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Gadgets, Gizmos, and Dohickeys => Cutting, Grinding, Polishing => Topic started by: seejey on April 01, 2015, 03:33:53 PM
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Hi everyone.
I like to share with you my new Flat lap. Completly home made. Few days before finishing.
I have one very skilled friend who let my dream machine come true.
Ok, I post here all images of that beast which I have.
(http://s24.postimg.org/4jrxe00u9/Flat_Lap_WIP_160145.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/4jrxe00u9/)
Skeleton of flat lap machine
(http://s24.postimg.org/55lhnula9/Flat_Lap_WIP_190248.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/55lhnula9/) (http://s24.postimg.org/6fjb2wf29/Flat_Lap_WIP_190302.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/6fjb2wf29/) (http://s24.postimg.org/rit8anm81/Flat_Lap_WIP_190316.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/rit8anm81/) (http://s24.postimg.org/tlz24kwn5/Flat_Lap_WIP_190407.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/tlz24kwn5/)
First time at home for testing. If everything is OK and can be finished.
(http://s24.postimg.org/ygsr2uuyp/Flat_Lap_WIP_193150.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/ygsr2uuyp/)
My brother testing with first piece...light touches...
(http://s24.postimg.org/6jd4j5kjl/Flat_Lap_WIP_203940.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/6jd4j5kjl/)
Complete setup with frequency converter.
OK, it is few days before finishing. Machine will be covered, electronic circuit will be calibrated and ready for harcore usage ;)
Space ship between homemade flat lap grinders/polishers ;)
When it will be finished and I will have more time I make better photo documentation with my DSLR.
Finaly short video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCwBrl50zsg
The digits at the display is actual frequency of AC which controls speed of engine. It can be changed via potentiometer at the left side. There will be calibrated positions for actual RPM.
Hope you enjoy it ;)
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Be careful to watch for water going past the pan onto the motor or bearing. That has been a common problem with home made flat laps here. Your machine is very interesting. Are you going to use diamond pads for sanding or silicon carbide grit?
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Be careful to watch for water going past the pan onto the motor or bearing. That has been a common problem with home made flat laps here. Your machine is very interesting. Are you going to use diamond pads for sanding or silicon carbide grit?
Yes, I know it. Water pan was sealed very well. It was tested with few hours of grinding with using much more water than it is needed. The watter never touch schaft. When I pour 0.5 litre (about 1.056 pint) of water into the pan, it will drain out within 10 -15 seconds.
It uses standard 200mm (8 inches) faceting diamond no hole discs - this master lap is magnetic (use neodymium magnets). Another magnetic master lap with magnetic rubber. And there will be 3rd master lap for others discs with standard 1/2 inch hole.
There is only one trouble with magnetic neodymium magnets. It is very strong. Maybe 3x stronger as it need to be. We had to develop safe technic for setting the diamond discs at master lap. When we will be making next neodymium master lap, definitely we will use weaker magnets.
I am glad you like it.
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It is very nice , you should be proud of that machine.
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great job on this machine!!! :headbang: :headbang: much nicer looking than the inverted angle grinder/polisher I use for all my work :) The only thing I would suggest for flat laps; and I eventually did it with mine because it is more comfortable to use, is to have it on an angle of about 30 degrees if you are not using it to facet. I went from 4" to 6" and now am using the 8" disks and really like it
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I want a flat lap. That is a pretty cool contraption, you and your friend did good. :) You will be polishing a lot of specimen slabs with it? That is why I am after one.
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We will use it for slabs polishing also cabochon making and easy step and table top gemstone cuts. At the bottom side of the machine, there are (for now) two rods for easy gadgets. There we can attach some gadgets - 6 and 8 angle dop stick holder, holder for 45 degree cuts for slabs (for making boxes) and holder for grinding flat surface (sometimes we undercut slab at one side - we have not very good stone holder, and than we need lower one side).
Itsanbits - thx for tip "... more comfortable to use, is to have it on an angle of about 30 degrees..."