a 300# 18" sphere and you need to change cups to a finer grit, this makes life amazing instead of hell!
Retail price is $8200!
*If you use diamond cups, the slow drip will allow you to get a ball turning and then leave for 10-30 minutes depending on the stage you are at. If you are old school using grit, you will need to stay nearby to add grit
CORING PROCESS FOR PREFORMS
Core a boulder
Cut it cross wise
You make two round cuts and get a square
A third cross core still.leaves some corners
If this was agate or jasper I would finagle my jig to hold the stone again for a few more cuts. For marble or sandstone I'll just quickly take off the points in the supergrinder.
Then straight to the sphere machine.
First of all, considering how hard it is to buy a used sphere machine, I would have thought more than two players would make 3 head sphere machines. I was totally wrong. Covington and HP Lapidary in Texas are the two players in this space. Back in the old days Richardson's Ranch made sphere machines using motors recycled from copier machines. I have two of those. AND a RR clone that was home built and more robust. It is what I use for roughing in the balls.
Today I present the four models of 3 headed sphere machines available new today in order of size/power/price.
For the "entry level" model I see an RR type machine produced in China for HP Lapidary.
The HP Model LSSM 3 head speed sphere machine - FREE SHIPPING!
Features those copier motors found in the RR original machines. Produced in China. The motors operate at 110rpm, 1/10HP. It also features a water drip reservoir for a sort of *"set it and forget it" mode. These are the slowest and easiest to use. This specially for newbies is something to consider. I'll go into this in greater detail below.
I feel this machine is entry level and maybe forever model. Only hard core sphere makers need more. This machine is pushing it at 6" balls so if you want to make a lot that size and anything bigger then I recommend on of the last three.
Retail is $825 with free shipping!
Well, AzRockGeek reminded me of a machine that I didn't find on Google (i went 5 pages deep!)
The Sphere products machine
His website is a POS so I cannot show you an image.
$1500 for what is essentially a dressed up RR machine. Same motors and motor arms. This machine has a table integrated.
I'm guessing his I'll advised use of Java to display how website prevents Google from indexing well. Ughhh
Next up is the Covington Three Head Sphere Machine
The first and best feature of this product is it is offered at significant retail discount from our own johnjsgems! Three 1/6HP 134 RPM motors are the core of this machine. We have one of these in class. I have some experience here. More speed is nice as this shortens time in stages and speeds up production of final product. However, the caveat is this, for rough grind before the ball is perfectly round the faster speed offers significant challenges to keep the preform between the cups. If you are diligent and make very near spheres in hand grind, then this problem is ameliorated. This machine has a higher cost but also brings some features not found in other machines. Take note of the aluminum knobs just below the motors. These are used to stabilize and apply pressure to the cutting heads. Nice stable feature. Also of note are the aluminum knobs at the bottom of each motor's track. Those are used to move the cutting heads into place evenly spaced around the sphere. Good features in a solid machine. Covington rates this as a 2.5" to 10" machine.
Retail price at JSGems is $2571 plus freight (255#!)
The next more robust machine is back to HP Lapidary. Highland Park three head high speed production sphere machine with 1/3 HP motors
At a tiny little price drop below the Covington machine we have this machine. Think about it. The smallest machine has 3/10 horsepower. This one has a full HP of grinding power. It also operates at at over 200RPM! If your preform isn't very smooth, it will bounce around violently and end up in your lap. HP makes spheres too and they make preforms using the core cutting process. I would recommend you do this or make very careful hand grinds if you use this machine. They claim extraordinary throughput.
Introduced in 2011, the Highland Park three head High Speed Sphere Machine is becoming the standard for serious sphere cutting by both collectors and commercial shops. Capable of producing 100-125 finished spheres a week using our specialized diamond tooling with rough grind taking about 15 minutes for a 2.5 inch sphere depending upon the material. This machine completely changes the game of creating collector quality spheres. Compared to the old grit style machines, this machine is much easier for a beginner to learn as well. A beginner can finish their first sphere in the same day.
A single Highland Park Lapidary High Speed Sphere Machine can out-produce over 30 conventional three head sphere machines.
A single Highland Park Lapidary High Speed Sphere Machine can out-produce over 30 conventional three head sphere machines.
This machine has a foot operated cup alignment system that allows the spheres to be inserted and removed with both hands on the ball and a foot allowing placement or removal. Nice feature indeed. They don't make a claim as to size, but the robust nature of the 3/4" shaft and bearings the grinding cups mount to, I would expect that even 12" spheres could be cut, if they fit within the rails of the machine. This machine has screw to advance the cutting heads and utilizes bungies to keep the cups on the surface of the balls.
Retail is $2450 plus freight
Last we have another from HP. Highland Park Super Heavy Duty Hydraulic Large Sphere Machine
I literally know nothing about this machine except what they claim.
HIGHLAND PARK LAPIDARY HYDRAULIC SPHERE MACHINE
FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS:
-GRINDING HEADS – Aligned to maintain accurate grinding cup position which is key to allowing precise and fast grinding of large spheres
-FLOW CONTROL VALVE – Enables precise variable speed control
-HYDRAULIC MOTORS – Three heavy-duty motors driven by a 5 H.P. hydraulic pump system
-HYDRAULIC LIFTER – Lifts heavy spheres so grinding heads can be retracted to change grit/polish stages
-FRAMEWORK – Powder coated heavy duty I-Beam steel framework with integrated stand
-LARGE SPIN HANDLES – For quick and precise adjustment
-HYDRAULIC PUMP - 5 H.P. industrial grade system included
THE ULTIMATE LARGE SPHERE MACHINE
The new Highland Park ultra-heavy duty hydraulic sphere machine Model HYDSM is capable of producing the BIG spheres. With this machine you can make spheres up to 18 inches in diameter. For the most serious craftsman or commercial operation, this machine allows you to make those exceptional one-of-a-kind large pieces that impress even the most experienced collectors.
FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS:
-GRINDING HEADS – Aligned to maintain accurate grinding cup position which is key to allowing precise and fast grinding of large spheres
-FLOW CONTROL VALVE – Enables precise variable speed control
-HYDRAULIC MOTORS – Three heavy-duty motors driven by a 5 H.P. hydraulic pump system
-HYDRAULIC LIFTER – Lifts heavy spheres so grinding heads can be retracted to change grit/polish stages
-FRAMEWORK – Powder coated heavy duty I-Beam steel framework with integrated stand
-LARGE SPIN HANDLES – For quick and precise adjustment
-HYDRAULIC PUMP - 5 H.P. industrial grade system included
THE ULTIMATE LARGE SPHERE MACHINE
The new Highland Park ultra-heavy duty hydraulic sphere machine Model HYDSM is capable of producing the BIG spheres. With this machine you can make spheres up to 18 inches in diameter. For the most serious craftsman or commercial operation, this machine allows you to make those exceptional one-of-a-kind large pieces that impress even the most experienced collectors.
I specially love the hydraulic lifter. If you are cutting a 300# 18" sphere and you need to change cups to a finer grit, this makes life amazing instead of hell!
Retail price is $8200!
*If you use diamond cups, the slow drip will allow you to get a ball turning and then leave for 10-30 minutes depending on the stage you are at. If you are old school using grit, you will need to stay nearby to add grit
CORING PROCESS FOR PREFORMS
Core a boulder
Cut it cross wise
You make two round cuts and get a square
A third cross core still.leaves some corners
If this was agate or jasper I would finagle my jig to hold the stone again for a few more cuts. For marble or sandstone I'll just quickly take off the points in the supergrinder.
Then straight to the sphere machine.
